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Re: Warbirds in Canada

Posted by Mike Henniger on Mon Mar 04, 2002 07:57:13 AM

In reply top Warbirds in Canada posted by rich on Sun Mar 03, 2002 03:49:14 PM

Well... now someone is asking a question that I can answer! :-)

There isn't much in the Montreal area for warbirds but as suggested you could check out the local airports. For example... I took trip by train to Quebec city last summer, and just east of Montreal the train passed an airport and I spotted a Catalina/Canso. It is (or was) one of the yellow water bombers.

If you are looking for a guide for non-musuem warbirds in Canada, here is a website you should check out...

http://www.cyberbeach.net/~solonyka/LCRA/poplocation.htm

...of course being in Ottawa, I would suggest that you try to get to the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa. Not a huge collection (as compared to the USAF Museum or the Smithsonian) but the aircraft are immaculate and very well presented. You can find a Lanc, Spit, Bf 109, Mustang, Me-163, Hurricane, P-40, Mosquito, He-162 are a few of my favorites. Actually a few of those (P-40, Mosquito, He-162) are in the storage end of the museum where they are viewable, but things are a little crowded. If you are a photographer, you might like to know that the museum does a great job with natural lighting, but you still might want to bring a tri-pod.

As for other warbirds in Ontario... the is a former Golden Hawks F-86 on the Brockville waterfront. As mention there is an F-86 on display in the Royal Military College in Kingston. Across the road is a CF-100. Back up a bit on highway 2 at CFB Kingston there is a CF-5 and a Kiowa that have been pole mounted recently. On the other side of Kingston there is a Harvard pole mounted at the airport. At the small airport in Belleville there is a CF-100 rotting away. Near the bridge over the bay in Belleville there is an F-86, and there is another down the road in Trenton (look for the local RCL). Of course don't miss the museum in Trenton, and that Halifax they are restoring.

The list goes on and on and on... If you want I can send you a list of the Ontario roadside warbirds and museums that I know of.

Now be warned... Montreal is a long way from Hamilton (Canadian Warplane Heritage). I don't know how far you are prepared to drive, but you likely looking at 5-6 hours not counting all the stops for warbirds along the way. I haven't driven the route before but I think Ottawa is only about 2+ hours from Montreal (just for comparison).

If you have any questions just post here are send me an email.

Regards,

Mike


: I will be going to Canada in May this year for a holiday.
: As I am going to have some free time in the Montreal area
: while my Girlfriend attends a conference, I want to visit
: a few museums/collections within a couple of hours drive
: of Montreal. Can anyone make any suggestions? - Im partic
: ularly interested in flyers.
:
: Im hoping to attend the CWH later on our trip and catch th
: e airshow at Niagara on the 18-19th - where is the best pl
: ace to see this from?

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