I just had the pleasure of meeting with a group of plane spotters that are visiting Alberta. Very nice people and a pleasure to talk to.
Problem is they didn’t realize what they had gotten into.
If you are visiting Alberta and seriously wanting to view aircraft there is alot to see…North to South
– CFB Cold Lake, Cold Lake Alberta
4 Wing Cold Lake is one of the most active fighter bases in Canada and tours are available if prearranged. They also have a wonderful little museum with 5-6 aircraft and some great exhibits.
– Alberta Aviation Museum, Edmonton Alberta
Housed in the Last Double Double BCATP hangar in Canada the museum has 38 aircraft in the facility (on display or under restoration) wonderful exhibits and a restoration area that is viewable to the public. It is situated on the first licenced airport in Canada and sits right in the heart of Edmonton. 3rd largest aircraft collection in Canada with many great features.
– Reynolds Alberta Museum, Wetaskwin, Alberta
The main museum is “Spirit of the Machine” a truly World Class museum covering the transportation history of Western Canada. A few hundred meters from the main building is the aviation exhibit, this facility has many fantastic exhibits, the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame and approximately 20+ aircraft on display. IN addition if you plan your visit around a “Warehouse day” there are another 40-60 aircraft housed in a special warehouse not normally accessible to the public.
– Harvard Museum, Red Deer Alberta
The newest aviation museum in Alberta it is dedicated to CFB Penhold, site of a huge NATO and RCAF training base during the Cold War. Great exhibits but only a single aircraft on display so far.
The added benefit of visiting the museum is the Red Deer airport, former CFB Penhold. Site of Air Spray, with about a dozen A-26 water bombers that are being retired and the Air Spray Electra water bomber fleet. It is also a maintenance facility for Buffalo Airways so on a good day you can see (through the fence) DC-3’s, C-46’s, DC-4’s and other vintage types still being used commercially.
– Aerospace Museum of Calgary, Calgary Alberta
Very nice museum close to the airport, fantastic engine collection and many great exhibits. Approximately 25 aircraft on display including their Lancaster currently undergoing long term restoration.
– Museum of the Military, Calgary Alberta
Fantastic museum dedicated to the Canadian Military. There is an Air Force exhibit area that is well done. Of special interest is the Naval side, Sea Fury, Seafire and Banshee on display. Well worth the visit.
– Nanton Lancaster Museum, Nanton Alberta
Wonderful Museum dedicated to Bomber Command and the BCATP. Centre Stage of course is their Lancaster, but don’t miss the rest of the collection including some jets and a Bolingbroke! Wonderful exhibits and about 10 aircraft on display.
With the exception of the Reynolds Musuem and the Museum of the Military all the museums are private not for profit run for the most part by volunteers. Their work and dedication is well worth seeing.
Check the web for contact information and be sure to allow enough time to see everything.
In short a visit to Alberta Aviation Museums will include…
Over 140 aircraft on exhibit in museums (more if the Reynolds warehouse is open) plus all the unique aircraft that come and go.
This is just an off the cuff overview so my numbers may be a little out, but I think you get the idea there is a huge amount to see and many visitors from Europe miss alot as they don’t allow enough time.
Hope that gives a general idea on what can be seen for the aviation buff and plane spotters when you visit our part of the world.
Tom H
By: bostin01 - 12th April 2008 at 05:03
Well i’m here now….what a beautiful country!!
I’m on honeymoon so Air Museums are strictly ‘off limits’.:mad: 😮
Stayed in Vancouver for a while, then drove to Field BC staying in Emerald Lake, now off to Banff for a spell at Buffalo mountain.
Might try to break her resolve when in Calgary, but I don’t hold up much hope.She’s suffered enough being a MAM widow:o .
Worth a visit just for it’s beauty/people.(It’s nice to go to a country where they like the Brits :diablo: )
Bostin:)
By: mrhenniger - 11th April 2008 at 16:11
If we are opening this up to a Canada wide listing go to…
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/Locator.php?Country=Canada#TheResults
…the map summarizing the provinices and territories works for the most part…
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/Locator.php?Country=Canada#TheMap
…but the marker for Ontario is not appearing. I know what to fix. I will do that on the weekend.
As for Vintage Wings here is my listing of the aircraft in the collection…
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/VWoC.php#A
Regards,
Mike Ross Henniger (mrhenniger)
By: turretboy - 10th April 2008 at 14:05
Don’t forget the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum at the Halifax Airport.
By: Pat Murphy - 10th April 2008 at 06:16
Don’t forget to see the Y2-K Spitfire
Don’t Forget the Y2-K Spitfire Project located at the Comox Air Force Museum if you get to Vancouver Island, now in it’s 8th year of restoration the Y2-K Spitfire is available for tours on Saturday’s from 10-3 pm. Visit the website for more information www.y2kspitfire.com.
Vancouver Island is a great place to spend a few days and once you’ve seen the Spitfire restoration take a 40 minute drive to view the fabulous Martin Mars water bombers on Sprout Lake at Port Alberni.
By: Tom H - 9th April 2008 at 22:43
You will definitely need more than 5 days!!!!!!!!
Just for Alberta…
Again off the cuff:
BC
-Comox Aviation Museum, Comox
-BC Aviation Museum, Sidney (Victoria)
-Canadian Museum of Flight, Langley (near Vancouver)
I think I have forgotten someone in BC?
Alberta
-Cold Lake
-Alberta Aviation Museum, Edmonton
-Reynolds Alberta Museum,Wetaskwin
-Harvard Museum (Penhold), Red Deer
-Aerospace Museum of Calgary, Calgary
-Museum of the Military, Calgary
-Nanton Lancaster Museum, Nanton (1hr south of Calgary)
Saskatchewan
-Western Development Museum, Moose Jaw (6-8 aircraft, great exhibits)
-15 Wing Museum, Moose Jaw
(Main training base, small museum, home of the Snow Birds!!!)
Manitoba
-BCATP Museum, Brandon (great museum on original site in some of the original buildings)
-Western Canadian Aviation Museum, Winnipeg (Amazing collection!)
Ontario (I know I will miss someone so I apologize in advance)
– Canadian Bushplane Heritage Museum, Sault Ste Marie (neat museum dedicated to the Bushplane)
– Canadian Warplane Heritage, Hamilton (Most fly, great collection have flying Lancaster and others)
– Canadian National Aviation Museum, Ottawa (gotta see)
– RCAF Museum, Trenton (home of the Halifax!!! and much more)
– Toronto Aerospace Museum, Toronto (Full Scale Arrow replica and great museum)
– Great War Flying Museum
Quebec
– Vintage Wings Canada, Gatineau
(Great Collection!!! Hurricane, Spitfire and more. Mr Henniger will fill in gaps I am sure)
– Canadian Fighter Museum, Baggottville (spelling???) CFB Bagotville (spelling???)
Maritimes
– Shearwater Museum, Shearwater
– CFB Greenwood Museum
Both great museums
And I know I have missed some and haven’t given full descriptions but I am fitting this post in between other tasks so I apologize…but you get the picture.
This short note covers 5000km+ and likely many hundreds of aircraft, museums big and small but all worth seeing. Most are non profit groups and run by volunteers.
You could do a summer tour and never see it all.
Canada has a huge aviation heritage, come on over we like to share.
Maybe one of your travel groups should think about a coast to coast 100th anniversary tour for 2009???
Hope that helps a little
Tom H
By: mrhenniger - 9th April 2008 at 21:17
If you are planning an Alberta trip here is a good starting point…
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/Locator.php?Region=AB#TheResults
…pan down for a map.
Mike
By: Jagx204 - 9th April 2008 at 20:59
Tom,
I think you may have just sealed the decision, but for longer than 5 days this time !
Canada 2009 it is !
All the best
By: Tom H - 9th April 2008 at 20:53
Jagx204
2009 will be a great year to come
We celebrate the 100th anniversary of flight in Canada with events coast to coast, the 85th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force!!!! and more.
Couldn’t think of a better time to visit for the aviation enthusiast.
Tom H
By: Jagx204 - 9th April 2008 at 19:44
I went to Canada in 2006 for a whistle stop 5 days on the ‘East Coast’ – well Ontario province. It was fantastic and I soo want to go back !
Tom H your post is just adding fuel to the fire for a return in 2009 !
Wishing I was there now
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April 9, 2008 at 6:04 pm