| Canada Aviation Museum |
Avg. visitor rating:  (44 visitors) |
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Description
- Building a collection
-
When the National Aviation Museum (NAM)
first opened in 1960 at
Uplands airport in Ottawa, it was one of three
major collections owned by the
Canadian government.
At that time, NAM's focus was on bush flying and early aircraft manufacturers in Canada. A second collection, held by the Canadian War Museum, concentrated on military aircraft from World War I to the 1950's, while the Royal Canadian Air Force collection emphasized military aircraft related to RCAF history.
Beginning in 1964, the three collections were amalgamated for public display under a new name, the "National Aeronautical Collection", in new quarters at Ottawa's historic Rockcliffe Airport. The arrangement, which gave visitors a better perspective on the development and use of aircraft in Canada over the years, proved to be tremendously popular.
Coming under the wing of the National Museum of Science and Technology in 1967, the National Aeronautical Collection continued to acquire both military and civil aircraft important to Canadian and world aviation history. It has since grown to include 118 aircraft and countless artifacts such as engines, propellers, instruments, armament, flying gear and wind tunnel models.
In 1982, the collection was officially renamed the National Aviation Museum. The Museum has avoided the tendency to concentrate exclusively on the aviation accomplishments of a single nation, or on developments within one sector of the aviation industry. Instead, the Museum's collection policy is to illustrate the development of the flying machine in both peace and war from the pioneer period to the present time. The collection gives particular, but not exclusive, reference to Canadian achievements.
Consequently, aircraft from many nations are represented in the collection -- a fact that has earned it a strong international following.
The Museum's qualified technologists restore vintage aircraft to original airworthy standards; the Museum has a well deserved reputation for excellence in our conservation and restoration work.
The National Aviation Museum is recognized as having the most extensive aviation collection in Canada and one which ranks among the best in the world.
In 1988, the importance of the collection was acknowledged in the opening at Rockcliffe of the first phase of a multi-phase development program to serve as the new home of the Museum.
- Exhibits and special events
-
The move into a new facility has permitted
the expansion of the
Museum's mandate. The Museum does not merely
focus exclusively on the
collection and display of aircraft and
aviation-related artifacts. It has also
become an influential medium for communicating a
wide range of aviation
historical, scientific, cultural and artistic
messages.
The story of aviation is told through a variety of techniques, ranging from our flying program (one of the aircraft we fly on special occasions is a reproduction Sopwith Pup, a World War I fighter aircraft), to on-floor demonstrations, off-site educational activities, special events, animation and a growing list of hands-on explanatory exhibitry, including computers which allow the various themes to be developed. We are in the process of completing a new media plan for the Museum which will considerably enhance our abilities to interpret and demonstrate a range of concepts applicable to aviation and the science and technology which underlie it.
- Christopher J. Terry
- Director
- National Aviation Museum
- Information: (613) 993-2271
- Director
- Hours of Operation
- Daily 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Thursdays until 9:00pm
- Closed Mondays before May 1st
- Thursdays until 9:00pm
- Admission
- Adults: $5.00
- Students and Seniors: $4.00
- Children under 6: Free
- Families: (1 or 2 adults and their children): $10.00
- Members: admission included in membership
- Thursdays free from 5 to 9 p.m.
- 15 or more adults: $3.50 per person
- 15 or more seniors or students: $3.00 per person
- Guided tours are avilable at an additional cost of $50.00 per group (max. 30 persons)
- 15 or more children:$1.25 each
- 15 or more children, with guide: $1.75 each
- Students and Seniors: $4.00
- Free Parking
Reviews / Comments by our visitors
| John Coryea , New York |  I checked the website this a.m. ...Sept 4 2007, for schedule which said "open 9-5 daily except monday."..drove five hours round trip with family, bridge tolls, gas, only to find the place closed..sign in front says,"closed on Tuesdays "..looks like a great museum,somebody needs to pick up the ball. John Coryea 09/04/2007 @ 16:33 [ref: 6279] |
| Ron Nowlan Ottawa, Ontario |  I have visited the museum 4 times and every visit is better. Refreshing to see the international flavour of aircraft history, permits one to compare aircraft-especially the old warbirds. Seeing the Argus was the biggest thrill - I remember feeling the thunder of it's engines at Chatham airshows and also at Greenwood, Nova Scotia as an Air Cadet. What a great investment of resources by Canada and special thanks to the volunteers! 04/09/2007 @ 19:49 [ref: 5798] |
| avation dude , Ontario |  Cool 03/16/2006 @ 12:34 [ref: 4886] |
| Mike , Ontario |  I was disapointed by the museum. Many planes were either outside exposed to the elements or hidden away in off limits hangars. There's some great pieces of history there, I just felt that the National Museum of Canada should have had MUCH better facilites and cared for their larger aircraft better. The Northstar and Viscount are in pathetic condition from 30+ years exposed to the elements. 02/11/2006 @ 11:04 [ref: 4790] |
| K. Wayne Vail Sussex, New Brunswick | I am looking for a diagram that will enable me to correctly install the cannon packs on a model I am building of a Mk II Hurricane used in the Middle East during WWII? 11/13/2005 @ 18:25 [ref: 4584] |
| John A. Neal Calgary, Alberta | Have always enjoyed my visits to the Museum, and now I will even more. Especially so when I find copies of my new book "Bless You, Brother Irvin" on sale in your bookshop. This is the story of the Caterpillar Club and many of it's members. The book is coming off the presses now and can be obtained from General Store Publishing House in Renfrew, Ontario Tel: 1-800-465-6072. Price is $19.95 plus s. & h. Five reviewers give it "Thumbs up". 09/17/2005 @ 13:53 [ref: 4441] |
| Bob WILSON Sherwood Park,, Alberta | Hi I just wanted to correct my e mail address with you folks as I see my comments on the fleet 80 are on your site. Thank You, Bob WILSON truetrak@telus.net 12/03/2004 @ 03:33 [ref: 3606] |
| t.mcintyre prince albert, Saskatchewan | On your photos of supposed mark 5 sabres the photo on the left (golden hawk)is a mark 6(no wing fences) the one in the centre is a mark 5 (fences) the sword on the right (triple 4)is a mark 6 . Serial numbers 23455 and 23651 were 6\'s . also you show the 444 sword with squadron ID on the fuselage, if so then it should have the old original sqn. tail marking-a broad white stripe across both fin and rudder bordered by narrow black bands. in the spirit of accuracy. 10/30/2004 @ 00:36 [ref: 3536] |
| Thomas Hoy Richmond, British Columbia | Where could I search for pictures/description of the North Star that was flying for TCA in 1954. There was a mid-air collision over Moose Jaw on 8 April 1954. Did the North Star have two or four engines? Thank you for any help. 04/19/2004 @ 21:17 [ref: 3079] |
| Dave LaRush Toronto, Ontario | I can't believe you have a Grumman CHSS2 Tracker in your hangar and it is not suited up for sea eg: VS880 stripes, tail hook etc. and landing on our last aircraft carrier "HMCS Bonaventure". Talk about history. Instead, you have an American Marine Harrier along side our illustrious and memorable Naval aircraft. Please, think CANADIAN. 11/03/2002 @ 18:56 [ref: 2636] |
External pages about this museum
| http://www.aviation.nmstc.ca/ |
Last updated: 02/14/00.
Send corrections/additions by e-mail to museum-info@brooklyn.cuny.edu