One of Canada’s most important collections of vintage aircraft has opened its state-of-the-art exhibition space in Winnipeg and the reviews are universally excellent. The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada was forced to move out of the leased hangar it occupied in 2018 when the lease expired and the new facility became a dream come true for the hundreds of dedicated volunteers who have curated the priceless assortment of historically significant aircraft. “Museum staff and volunteers have dedicated untold hours to preserving our heritage and developing this world class collection,” a museum statement says.
The museum has its share of fast movers like a CF-104 Starfighter and crowd pleasers like a replica of Canadair’s Aerocar flying saucer but its core collection and its main educational thrust is centred around bush flying. Such treasures as a one-of-a-kind Fairchild Super 71, the first purpose-built bush plane and the Froebe helicopter, also a one-of-a-kind testament to the ingenuity of pioneer Canadians, are safely preserved in pristine condition along with historically significant aircraft like a Bellanca Aircruiser and a Junkers Ju 52. The museum also boasts the country’s biggest collection of artifacts and paraphernalia.