CAHS Museum Members
By John Chalmers, CAHS Membership Secretary
Museum Members of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society comprise a valued component of our membership. This is the fourth in a series of items about those members. There are some 40 aviation museums in Canada. We are pleased to have 17 of them in our membership, and encourage CAHS members to enjoy our aviation heritage as displayed at our museums. As additional museums take out a membership with the CAHS, we will feature them in our newsletter. There is more to our museums than aircraft! Displays, programs and activities add to the diversity in which they present our aviation heritage. If you can’t visit the museums, be sure to see their web sites. All are linked in the list at the end of each CAHS newsletter, and to their names below.
National Air Force Museum of Canada
At Trenton, Ontario, this museum is dedicated to honouring the Royal Canadian Air Force. The showpiece in the museum is a Halifax bomber, recovered from a lake in Norway, brought to Canada and restored in a 10-year project. Adjacent to the museum is the 16-acre Airpark, where historic and active aircraft are on display. At the Airpark, some 11,000 Ad Astra stones and 35 monuments pay tribute to past and current members of the RCAF. (Museum photo)
Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
Housed in a hangar at the Winnipeg airport, the museum’s collection ranges from bush planes to passenger and jet aircraft. Permanent and special exhibits are based on significant events, innovations and contributions to Canadian aviation. Under restoration are a Bellanca Aircruiser, a Fairchild Razorback and two types flown by the RCAF –a Harvard and a Vampire. Shown here is the Fokker Universal restored and flown by CAHS member Clark Seaborn, then placed in the museum. (Chalmers photo)
Located in London, Ontario, the Secrets of Radar Museum was founded in 2001 and is dedicated to preserving the experiences, stories and history of men and women who helped develop, operate and maintain Canadian radar, both in Canada and abroad. Radar history, training and people involved are presented in the museum’s displays and in outreach programs. Shown above is curator and CAHS member Maya Hirschman with a portable radar set from 1960 at the museum. (Morris Lamont photo, The London Free Press, via the internet)