January 8, 2026
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 alongside aircraft from the Museum’s own collection, these engines invite visitors to look beyond the airframe and explore the technology, innovation, and expertise that powered Canada’s aviation story.
General Electric J79
Powering the Supersonic Age
Developed in the 1950s, the General Electric J79 was among the most powerful turbojet engines of its era, a power plant that allowed aircraft to pass Mach 2. It became best known for powering aircraft such as the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, an aircraft capable of sustained supersonic flight. In Canada Bristol Aerospace manufactured the engine under license.
For Canada, the J79 holds particular importance through its association with the Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, which served with the Royal Canadian Air Force from the early 1960s into the 1980s. Canadian Starfighters were primarily assigned to strike and reconnaissance roles in Europe during the Cold War, forming a key part of NATO’s forward defence.
Beyond its performance, the J79 is also remembered for its distinctive high-pitched “howl,” a sound instantly recognizable to those who flew them, maintained them, or lived near Starfighter bases. This signature sound was produced by the engine’s advanced variable-geometry compressor, a design that contributed to both the aircraft’s exceptional speed and its unmistakable acoustic presence on the flight line.
“The cool thing about the J79 was the faster it went the faster it wanted to go,” commented Marsh Pettit the Museums Restoration team lead and former RCAF pilot.
The J79 engine on display is located beside the Museum’s own CF-104 Starfighter (12703), allowing visitors to directly connect this powerful and unconventional engine with the aircraft it once propelled. Together, they reflect a period when pushing technological limits came with sights—and sounds—that left a lasting impression on generations of service personnel.
Orenda 10
A Canadian Engine for a Canadian Jet
The Orenda 10 is a milestone in Canada’s industrial and aviation history. Designed and built by Orenda Engines in Ontario, it powered the Canadair Sabre, one of the most successful jet fighters of the post–Second World War era. Wither Marks of the Orenda engine powering the CF-100 Canuck.
Fitted to later marks of the Sabre, the Orenda 10 delivered exceptional performance and reliability, helping Canadian-built aircraft gain an international reputation for quality and innovation. Sabres equipped with Orenda engines served extensively with the RCAF and were flown by allied air forces as well.
This engine is displayed next to the Museum’s Canadair Sabre Mk. 6 (1815)—the final production Sabre built in Canada—reinforcing the story of domestic design, manufacturing, and operational excellence. Together, the aircraft and engine highlight a moment when Canada was not only operating advanced jet aircraft but leading in their development and production during the early Cold War.
Pratt & Whitney Wasp R-1340
The Engine That Opened the Skies
Introduced in 1925, the Pratt & Whitney Wasp R-1340 was the company’s first aircraft engine—and one of the most influential engines ever built. Reliable, powerful, and adaptable, the Wasp became a cornerstone of early commercial, military, and bush aviation.
The Wasp powered dozens of aircraft types and is famously associated with Amelia Earhart, whose Lockheed L-10A Electra relied on these engines during her long-distance flights.
The Museum’s example is a remarkable cut-away, revealing the internal workings of a radial piston engine in extraordinary detail. It is displayed alongside the Museum’s Lockheed L-10A Electra (CF-TCC)—one of Trans-Canada Air Lines’ original aircraft—connecting the engine directly to the early days of Canadian commercial aviation. For Canadian audiences, the Wasp’s legacy is closely tied to bush flying and air transport, supporting mail delivery, aerial surveying, and travel across remote regions where aviation was a lifeline, not just a luxury.
Together, these three engines tell a powerful story: from piston engines that opened Canada’s vast landscapes, to domestically designed jet engines that placed Canadian aerospace expertise on the world stage, to supersonic powerplants that defined Cold War defence.
They are reminders that behind every historic aircraft is an engine that made flight possible—and behind those engines are the people, companies, and innovations that helped shape Canada’s aviation legacy.
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