The Order of Icarus is the highest aviation award next to the Trans-Canada (McKee) Trophy

Trans-Canada Trophy

The Trans-Canada Trophy, also known as the McKee Trophy, is awarded by the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute to a Canadian citizen who has made an outstanding, contemporary achievement in aerospace operations, whether a single act within the year prior to the award or a sustained level of...

 that is awarded to Canadian aviators who have made a lasting contribution to manned flight. The order ceased existence in 1981.

Creation

The Order was developed as part of the 1967 centennial year for Canada, as aviation's role in the development of the country came into scrutiny. The honours then awarded for aviation proved to be inadequate, as no other award other than the McKee Trophy

Trans-Canada Trophy

The Trans-Canada Trophy, also known as the McKee Trophy, is awarded by the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute to a Canadian citizen who has made an outstanding, contemporary achievement in aerospace operations, whether a single act within the year prior to the award or a sustained level of...

 existed at the time. Several noteworthy aviators decided that this void needed to be filled. And as a result, the Order of Icarus was founded which honoured those persons still living at the time whose airborne skills had resulted in outstanding benefits to manned flight in Canada.

After a lengthy search through various mythologies, the early members settled on the Greek

Greek mythology

Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...

 story of Icarus

Icarus

-Space and astronomy:* Icarus , on the Moon* Icarus , a planetary science journal* 1566 Icarus, an asteroid* IKAROS, a interplanetary unmanned spacecraft...

. According to myth, Icarus' father Daedalus

Daedalus

In Greek mythology, Daedalus was a skillful craftsman and artisan.-Family:...

, under an unjust sentence of death by King Minos of Crete

Crete

Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...

, created wings of feather and wax with which he and his son could fly to freedom. When an exhilarated Icarus flew too high, the heat of the sun destroyed his wings, melting the wax that held the feathers together. Icarus fell and died in the Icarian Sea

Icarian Sea

The Icarian Sea is a subdivision of the Mediterranean Sea that lies between the Cyclades and Asia Minor. It is described as the part of the Aegean Sea to the south of Chios, to the east of the Eastern Cyclades and west of Anatolia...

, the "first airman casualty".

Grades

Companion is the only grade within the Order, except for the three persons governing the affairs of the Order, who are known as Senior Companions.

Insignia

The Order's insignia depicts a gilt sunburst around a white enameled figure representing Icarus. The sunburst also figures the cardinal points of the compass. The figure's wings are folded and mismatched to remind Companions of the Order of "airborne imperfections". Circling the figure, representing a single binding cause, is a knight's belt which displays, in gold letters, the motto "Despite Adversity". The golden loop which suspends the insignia is adorned with a maple leaf in honor of the Canadian origin of the Order. The neck ribbon has a broad white center stripe which represents flight's purity before the golden sun. The two blue lines which split this stripe suggest "the companionship of airmen in adversity". The broad band is a blue indicative of unexplored space, while the black bars outlying are reminders of mortality.

Eligibility and appointment

The basic tenets of the Order are:

• membership shall be restricted to those adult persons whose contributions to manned flight while in operational control of an airborne device in free flight, has substantially benefitted Canadian aviation.
• it shall number no more than 50 living Companions, inclusive of the three Senior Companions.
• it shall in no manner become associated with any group or body politic.
• it shall in no manner become indebted to any group, person, society, or government.
• it shall in no manner be profited from by any Companion, save that reward of good fellowship and common respect.

The following is a list of the Companions of the Order of Icarus and the year invested.

1967

• C.H. Dickens
  Punch Dickins
  Clennell Haggerston "Punch" Dickins OC, OBE, DFC was a pioneering Canadian aviator and bush pilot. Northern Indians called him "Snow Eagle;" northern whites called him "White Eagle;" while the press dubbed him the "Flying Knight of the Northland."-Early years:Clennell Haggerston Dickins was born...
  
  
• J.C. Sloan
• R.A. Munro
• J.L. Rood
• H.W. Seagrim
• P.A. Hartman
• B.W. Mead

1969

• S.R. McMillan
• A.M. McMullen
• W. Gilbert
• T.F. Williams
• L.J. Tripp
• S.A. Tomlinson
• A.G. Sims
• N. Forester
• G.H. Finland
• H.W. Hayter
• M.G.M. Knox

1973

• D.N. Watson
• J. Moar
• M.W. Ward
  Max Ward (bush pilot)
  Maxwell "Max" William Ward, OC, AOE is a pioneering Canadian aviator and founder of Wardair airlines, at one time, the third-largest air carrier in Canada.-Early years:Max Ward was born 22 November 1921 in Edmonton, Alberta...
  
  
• B. Balchen
  Bernt Balchen
  Bernt Balchen, , a winner of the Distinguished Flying Cross was a Norwegian native, and later U.S. citizen, known as a pioneer polar aviator, navigator, aircraft mechanical engineer and military leader. His service in the U.S...
  
  
• M.F. Reilly
• J.H. Reilly

1974

• N.J. Armstrong
• H.M. Bristol
  Helen Marcelle Harrison Bristol
  Helen Harrison-Bristol was a pioneering Canadian female civil aviation instructor and the first Canadian Air Transport Auxiliary ferry pilot during Second World War.- Early years :...
  
  
• S. Graham
  Stuart Graham
  Stuart Graham was a British former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was the son of the 1949 500cc world champion, Leslie Graham. His best season was in 1967 when he won two Grand Prix races and finished the year in third place in both the 50cc and the 125cc world championships.-References:*...
  
  
• P.S. Turner
• R.C. Randall
• Z.L. Leigh
• W.W. Fowler
• R. Collishaw
  Raymond Collishaw
  Air Vice Marshal Raymond Collishaw CB, DSO & Bar, OBE, DSC, DFC, RAF was a distinguished Canadian fighter pilot, squadron leader, and commanding officer who served in the Royal Naval Air Service and later the Royal Air Force. He was the highest scoring RNAS flying ace and the second highest...
  
  
• G.B. Lothian

1975

• K.R Greenaway
• W.G. Leach
• H. Hollick-Kenyon
  Herbert Hollick-Kenyon
  Herbert Hollick-Kenyon was an aircraft pilot who made significant contributions towards aviation in Antarctica.-Early life:...
  
  
• T.W. Siers

1977

• J.E. Fauqier
  John Emilius Fauquier
  John Emilius “Johnny” Fauquier DSO & Two Bars, DFC was a Canadian aviator and Second World War Bomber Command leader. He commanded No. 405 Squadron RCAF and later No. 617 Squadron RAF over the course of the war. A bush pilot, prior to the war, he joined the RCAF as a flight instructor in 1939. He...
  
  

1978

• J.A.M. Austin
  John Alexander Austin
  John Alexander "Jack" Austin was a pioneering Canadian aviator.-References:* Oswald, Mary, They Led the Way, Wetaskiwin: Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame, 1999. ISBN 0-9684843-0-1-External links:*...
  
  
• B.A. Rawson
• G.L. MacInnis

1981

• W.F.M. Newson
• K.L. Guthrie
• A.H. Wilson
• A.E. Godfrey
  Albert Earl Godfrey
  Group Captain Albert Earl Godfrey MC was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 14 victories while flying for the Royal Flying Corps. He spent the remainder of his career in the Royal Canadian Air Force.-Early life and service:"Steve" Godfrey was the son of Nellie and...
  
  
• W.F.S. Luck