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Category: Canada Aviation and Space Museum

  • Canada Aviation and Space Museum: The stories of the Cold War take the spotlight in new exhibition

    April 4, 2024

    Four circular images set against a black and red background. One image shows a black and white photo of a person in an RCAF uniform. The top image is of a person and two young children walking through a neighbourhood. The photo on the left shows a woman working at a radar scope and the bottom image is of several aircraft flying side by side.

    Ottawa, ON, April 4, 2024 — Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation is pleased to unveil the newest exhibition at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, The Cold War. The exhibition dives into a volatile period of history, marked by international tensions, espionage and the threat of nuclear attack. It was also a time of great technological and social change in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), throughout Canada and around the world.

    Visitors will take a journey through this tumultuous era that defined global geopolitics for just over half a century. Featuring rare artifacts and iconic Cold War aircraft, visitors of all ages will be captivated by the interactive displays and in discovering the personal stories behind the headlines. The exhibit is composed of five sections which include an immersive fall-out shelter experience, quiz-based interactives, a cypher interactive – which challenges visitors to decode an encrypted message, and a digital tour of a DEW Line Station in the Yukon. The exhibition conveys the impact of the Cold War as a transformative era for Canada’s air force and encourages visitors to make connections between past and present.

    The Cold War was developed with the collaboration and support of various public, private and academic organizations, including, the Ingenium Foundation, Osisko Mining, the Kenneth M. Molson Foundation, the National Aviation Museum Society, the National Research Council of Canada, CAE, Algonquin College and the Royal Canadian Air Force. The exhibition marks the RCAF Centennial being celebrated in 2024.

    QUOTES

    “We are very excited for visitors to discover the diverse range of stories presented in the new Cold War exhibition at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. This exhibition creates a greater appreciation for Canada’s aviation heritage and explores the vital role of aviation in the lives of Canadians. It allows visitors to see themselves represented in the stories the museum tells about the significance of aviation in the growth and prosperity of this country.”

    Christopher Kitzan, Director General, Canada Aviation and Space Museum

    “This Cold War exhibition brings together a fantastic selection of aircraft and unique artifacts which illustrate an incredibly challenging, but dynamic period of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s history. The RCAF has always been more than our aircraft, and the Canada Aviation and Space Museum has gone above and beyond to showcase the people factor, capturing the work they did, their initiative in finding solutions to new problems, and the hardship they endured to keep Canada and our Allies safe in a post-war world.

    If the Second World War was where the RCAF showed its mettle, the Cold War showed the world that given the right people and equipment, and with the support of their families and friends, Royal Canadian Air Force personnel can achieve almost anything.”

    Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny – Commander, RCAF

    About Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation

    Ingenium oversees three national museums of science and innovation in Ottawa — the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum. Its lngenium Centre houses an exceptional collection of artifacts, a research institute, and a digital innovation lab. Our museums, digital content, outreach programs, travelling exhibitions, and collaborative spaces help to educate, entertain, and engage audiences across Canada and around the world. Our mandate is to bring science literacy and inspiration to people in Canada of all ages, abilities, identities, and backgrounds.

  • Ingenium acquires de Havilland Buffalo CC-115

    OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 28, 2023 /CNW/ – Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation is proud to announce the acquisition of the de Havilland Canada Buffalo CC-115 with tail number 452 from the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). This historically significant aircraft will be welcomed into Ingenium’s extensive aviation collection and displayed in the Reserve Hangar at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.

    The Buffalo is representative of both the technological developments of the time, and de Havilland Canada’s legacy of designing short takeoff and landing airplanes for Canada’s harsh climate.

    The Buffalo CC-115 tail number 452 at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. (CNW Group/Ingenium)
    The Buffalo CC-115 tail number 452 at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. (CNW Group/Ingenium)

    Fifteen CC-115 Buffalo aircraft were procured by the RCAF between June 1967 and December 1968 to provide medium tactical transportation, and later, search and rescue services. This exciting transfer is further marked by the fact that this aircraft was used in The SWINTER (The Servicewomen in Non-Traditional Environments and Roles) Aircrew Trials held between 1979 and 1985 – the first time that women were allowed to serve as pilots, navigators, and flight engineers in the Canadian Armed Forces. The Buffalo serves as material culture evidence in gender history, participation in United Missions in the Middle East and Africa, and search and rescue operations. This particular aircraft made the last operational flight of any CC-115 on January 15, 2022.

    The newly-acquired aircraft was flown from Comox, BC to Trenton Ontario where it was disassembled by the Department of National Defence (DND). In October, it was transported to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa on six flat bed trucks and was reassembled by DND. Visitors to the museum will be able to view the Buffalo during tours of the Reserve Hangar, which houses many of Canada’s national aviation icons not currently displayed on the museum floor.

    The Buffalo was officially welcomed into the collection at an unveiling event at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum on November 28, 2023, alongside officials from Ingenium, and the Department of National Defence.

    Quote

    “It is a great honour to welcome this historically significant aircraft to our offerings at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. The CC-115 Buffalo is a key addition to our RCAF and de Havilland collections. It will help us share stories of the evolution of the RCAF and its workforce, as well as about de Havilland’s role as a driver of innovation in Canada. Its display in our reserve hangar is sure to be a highlight.”
    -Chris Kitzan, Director General, Canada Aviation and Space Museum

    “At Ingenium, we take great pride in providing a home for outstanding pieces of heritage that push the dialogue on Canadian innovation. We are thrilled to add the de Havilland Buffalo CC-115 to our national collection of science and innovation. The artifacts in our care tell amazing stories of innovation, and we are grateful for the opportunity to preserve this aircraft that represents significant technological and cultural developments in Canada.”
    -Christina Tessier, CEO and President, Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation

    “Ingenium’s acquisition of the de Havilland Buffalo CC-115 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of Canadian aviation and ‘Your Air Force.’ This historic aircraft, used in groundbreaking trials and pivotal missions, now joins the annals of our aviation heritage. Together, we honour the RCAF’s centennial, paying tribute to our past and looking ahead to our future.”
    -Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force

    About Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation

    Ingenium oversees three national museums of science and innovation in Ottawa — the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum. Its lngenium Centre houses an exceptional collection of artifacts, a research institute, and a digital innovation lab. Our museums, digital content, outreach programs, travelling exhibitions, and collaborative spaces help to educate, entertain, and engage audiences across Canada and around the world. Our mandate is to bring science literacy and inspiration to people in Canada of all ages, abilities, identities, and backgrounds.

  • Discover Holiday Magic at the Ingenium Museums

    OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 20, 2022 /CNW/ – Ingenium- Canada’s museums of science and innovation, are offering unforgettable experiences this holiday season at our three museums in Ottawa. Family fun for all ages is waiting at Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and Canada Science and Technology Museum between Monday, Dec. 26, 2022 and Sunday, January 8, 2023. There are so many activities to experience that will provide a day of affordable fun for the whole family.

    Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

    Ingenium holiday graphic with a rocket flying across a starry sky, a robot hiding behind a pine tree, and a gingerbread person skating with three of the pine trees in the Ingenium colours of green, blue and red. (CNW Group/Ingenium)

    There are so many activities to discover at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum. Skate on the outdoor rink or check out our exciting daily demonstrations. Learn some fun facts about Canadian tree farming and see a timeline of trends in tree-decorating history. Warm up inside the Demonstration Kitchen with homemade mint hot chocolate and snowball cookies, then make a seasonal greeting card in the craft corner. Cozy up in the Learning Centre to watch a family holiday movie.

    Canada Aviation and Space Museum

    Reach for the stars at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Climb aboard a “rocket” and travel to the Moon just like Canadian astronauts will do during upcoming Artemis Missions. Sit at the controls of a Cessna aircraft or create a space-inspired drawing to enter in our colouring contest for the chance to win a Cessna Flight with Ottawa Aviation Adventures. On January 6, don’t miss the opportunity to remotely drive a real rover with Mission Control Space Services and learn about the amazing technologies developed for future space missions.

    Canada Science and Technology Museum

    At the Canada Science and Technology Museum, revisit the past with retro games and activities. Create your own designs on our huge homemade Lite-Brite boards. Challenge yourself and others to a real-life oversized version of Tetris. Stroll through our interactive galleries, and try to spot objects you’ve seen in your grandparents’ homes. Then head over to our makerspace studio Exploratek to get crafty, and create a photographic print using the old-fashioned cyanotype process. Don’t miss the fun at the Demo Stage, where you can experience the Cryo-Genius show, then warm up with Pyro-Techno. 

    This year, don’t miss the holiday magic at the Ingenium museums. Book your tickets today at ingeniumcanada.org.

    About Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation

    Ingenium oversees three national museums of science and innovation in Ottawa — the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum. It’s lngenium Centre houses an exceptional collection, research institute, and digital innovation lab. Our museums, digital content, outreach programs, travelling exhibitions, and collaborative spaces help to educate, entertain, and engage audiences across Canada and around the world. Our mission is to bring science literacy and inspiration to Canadians of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

  • Canada Aviation and Space Museum to celebrate 75th anniversary of the Beaver bush plane

    The Canada Aviation and Space Museum and Vintage Wings of Canada are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the first flight of the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver this weekend. This iconic aircraft, the first all-metal bush plane designed and built in Canada, took to the skies for the first time on August 16th, 1947.  Since then, over 1600 of the robust aircraft have been manufactured for use all over the world, with many still flying today.

    Weather permitting, Vintage Wings of Canada will fly in several de Havilland aircraft for museum visitors on Saturday, August 13, between 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.  Visitors can see the vehicles up close and speak to the pilots of these wonderful aircraft!

    De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver

    De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver

    Highlights:

    • First all-metal bush plane designed and built in Canada; still used in many countries around the world
    • One of several de Havilland Canada aircraft named after North American wildlife
    • Outnumbers, to date, any other Canadian aircraft: 1 692 Beavers were manufactured between 1947 and 1968
    • A short-take-off-and-landing (STOL) aircraft (requires minimal space to take off and touch down on land, water or snow), along with de Havilland Canada’s Otter, Caribou, Buffalo, Twin Otter and Dash 7
    • First flight was on August 16th, 1947
    CASM-14270

    History:

    The Beaver was designed and built in response to the demands of Canadian bush operators. With its all-metal construction, high-lift wing, and flap configuration, the Beaver was a robust aircraft with excellent short take-off-and-landing capability even with heavy loads. In addition to its success in Canada, the Beaver found acceptance in as many as 60 other countries all over the world. Although not ordered by the RCAF, some 980 served with distinction in the US Army and US Air Force. About 1600 were made.

    The Beaver was such a success that more were built than any other aircraft designed and manufactured in Canada. In 1951 it won both the US Air Force and US Army competitions for a utility aircraft. Many were used in Korea, where it was known as the “general’s jeep”.

    Current Location:

    Bush Flying Exhibition, Canada Aviation and Space Museum

    Provenance:

    Built in 1947, this aircraft is the prototype, or first, Beaver to be built. Used as a bush plane in Western Canada for thirty-two years, it was purchased by the Museum from Norcanair in 1980. Its registration number, CF-FHB, incorporates the initials of Frederick Howard Buller, one of the Beaver’s two designers. Buller was a naval architect turned aeronautical engineer and is a member of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame.

    Remarkably, during its final flight, between Lac la Ronge and Rockcliffe airport, this aircraft crossed paths in Sault Ste. Marie with the second Beaver built, CF-OBS. Russ Bannock, who flew CF-FHB for a portion of its last flight, had also been its test pilot. The preservation of Canada’s first Beaver has been made possible by donations from the Molson Foundation and from de Havilland Canada.

    Technical Information:

    Wing Span14.6 m (48 ft)
    Length9.2 m (30 ft 4 in)
    Height2.7 m (9 ft)
    Weight, Empty1,293 kg (2,850 lb)
    Weight, Gross2,313 kg (5,100 lb)
    Cruising Speed209 km/h (130 mph)
    Max Speed258 km/h (160 mph)
    Rate of Climb311 m (1,020 ft) /min
    Service Ceiling5,490 m (18,000 ft)
    Range756 km (470 mi)
    Power Plantone Pratt & Whitney R-985 AN-14B Wasp Jr., 450 hp, radial engine
    De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver plan

  • New exhibition explores Canada’s history of keeping its busy skies safe

    OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 1, 2021 /CNW/ – Visitors to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum can now discover if they have what it takes to manage air traffic in our skies in a new exhibit Eyes on the Skies: Managing Air Traffic in Canada. Developed in collaboration with NAV CANADA, the exhibit delves into the rapid evolution of air traffic management, exploring the systems, people, and technologies that keep Canada’s skies safe.

    Through a variety of highly interactive experiences that test visitors’ skills, and a mix of historical and contemporary content, Eyes on the Skies will expose visitors to Canada’s air navigation system and how air traffic is managed safely and efficiently – a critical role of the aviation industry.

    Eyes on the Skies demystifies complex ideas – from the impacts of gender and language to how radar works. It highlights people central to managing air traffic in Canada and explores how navigation systems, procedures and technologies have evolved over the decades. Drawing links to their own experiences as passengers, visitors will learn through play, strong visual and audiovisual experiences.

    In addition, an Eyes on the Skies travelling exhibit has hit the road to visit museums from coast to coast to coast to allow Canadians across the country to discover the important contributions we have made – and continue to make – to managing air traffic.

    Media are invited to tour the Eyes in the Skies exhibition at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum on Monday, November 1, 2021 between 12 pm and 3 pm. Canada Aviation and Space Museum curator Erin Gregory is available to answer media questions on site. Please RSVP to confirm your attendance to Philippe Tremblay at ptremblay@IngeniumCanada.org.

    Quotes

    “Eyes on the Skies highlights this complex aspect of aviation with engaging and fun interactives. It’s a snapshot into the vital contributions that Canadians have made to air navigation, including managing Canada’s 18 million square kilometres of airspace to ensure the safety of our skies.”
    – Chris Kitzan, Director General of Canada Aviation and Space Museum

    “While honouring the men and women who make Canada’s air navigation service among the safest in the world, Eyes on the Skies offers a window into a part of the aviation industry not seen by most Canadians. Our industry is evolving rapidly, and we hope this new exhibit inspires some to consider new career paths to help shape Canada’s future aviation story.”
    -Raymond Bohn, President and CEO of NAV CANADA

    About the Canada Aviation and Space Museum
    One of three museums under Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum is aptly located at Ottawa’s historic Rockcliffe Airport, which previously functioned as a former military air base. The museum takes visitors on a journey through Canada’s aviation and space history — from the early days of flight to the future of space exploration. Spanning 1909 to the present day, the museum focuses on aviation in Canada within an international context. As Canada’s contribution to aviation expanded to include aerospace technology, the museum’s collection and mandate grew to include space flight. The collection itself consists of more than 130 aircraft and artifacts (propellers, engines) from both civil and military service. The most extensive aviation collection in Canada, it is also considered one of the finest aviation museums in the world.

    About NAV CANADA
    NAV CANADA is a private, not-for-profit company, established in 1996, providing air traffic control, airport advisory services, weather briefings and aeronautical information services for more than 18 million square kilometres of Canadian domestic and international airspace. The Company is internationally recognized for its safety record, and technology innovation. Air traffic management systems developed by NAV CANADA are used by air navigation service providers in countries worldwide.