John Chalmers
Alberta’s aviation museums are great places to learn how an airplane flies, see many types of aircraft and learn about aviation history. From early biplanes, bush planes, light aircraft for pleasure and civilian airliners to military fighters, bombers and jet aircraft, all can be seen in the museums’ collections. Displays include photographs and art, uniforms and medals, model airplanes and engines, logbooks and guns, and even aircraft that still fly.
Alberta Aviation Museum, Edmonton
In Edmonton, the Alberta Aviation Museum has 40 aircraft on display in a huge wooden hangar built for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in the Second World War. It is the last double-wide, double-long hangar of its type left in Canada from the war years. The museum’s aircraft include biplanes, bush planes, war birds, air force jets and a Boeing 737 airliner, the largest plane in the collection.
Video presentations and static displays attract attention, and computer stations and networked aircraft flight simulators provide hands-on experiences. A unique attraction is the replica Curtiss biplane built by volunteers in the museum’s workshop. The original plane was used by Katherine Stinson to fly the first airmail in western Canada, from Calgary to Edmonton, on July 9, 1918. Another major project by volunteers is restoring a B-25 Mitchell bomber. The aircraft was flown by the City of Edmonton’s RCAF 418 Squadron from the hangar after the war.
Under the guidance of education and technology director Dave Heathcote, an experienced teacher and aircraft maintenance engineer, student programs have been expanded from K–12. Teleconferencing and web-based delivery extend the reach of the museum’s services. About 7,000 students, mostly Grade 6 students within a 150-kilometer radius of Edmonton, visit the museum each year. Teachers are encouraged to book well in advance. For information, visit the museum’s website: www.albertaaviationmuseum.com; or telephone: 780-451-1175.
Reynolds-Alberta Museum, Wetaskiwin
The main building of the Reynolds-Alberta Museum, in Wetaskiwin, houses early aircraft, including a restored original 1917 Curtiss JN-4. In a separate building, dozens of aircraft are displayed, from small experimental planes to a Douglas Dakota DC-3. The hangar also houses displays of Canadian aviators in Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame (website: www.cahf.ca; telephone: 780-361-1351, ext. 241). Several aircraft are displayed outside, including military jets and a Bristol Freighter. The museum’s impressive collection represents Alberta’s heritage on the ground and in the air.
Educational programs for elementary and junior high school are offered on a variety of topics through guided tours, videoconferencing and self-guided tours. All programs are based on the Alberta curriculum and summaries are posted on the museum’s website. For information, visit the museum’s website: www.reynoldsalbertamuseum.com; or telephone: 780-361-1351, ext. 232.
Aero Space Museum, Calgary
In a former drill hall constructed like a wartime hangar, the Aero Space Museum of Calgary houses a replica of the primitive Silver Dart. The original plane began a century of flight in Canada with its first flight on February 23, 1909, at Baddeck, Nova Scotia.
Aircraft on display include a famous Sopwith triplane of the First World War and a sleek Vampire jet once owned and flown by well-known Calgarian and judge, Milt Harradence. Among the collection are aircraft engines, and housed in a huge tent-like structure in front of the building are other aircraft, including jets, a helicopter and a rare Avro Lancaster bomber, one of only 26 remaining in the world, of over 7,300 built for the Second World War.
Tours are conducted by volunteer guides familiar with the Alberta school curriculum. The Calgary Board of Education also offers a full weeklong program for students. Twelve new educational exhibits are planned for 2010.
Calgary is also home to the Military Museums (website: www.themilitarymuseums.ca; telephone: 403-974-2850), expanded from the former Museum of the Regiments. Originally an army museum, the Military Museums now includes the collection from the former Naval Museum of Alberta. The addition of an air force component makes it a tri-service museum. Among displays are three wartime aircraft formerly from the naval museum, now complementing the air force displays. The Seafire, the Sea Fury and the jet Banshee were all retired from service aboard naval aircraft carriers.
Bookings can be made at the museum’s website for curriculum-based education programs from K–12 that focus on military history related to social studies, language arts, mathematics, physical education, science and art. A new education centre is equipped to teach students about military history and activities, while presentations by various speakers on a diverse offering of topics can be experienced in the theatre.
For information, visit the museum website: www.asmac.ab.ca; or telephone: 403-250-3752.
Nanton Lancaster Air Museum, Nanton
A recent expansion has added classroom facilities to the Nanton Lancaster Air Museum, where the star attraction is a restored Lancaster bomber, named for Alberta-born Squadron Leader Ian Bazalgett, who perished in France on his 58th bombing operation. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery. During special events, the engines are started up to give visitors the sight and sound of the bomber’s Merlin V-12 engines.
Other aircraft relate to wartime service of the RCAF and include a Tiger Moth, a Westland Lysander and a Harvard. A twin-engine Bristol Blenheim bomber, a type used early in the war, is displayed in camouflage colours. Gun turrets and vehicles along with nose art and historical displays complete the collection.
Mounted outside the museum are two air force jets: a Canadair T-33 Silver Star and an Avro CF-100 Canuck. Beside the museum is Canada’s Bomber Command Memorial, which lists the names of more than 10,600 men who died while serving aboard bombers with the RCAF during the Second World War.
Visiting classes often combine a museum visit with other attractions in the area, such as Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Fort Macleod or Nanton’s Ultimate Trains Garden Railway.
For information, visit the museum’s website: www.lancastermuseum.ca; or telephone: 403-646-2270.
Cold Lake Air Force Museum, Cold Lake
Cold Lake is home of 4 Wing Cold Lake, the busiest fighter base in Canada, which provides general purpose, multirole, combat capable forces in support of domestic and international roles of Canada’s air force. The emphasis at the Cold Lake Air Force Museum is on Canadian military aviation, shown in artefacts and displays. Aircraft include a Canadair CT-114 Tutor, the type flown by the Snowbirds Demonstration Team; a T-33 Silver Star; a Canadair CF-5 Freedom fighter; and a propeller-driven Beechcraft Musketeer used for pilot training.
The Cold Lake Air Force Museum is one of four connected museums at the site, which also includes the Oil and Gas Museum, the Cold Lake Heritage Museum and the Aboriginal Museum. Collectively referred to as the Cold Lake Museums, they provide a diverse experience for visitors.
For information, visit the Cold Lake Air Force Museum’s website: www.coldlakeairforcemuseum.com/main; or telephone: 780-594-3546.
John Chalmers, a former teacher, is a writer and historian living in Edmonton. His latest book is Navigator Brothers, the wartime story of his father and an uncle, told through memoirs, letters, photographs and official documents. Chalmers can be reached at johnchalmers@shaw.ca.
