Murdock and Brackenreid look for and find the airplane in concession 51, where it was rumored that aircraft are tested. This is a clear poke in the ribs nod to the fabled Area 51 in Nevada, Dreamland where aircraft are also tested, maybe even extraterrestrial kinds.
This episode takes place in 1900.
The war being mentioned during this episode could be the Second Boer War which lasted from 1899 to 1902 that Canada was part of. This is the only war taking place in the year this episode was taking place involving Canada.
When Murdoch asks "why are we going south?" Pendrick Iooks at the compass, but the compass reads due north.