Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

“For over 35 years, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum has interpreted Canada's proud aviation history through the restoration and preservation of its outstanding collection of military aircraft and other artifacts, and gained international acclaim for its vintage aircraft flying program."

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is located at the Hamilton International Airport in Mount Hope, Ontario, where it is housed in a large delta-wing shaped building.

In 1970 pilots Dennis Bradley and Alan Ness were discussing their love of aviation and their desire to maintain and preserve Canada's aviation history. They formulated a plan to preserve, in flying condition, some of the training and combat aircraft flown by RCAF pilots during World War II. They invited two friends, Peter Matthews and John Weir, to become partners with them in this new adventure.

They acquired their first aircraft, a Fairey Firefly, in October, 1971. After major restoration work and hours of volunteer labour, it was test flown the following year. This aircraft forms the central figure on the museum's advertising, and is incorporated into its crests and logo.

In 1972 the group moved into part of Hangar #4 at Hamilton Airport and started to seek out other restoration projects. A Harvard Mark IV was their second acquisition, followed shortly after by a Supermarine Seafire, a Corsair, a de Havilland Chipmunk and a Tiger Moth.

Hangar #3 was purchased a few years later for restoration and maintenance work. Finally, the aircraft collection and the volunteers had a home. The two hangars were built side-by-side in 1940 to serve the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The group was incorporated under the name Canadian Warplane Heritage. Meanwhile, much interest was being shown in the group's activities by other aviation enthusiasts and so a membership program was started.

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's aim is the preservation, restoration and display of a collection of aircraft that are of significant importance to Canada's aviation history. Wherever possible these aircraft are restored and maintained in flying condition. About half of its current collection of nearly forty aeroplanes are able to fly, which makes the museum unique in Canada, if not in North America. Just to maintain these historic aircraft in flying condition takes about 4000 hours of volunteer labour each year!

The year 1975 saw the collection take over more of Hangar 4, and the acquisition and restoration of the B-25 Mitchell bomber began. During that same year, the Westland Lysander and Cessna Crane joined the museum's collection.

Tragedy struck in 1977. Alan Ness lost his life when the Fairey Firefly he was piloting at the Canadian International Airshow crashed into Lake Ontario. The group remained undaunted. The aircraft would be replaced by another, and Alan Ness' memory is carried on through the annual award of the 'Alan Ness Memorial Trophy' to a deserving museum member or group.

The museum's most ambitious restoration project has been the Avro Lancaster. This aircraft stood guard over the Royal Canadian Legion in Goderich, Ontario for a number of years, but was gradually deteriorating. With help from the Sulley Foundation, the Lancaster was acquired by the museum in 1977.

Over the next two years, a tremendous amount of work was required to remove the 'Lanc' from its concrete pedestal and prepare it for transport to Hamilton. The Canadian Forces accepted the challenge of airlifting this large aircraft as a training exercise. The No. 450 Squadron's Chinook helicopter brought the Lancaster to the museum in 1979 and the restoration work began.

Nearly 10 years were to pass before this enormous project was completed and the aircraft ready to fly. On September 24, 1988, before a crowd of over 20,000 spectators, the museum's Lancaster took to the air. 2008, marked its 20th year of flight operations at the museum.

Although the organization continued to rely heavily on a network of dedicated volunteers, by late 1977 it had reached the stage where it needed full time staff to continue functioning properly. In 1978 the museum hired its first full-time employee and in 1981 the museum appointed its first curator. The staff works alongside volunteers in every respect of the museum's
day-to-day operations.

On February 15, 1993, a large part of Hangar 3 was destroyed in a devastating fire. Included in the destruction were five museum aircraft, the administration offices, engineering records and all ground and maintenance equipment. The aircraft lost were a Hawker Hurricane, a Supermarine Spitfire, a Grumman Avenger, a Stinson and an Auster. The fire spread quickly through the north side of the building. Volunteers who arrived to give assistance could only watch helplessly as the fire blazed only a few feet away from the Avro Lancaster, which, fortunately, was sitting on jacks outside of the hangar. Also saved were two other restoration projects, the Bristol Bolingbroke and the Fleet Finch.

The museum battled back to design and build a 108,000 square foot delta-winged building. With the support of all three levels of government the new site would accommodate all operations under one roof. The museum's new quarters were officially opened by the museum's patron, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, on April 26, 1996.

Membership in the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is open to all who share an interest in aircraft preservation. Funding for the museum projects comes mainly from membership fees, private donations and sponsorships. The Ontario Government through the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation supports the museum with an operating grant. The Canadian Government has recognized the importance of preserving certain aircraft of outstanding historical significance by certifying Canadian Warplane Heritage as a Cultural Property Institution.

The museum now houses over forty aircraft, an extensive aviation exhibit gallery, a library and a gift shop. Special events take place throughout the year and the facilities, including the main aircraft exhibit area, can be rented for private events. Group tours of the facility, with the services of an experienced tour guide, are available to groups who make prior arrangements. Among the visiting groups each year are thousands of students learning the theory of flight, aircraft design or military history. A visit to the museum enhances many areas of the provincial school curriculum.

The Belt of Orion Award for Excellence was presented to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at ceremonies held in Toronto, Ontario in 2008.

In 1994 the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale presented its prestigious award to the crew which restored the Lancaster, the first time the Paris-based authority has recognized a group effort.