NEWS & STORIES
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Voices from the Hangar
A 2016 walk through northern aviation memory with Gord Emberley and Keith Olson In 2016, inside an off-site storage facility of the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, two of the museum’s founding figures walked slowly between aircraft components, salvaged …
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Boulders and Beacons: One Way to Stay on Course
Please enjoy this article reproduced from a past issue of the Museum’s former Altitude publication with updates. In the 21st century, when the global positioning system takes all of the guesswork out of navigation, there was a time when pilots relied on visual waypoints to keep them on course. Signs along the way “Naming of towns so…
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A Legacy That Inspires: Remembering Tannis M. Richardson
Tannis M. Richardson, a lifelong Winnipegger, philanthropist, and dedicated community leader, has passed away at the age of 99. Born in Winnipeg in 1926, she later served as a Voluntary Aid Nurse during the Second World War—an early reflection of the commitment to service that would define her life. In 1948, she married George T.…
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MEDIA RELEASE: Full-Scale NASA Orion Crew Capsule Replica Now Under Construction at Royal Aviation Museum
April 14, 2026 — Winnipeg, Manitoba —The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (RAMWC) is constructing a full-scale, walk-in mockup of the Orion spacecraft crew capsule — an immersive new experience. The museum’s restoration team is currently building the Orion capsule mockup to match the dimensions of the NASA spacecraft. Once installed on the museum…
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FROM DRAB TO DAYGLO: Flight suits, survival and Canada’s search and rescue legacy
If you picture a Second World War pilot’s working gear, you might imagine leather jackets or olive drab flight clothing. The journey over time — from homemade clothing solutions for the cold cockpits of bush planes, to the bright orange suits of today’s NASA — coincides with the evolution of flight itself. The shift from…
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Wings on the Map: Aviation and Canada’s Place Names
They served in the air and are remembered with Manitoba’s lakes. Behind every name is a story—some widely known, and others in danger of being slowly forgotten over time. Across Canada, place names reveal layers of history, culture, and memory. Some stories are easy to uncover with a little research; others require deeper exploration. For the…
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Power on Display: Three Engines That Changed the Course of Aviation
The sight of aircraft travelling through the sky captures the imagination, but it is their engines that make flight possible. Recently, the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada added three standalone aircraft engines to the Museum floor—each representing a pivotal moment in aviation history and each closely connected to Canada’s role in shaping flight. Displayed…
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Look to the Skies: A Year of Celestial Highlights in 2026
As Canada prepares for the next chapter in human space exploration — with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen set to fly on an upcoming Artemis mission — interest in the night sky feels newly rekindled. For many Canadians, most of us accustomed to wide open skies, space no longer feels distant or abstract. It feels personal…
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Learning from the Sky: What the Pigeon Teaches About Innovation
Before radios and satellites, before radar dishes and GPS receivers, there were pigeons. These unassuming birds once carried the hopes of aviators, soldiers, and explorers — soaring through storms and gunfire to deliver vital messages when no other form of communication could bridge the distance. Nature’s Navigators Humans have long marvelled at the homing pigeon’s…
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Pilot Officer Morris Allan McKenzie: A Manitoba Airman Remembered
Each November 11th, Canadians pause to reflect on the service and sacrifice of those who gave their lives in the line of duty. Preserving and sharing the stories of those who served in the air—many of whom never returned—is one part of the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada’s mission. One such individual is Pilot…
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Museum Announces Summer 2025 Visiting Aircraft Lineup
We’re thrilled to present an exciting lineup of visiting aircraft that brings history, innovation, and real-world aviation operations right to our doorstep. From iconic warbirds to modern-day aerial workhorses, there’s something for every aviation fan to discover—only at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada! July 25–28: P-51 Mustang IV We begin our summer flight…
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RAMWC Welcomes Next President & CEO Peter George
The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter George as the new incoming President and Chief Executive Officer. Peter brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in branding, strategy, and stakeholder engagement. Most recently, he served as CEO of McKim Communications Group, a leading Winnipeg-based marketing agency.…
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The RCAF and the Mustang Era
On July 25–27, 2025, Hannu Halminen will return to Winnipeg to display his North American P-51 Mustang IV at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada. The P-51 played an important role in the history of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), with strong Manitoba connections to the Mustang. The P-51 Mustang I entered service with…
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From Portage la Prairie to Mars: The story of Clennell Hagerston “Punch” Dickins
He was a teenage infantryman who became a bomber pilot, a peacetime pioneer who flew farther than any Canadian before him, and by the time he was 30, he had done more to map the North than most men did in a lifetime. Clennell Hagerston “Punch” Dickins was born in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, on…
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Mischief in the Machine: The History of the Gremlin
While the term gremlin may have existed earlier, the myth truly “took off” with pilots and ground crew of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the early days of World War II. These troublemaking, impish creatures became the scapegoat for mechanical issues with aircraft. You might recognize the name “Gremlin” from its most famous pop culture appearance in the…
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Silas Alward Cheesman: The First Canadian Bush Pilot to Fly in Antarctica
Early Canadian bush pilots faced challenges at every turn and confronted them head-on, armed only with an indomitable will and a can-do attitude. Thanks to bush flying, trips that once took weeks could now be completed in hours. Those dealing with accidents or emergencies that might have proved fatal due to isolation now had a…
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F-86 Sabre Unveiled
#1815 Now on Display The project began with an idea—one that would lead to 6,000 volunteer hours in a major restoration effort and a fundraising campaign unlike anything the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada had undertaken before. “2024 marked the 100th anniversary of the RCAF, as well as the 50th anniversary of the Royal Aviation Museum of Western…
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Lights, Camera, Aviation
The Royal Aviation Museum’s Connection to Hollywood History There’s an old song that goes, “You Oughta Be in Pictures.” As it turns out, two of our museum’s aircraft are the same type as those featured in the classic Hollywood film Captains of the Clouds (Warner Bros. 1942), making them pieces of aviation history that also have a touch of…
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F-86 Sabre vs. MiG-15: The Manitoban Who Downed the Last MiG of the Korean War
Text by Lt Col (ret) Robert Nash for the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada. During the Korean War, United Nations pilots flying the F-86 Sabre were involved in some of the earliest jet-to-jet battles in history. Their primary opponent was the Soviet-built Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15, which was flown by North Korean, Soviet and Chinese pilots.…
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The History of the Canadian Sabre
Text by Lt Col (ret) Robert Nash for the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada. The F-86 Sabre is the most-produced Western jet-powered day fighter, with a total production of 9,860, including all variants. Between 1949 and 1956, North American Aviation (NAA) in California built more than 7,800 F-86 Sabres, including more than 700 FJ-1…
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Fueling Change: An Indigenous Woman’s Path to Aviation
Growing up in War Lake First Nation northeast of Thompson, Manitoba, Desiree Charlton learned early on the vital importance of aviation for remote northern communities. Her community was accessible only by train for most of the year. In winter, an ice road connected War Lake with Thompson, but when Desiree’s mom was diagnosed with epilepsy,…
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50 photos commemorating our 50th year
2024 marked the 50th anniversary of the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada and it sure was a memorable one! We had over 60,000 visitors, more than 9,000 students, and hosted 68 private events. And our 180 volunteers logged 21,000 hours Here are 50 photos from the part year to mark some of our favourite…
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Highlights from the 2024 Preservation Ball
On November 9, 2024, we held our second annual Preservation Ball at the museum and raised $450,000 for STEM education! It was a fantastic, ‘70s-themed night filled with live music, dancing, an amazing culinary experience, and more. Our heartfelt thanks go out to our event planner Emma Singh Creative, our gala committee led by Wanda…
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Your ultimate guide to fall events at the Royal Aviation Museum
It’s been an exciting fall so far at the museum, and we’re just getting started! Our first travelling exhibition, Snoopy and the Red Baron opened on October 7 and we’ve put together a series of Peanuts©-themed workshops planned over the next few months. We’ve also got a couple new events lined up and some returning…
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Is our Fairchild 71C haunted?
It’s spooky season! Are you ready for a ghost story? Even in our new museum, staff have reported spooky occurrences from time to time. Loud banging after hours, mysterious voices when no one else is in the building, and lights that turn on and off by themselves. Could it be the ghost of a former…
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The incredible flying aces of World War I
With the opening of our Snoopy and the Red Baron exhibition, we’ve been thinking about who the real flying aces of the First World War are. And who was the Red Baron? Read on to find out what defines a “flying ace,” who Canada’s World War I flying aces were, and learn about the German…
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What is the Dr. D.S. Reimer Aviation Plaza?
Learn more about Dr. D.S. Reimer, a long-standing museum supporter and benefactor of our Aviation Plaza.
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Highlights from a historic month filled with visiting aircraft
This month, we welcomed two World War II aircraft as part of our RCAF 100 celebrations: the PBY-5A Canso and the Avro Lancaster. We also welcomed nearly 9,000 visitors throughout the month! Kudos to our Visitor Experience team and volunteers for all their hard work in making each visitor’s experience special. PBY-5A Canso: July 8…
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World War II P-51D Mustang set to visit RAMWC
Our RCAF 100 celebrations continue as we welcome a visiting P-51D Mustang from August 9 to 11. Owned by Hannu Halminen of Ontario, this P-51 bears the livery of 424 (City of Hamilton) Squadron. The distinctive tiger emblem is a salute to the colourful history of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the team’s predecessor, the Hamilton…
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Don’t miss the Avro Lancaster make its return to the Royal Aviation Museum
35 years ago, the Mynarski Memorial Lancaster, owned and operated by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM), made its first visit to the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (RAMWC), then called the Western Canada Aviation Museum. During its one-day visit, nearly 3,000 people showed up to see the World War II bomber on display.…
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Top 10 kid-friendly activities at the Royal Aviation Museum
Fun takes flight at the Royal Aviation Museum! We have many hands-on exhibits and interactive areas where kids (and kids at heart!) can learn and be entertained. Here are our top 10. 1. Live out your fighter pilot dreams in our Voodoo cockpit The McDonnell F-101B (CF-101) Voodoo was a supersonic, all-weather interceptor employed by…
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5 things to look forward to at RAM this summer
Who else feels like summer is officially here? The next few months will be busy, busy, busy, and fun, fun, fun! We’ve got some returning events, visiting aircraft, and exciting news about our F-86 Sabre fighter jet restoration. Here are five things you can look forward to at the museum this summer! 1. The return…
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Rev up your summer—volunteer as an Aviation Ambassador
Summer is a busy and exciting time at the Royal Aviation Museum and we rely on our volunteers more than ever. We welcome visitors from all over the world who come to Winnipeg to experience our vibrant cultural scene. Over the past few months, we’ve been working hard to add new exhibits to our Science…
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2024 summer children’s programming at RAMWC
Calling all teachers, parents, and caregivers! Have you heard about our 2024 educational summer programming? We have some new and exciting options this year. Read on to find out more! Summer Fun Days For the first time, this summer we’re offering public STEM programming for kids! These programs will be offered on Tuesday mornings from…
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Check out our jaw-dropping list of visiting aircraft
We’re very excited to share our 2024 list of visiting aircraft with you! Mark your calendars—we’ve got some real gems coming your way this summer. Here’s the lineup: May 18 – 20 | de Havilland Canada Chipmunk, C-FOAV We’re kicking things off with the de Havilland Canada Chipmunk, a classic training aircraft developed for the…
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The story of our flying boxcar, the Junkers Ju-52
Did you know that our Junkers Ju 52/1m is a non-flying replica of CF-ARM, owned by Canadian Airways Limited? Or that it was originally built with three engines? On August 16, 1984, the transformation began as this tri-motored aircraft was towed from the Western Canada Aviation Museum to Bristol Aerospace Limited (now Magellan Aerospace) in…
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Catch a behind-the-scenes look at our restoration facility
On recent tours of our restoration facility, some of our Sabre Squadron donors got a behind-the-scenes look at the projects underway. The big attraction, of course, was our F-86 Sabre. Built under license from North American, the Canadair Mk. 6 was the only Sabre variant made entirely in Canada. The Mk. 6 had a two-stage,…
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Two new exhibits land at RAMWC
Don’t miss our new interactive Ace Academy exhibit and our tribute to the centennial of the Royal Canadian Air Force. 100 years of the RCAF On March 20, 2024, we welcomed veterans, personnel from 17 Wing Winnipeg, cadets, and special guests for the opening of an exhibit commemorating 100 years of the Royal Canadian Air…
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Flying high: pioneering women of aviation
March 4-10, 2024, is Women of Aviation Week and March 8 is International Women’s Day. What better way to celebrate than by remembering some of the pioneering women in aviation? The firsts Frenchwoman Raymonde de Laroche is thought to be the first woman to pilot a plane. She received her pilot’s license on March 8,…
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Highlights from our first Open Cockpit Day of 2024
Our first Open Cockpit Day of the year was a ton of fun! Visitors had access to our CL-84 Dynavert and our Mini 500 helicopter, recently donated to the museum by Derek Wrigley of Kleefeld, Manitoba. We were also lucky enough to welcome Canadian aerobatic champion Luke Penner for a presentation on life as an…
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Check out the winners of our photo contest!
We held our second photo contest last month and received a lot of amazing submissions. It was tough to choose the winners, so we’ve also awarded several Honourable Mentions. WINNER: Category 1 – A Tribute to the RCAF WINNER I: Category 2 – General WINNER II: Category 2 – General Honourable Mentions Thank you to…
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Happy 100th birthday to the Vickers Vedette
2024 is a big year for aviation celebrations. Not only is it our museum’s 50th anniversary, but it’s also the centennial of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Vickers Vedette. The Vedette was the first military aircraft designed and manufactured in Canada. It played an important role for…
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5 fun ways to celebrate National Aviation Day
National Aviation Day takes place on February 23 and we have five ways for you to celebrate.
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UM ENGINEERING STUDENTS DESIGN NEW INTERACTIVE PROPULSION EXHIBIT FOR AVIATION MUSEUM
Our Standard Aero Mechanics’ Workshop is about to get a lot more exciting thanks to a new interactive exhibit. Six students from the University of Manitoba’s Price Faculty of Engineering recently wrapped up the design of a hands-on exhibit representing the stages of a combustion engine cycle using engine cutaways. Exhibits like these are a…
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10 things to look forward to at RAMWC in 2024
Did you know that 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the Royal Aviation Museum? Here are 10 events to look forward to in the coming year.
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The F-86 Sabre: a fighter jet made for aerobatics
As work progresses on the restoration of our F-86 Sabre, we’ve been digging through our archives to learn more about its history. Recently, we came across an article from the old Western Canada Aviation Museum blog about what it was like to fly this aircraft. We’ve also included some background on the Golden Hawks, an…
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A look back at 2023
It’s been a busy year at RAMWC thanks to the more than 60,000 visitors and students who have come through our doors. We hosted several visiting aircraft, held lots of fun events, and celebrated a few firsts. Keep reading to see the highlights… Visiting aircraft This year, we hosted several visiting aircraft starting in July…
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This Giving Tuesday, join the Sabre Squadron
We’ve just launched a fundraising campaign for the restoration of our Canadair F-86 Sabre fighter jet. We’re on our way to our goal of $50,000 and want YOU to be a part of this historic aircraft’s transformation! Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada and the 100th anniversary…
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What’s new and on the horizon at RAMWC?
If you’re looking to cross some shopping off your list, entertain your kids, or help out the less fortunate in our community, we’ve got ways for you to accomplish all three. Plus, we’ve got two new aircraft for you to check out! NEW TIMES TWO We welcomed two new additions to our museum last week—a…
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An interview with Canada’s top-ranked aerobatic pilot
Luke Penner just returned from Las Vegas after competing in the World Advanced Aerobatic Championship with Team Canada. The aircraft he flew, an Extra 330SC, will be on display at the Royal Aviation Museum until April 2024. When he flew in yesterday to deliver his plane, we asked him about what it was like to…
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A winning month for RAMWC
October was an exciting month for us as we were honoured with awards from two distinguished organizations in our community. We received news in early October that we would be awarded the Outstanding Science Organization of 2023 by the Science Teachers’ Association of Manitoba. On Friday, October 21, our three educators attended a ceremony at…
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5 trailblazers we’re celebrating this Women’s History Month
October is Women’s History Month in Canada, a time to celebrate the women and girls from our past, and our present, who are contributing to a better, more inclusive Canada. At the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (RAMWC), we feature many women in aviation who’ve broken down barriers and blazed a trail for other…
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Photo highlights from Open Cockpit Day: Visiting Aircraft Edition
This past weekend we had the privilege of hosting aircraft and pilots from the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum in Brandon, Manitoba. We were joined by: Mark Odegard, Chief Pilot at the CATPM: Jeff Bell, Harvard Mark II pilot; Nick Reeder, Stinson HW75 pilot; Peter Moody, Fairchild Cornell pilot; John McNarry, mechanic and CATPM president;…
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What’s new and upcoming at RAMWC?
Here’s a roundup of what’s new and coming up at the Royal Aviation Museum. NEW ARTEFACTS AND DISPLAYS New artefact: Rolls Royce Merlin 620 engine The Rolls-Royce Merlin is one of the most famous aero engines in history. It powered many WWII aircraft including the Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire, North American P-51 Mustang, and Avro…
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Meet the craftsmen behind our popular pedal planes
If you’ve been to our museum this summer, you’ve probably noticed our pedal and push planes in Aviation Plaza. But did you know that they were built by two of our volunteers? Dave Mork and Shawn Romas are two of the talented volunteers on our team. Together, they’ve built us a fleet of nearly 20…
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Special Air Mission: Winnipegger selected to detail historic aircraft at Seattle’s Museum of Flight
Learn how Cris Aquino ended up on an exclusive team selected to detail the first presidential jet.
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5 free activity sheets to keep your young aviators entertained
Summer’s winding down and you may be running out of ideas to keep your little ones entertained. Not to worry—we’ve got you covered. We created five activity sheets that you can download for FREE.
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Remembering the Canadian Forces Buffalo Nine
In 1974, Canadian peacekeeping troops were posted to the Golan Heights—an area between Syria and Israel—to aid United Nations troops. Tensions were high in the Middle East. A year prior, during the Yom Kippur War of 1973, Syria and Egypt attempted to regain control of territory that Israel had captured in 1967. Included in this…
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Behind the scenes: restoration projects update, July 2023
Take a look at what projects our volunteers are working on at our restoration facility.
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Cross-Canada ham radio event to be held at RAMWC
Six amateur radio clubs across Canada are gathering this weekend to celebrate the life and retirement of the CC115 Buffalo through a special Buffalos on the Air (BOTA) event. On July 22 in Comox, BC, Winnipeg, MB, Trenton, ON, and Summerside, PEI, these radio operators will use a combination of ham radios and existing…
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Top 5 photo ops at the Royal Aviation Museum
Have you actually been somewhere if you don’t have photo proof? Our museum is full of fun spaces to pose for pics with friends and family. Here are our top five!
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A wonderful day of wings and wheels: highlights from the RAMWC Father’s Day event
This past weekend we held our 2nd Wings & Wheels event for Father’s Day and it was a fantastic day! We had beautiful weather for our car show in Aviation Plaza and King Cole Catering served up a delicious lunch. Thank you to everyone who joined us and brought their dads/granddads/father figures/families. Check out some…
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Defying boundaries: The trailblazing life of Charlie the Chinese aviator
By Joan Wong Have you ever dreamed of flying through the air in a 1920s Aeromarine-built bi-plane? My grandfather, Charlie Wong, was one of the first Chinese pilots to realize this dream when he was a mere youth. News of his training spread and his arrival in Shanghai was anticipated before the outbreak of the…
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Your guide to an aviation-themed vacation in (and around) Winnipeg
It’s road trip season! For those of you planning a vacation to—or staycation in—Winnipeg, we’ve put together an aviation-themed list of attractions and adventures that will leave you buzzing with excitement. Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada Our museum is home to 25 aircraft, 100 years of aviation history, 14 galleries, interactive exhibits, and so…
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A look back at our first year
The first year in our new museum was a wonderful one, thanks to our many visitors, volunteers, staff, and donors. Here’s a look back at the past year in photos!
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Aviation and Aerospace Discovery Days at RAMWC
RAMWC and Winnipeg School Division partner to create awareness for students of careers and opportunities in the aviation and aerospace sector.
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Check out the winning photo from our first-ever photo contest!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first-ever photography night at the museum for National Aviation Day this past February. View all the entries here!
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RAMWC welcomes its newest artefact ahead of aviation conference
Pictured above: Stan Michalak with the 1:32 scale model he built of a Curtiss H-16 flying boat The Royal Aviation Museum is set to present its first-ever aviation conference on April 14 and 15, 2023. Spearheaded by a small group of passionate, amateur aviation researchers, the conference will take an in-depth look at early 20th-century…
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Meet the winners of the RAMWC Aviation Awards!
This past weekend’s Academy Awards got us thinking that a lot of the aircraft in our museum are award-worthy. So we created our own set of award winners based on some of the famous Oscar categories!
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Discover Canada’s first helicopter at the Royal Aviation Museum
Anyone visiting the Royal Aviation Museum will quickly recognize the Froebe Helicopter as a unique piece of engineering. The fact it was designed and built from scrap parts by three farm boys, without formal engineering training, makes the story that much more inspiring.
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What’s special about February 23? It’s National Aviation Day!
National Aviation Day was established to commemorate the past, celebrate the present and advance the future of aviation in Canada. It’s recognized every year on February 23, the day in 1909 when J.A.D. McCurdy piloted the first flight in Canada. McCurdy flew the Silver Dart nearly 800 metres in Baddeck, Nova Scotia. Canada has one…
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Aviation museum memories fuel aspiring engineer
How many of us can say that from a young age, we knew what we wanted to do when we grew up? Aspiring engineer Lauren Maksimovich can. For her, the seed was planted when she visited the Royal Aviation Museum as a child. “I have so many memories from this museum. Sitting in the cockpit…
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Behind the scenes at our new restoration facility
Check out what’s happening at our restoration facility!
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10 events to look forward to in 2023
We’ve already got a lot of events planned for 2023, and there’s sure to be more that come up. Check out the 10 we’re most excited about right now.
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Through fresh eyes: RAMWC as seen by one of our visitors
Photography is a wonderful medium for showing us familiar things in new ways. For Mohamed Suliman, it also “allows us to see the beauty in front of our eyes.” Mohamed is a grade 12 student in Winnipeg who moved here from Qatar in late 2020. Growing up fascinated by the work of professional photographers, his…
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Top 22 photos of 2022
It’s been an amazing year for us, especially the past seven months since we opened our new museum. We’ve welcomed more than 60,000 visitors, including 4,500 students for educational programming, and have added three aircraft to our collection. Our staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to get ready for our grand opening this past May. Since…
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The aerobatic champion that almost wasn’t
Luke Penner is one of the top-ranked aerobatic pilots in North America, but there was a time when self-doubt and anxiety kept him grounded. Luke grew up in a family of pilots. His father, Harvey Penner, founded a flight school in 1972. Both Harvey (Harv) and Luke’s brother Adam were well-known and respected in the…
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My 5 favourite features of the new Royal Aviation Museum
This review was graciously submitted to us by Ed Unrau, former editor of the Royal Aviation Museum’s Altitude magazine. The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada is easily one of the best museums in Manitoba, if not in Canada. It is impressively successful in the way that it makes aviation history a story of continuing…
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This GivingTuesday, give the gift of education
Since its inception in 2013, hundreds of millions have participated in GivingTuesday, a global day for good, meant to inspire people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. In 2021, $43.6m was donated online in Canada on GivingTuesday! We had a modest goal of raising $2,000 to fund the development of our new STEM programs. Thanks…
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The road to becoming an honorary Snowbird
On July 6, 2022 I received a very special telephone call. It was Dan Dempsey, a former Solo Pilot and Commanding Officer/Team Lead of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. He wanted to advise me that I had been selected as Honorary Snowbird!
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An insider look at how we moved our collection of 70,000 artefacts
How we moved 70,000 artefacts into our new museum.
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How to weatherproof a beloved vintage aircraft, the CF-101 Voodoo
Back in 2019, exhibit planning was well underway for the new museum and the team had some tough choices to make about what aircraft to highlight and what stories to tell. They ultimately decided the historic McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo would be stationed outside, as the showpiece of Aviation Plaza. Knowing it would be exposed to…
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A new museum, a new approach
This past summer, our President and CEO—and interim Curator—Terry Slobodian, was asked to present at annual conference of the International Association of Transport and Communication Museums (IATM) in Prague. The proposed topics were audience diversification and making the museum relevant to new visitors, two goals Terry has worked tirelessly toward since joining the museum in…
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Royal Aviation Museum excited to welcome the A-26B Invader on October 22, 2022
Arriving October 22 at 11 am and bringing our on-site aircraft total to 25, we’re excited to welcome the eye-catching Douglas A-26B Invader. Purchased by Ross Robinson in 2007, this aircraft, C-GWLT, has a storied history dating back to 1944. Manufactured towards the end of WWII, the Invader—sometimes called the “Badass Invader”—was used extensively during…
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Celebrating women in aviation for Women’s History Month
It’s Women’s History Month in Canada! Women have made great strides to achieve representation in the aviation and aerospace industries. It’s important to recognize these trailblazers and heroes for the inspiration they’ve sparked in others. In a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Justin Trudeau acknowledges, “Throughout our history, women have played an invaluable role…
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Advancing Reconciliation at RAMWC
In the 1920s, bush pilots began flying into northern Canada in search of natural resources like lumber and minerals. The arrival of aviation in the North would have long-lasting impacts—both good and bad—on the Indigenous peoples of the region. The advent of aviation allowed for delivery of groceries, mail, and life-saving medications to northern communities.…
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New STEM programs launch at RAMWC
It’s a new school year and for us that means the resumption of our popular ‘Take Flight!’ curriculum-based programs. Education programming has been a priority for the Royal Aviation Museum since 2005 and since then, we’ve delivered programming to more than 90,000 students. Building on that success, we’re excited to launch six new programs, five…
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Our Royal memories
The passing of Queen Elizabeth II earlier this month was a surprise to many and we have great sympathy for her family and those around the world who revered her and feel the loss. The Queen showed remarkable commitment during her reign of more than 70 years as Head of State. It’s clear that she…
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Meet our newest arrival: The Lockheed L-10A Electra
Our museum got a little bit shinier when earlier this month we welcomed the Lockheed L-10A Electra, CF-TCC, donated to us by Air Canada in celebration of its 85th anniversary. Its all-metal body, polished to a high shine courtesy of museum volunteers, glistened in the morning light as the aircraft taxied into Aviation Plaza on…
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RAMWC mourns the loss of Whit Petch, museum’s lead architect
We were deeply saddened this week to hear of the sudden passing of Whit Petch, Principle of Reich & Petch Architects Inc., and the Lead Museum Architect for our new Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada facility. Whit was a key leader in the development of our new Museum from the initial Concept and Operating…
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Is the de Havilland Canada Beaver the best bush plane ever built?
Anyone successful will tell you that one of the keys to success is understanding your audience. De Havilland Canada understood this and subsequently developed “the best bush plane ever built,” as it’s so often been called. In 1946, de Havilland Canada sent out a survey to a group of approximately 50 pilots asking them what…
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Our new home, one year later
For nearly 15 years, the founders and key stakeholders of the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada dreamt of a brand-new space to call home. A modern museum in which to tell stories of Canada’s aviation and aerospace heritage while providing an environment to inspire future generations of aviators and innovators. A place for education,…
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A fun family day at the museum
Nik Rave of Rave Photo recently visited the museum with his children and shared these lovely photos with us. Enjoy!
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A heroic rescue in the wilderness of northwestern Ontario
Felixstowe F.3 was a WWI-era British military flying boat, one in a series designed by Lieutenant Commander John Cyril Porte at Royal Naval Air Station, Felixstowe, Suffolk for long-range maritime patrols[1]. Following the First World War, in 1920 Britain presented Canada with an Imperial Gift of 100 surplus military aircraft, including eleven Felixstowe F.3s. During…
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2,300 STUDENTS, 50 SCHOOLS, 26 DAYS
Our ‘Take Flight!’ curriculum-based education programs were incredibly popular when our museum was on Ferry Road, so offering them at our new location was a high priority. On May 25, just four days after our grand opening, we welcomed our first group of students from Poplar Grove School, nearly four hours away from the museum.…
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RAMWC receives funding through PrairiesCan for exhibit development
(Above image: Honourable Jim Carr, RAMWC President & CEO Terry Slobodian, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Terry Duguid) Thanks to funding from Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (RAMWC) has received $500,000 for exhibit development. On June 10, 2022, Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to…
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Royal Aviation Museum honour victims of 1972 Linwood Street tragedy
(WINNIPEG, MB – June 24, 2022) – 50 years after a plane carrying residential school children crashed on Linwood Street in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (RAMWC) is erecting a monument in their honour. On June 24, 1972, a plane carrying eight students attending residential schools in Stonewall and Portage la…
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RAMWC welcomes three new board members
We’re very pleased to announce the appointment of three new board members as of May 25, 2022: Patricia Gair, Peggy May, and Martha Ford. Peggy May is a strategic leader with expertise in piloting organizations and delivering on the mission, vision, and values of the organizations to which she has been responsible. She excels at…
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Fun-filled grand opening weekend
After a long, three-year closure, we finally opened the doors of our new museum on May 21, 2022. It was wonderful to welcome visitors into our new facility and to see the joy and awe on their faces. Thank you to our amazing team of volunteers and staff who made the weekend a success, and…
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A new chapter for an iconic Winnipeg museum
Even before its establishment as a city, Winnipeg was the epicentre of trade and commerce for Indigenous nations and travelers headed for all points north, south, east, and west. When air travel landed in Western Canada in the 1920s, Winnipeg continued as a gateway for development, eventually becoming the operational headquarters for each of Canada’s…
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Meet our mascot, Hobbs!
We’re very excited to introduce you to our brand-new mascot, Hobbs the Bear. Why ‘Hobbs’? The name was inspired by a decorated Canadian pilot named Basil Deacon Hobbs who lived from 1894 to 1963 and is a favourite of our CEO, Terry Slobodian. In 1917, pilot Basil Hobbs became one of the few Canadians to…
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