CANADIAN MUSEUM OF FLIGHT
Langley BC airport CYNJ |
Hidden on a side street at the Langley airport is a small
museum with a large heart for promoting and preserving BC’s aviation history. You
might say “It’s the little museum that could – and does”. Located between a
flight school and a row of private hangars, it struggles for both recognition and
visibility.
The Canadian Museum of Flight is located at CYNJ, having
arrived there in 1996 after having spent the first 20 years of its existence in
White Rock BC. At that site they had a 600 ft. grass runway that permitted
flying only their smaller aircraft.
The museum is owned and operated as a not for profit society
by a volunteer board of directors and a small but dedicated staff.
Snowbird #8 |
It is currently situated in Hangar #3 on the south side of
the airport where their display includes a large number of static aircraft as
well as several that are maintained in flying condition. They are
able to fly a Fleet Finch*, an SE5A replica, A Sopwith Pup replica as well as a
Fleet Canuck.
A stroll through the outdoor display reveals a number of
1950’s era jets, such as a CF104, CF100, T-33 and a DH Vampire. Another
well-known Canadian aircraft is a Tutor painted in Snowbird colours. Piston
engine aircraft on display run the gamut from a Handley Page Hampden, a DC-3,
Conair Fire-cat, Beech 18 Expediter
CF100 |
The entrance to the museum is where you will find a
well-stocked gift shop with an excellent selection of books and magazines.
A very busy place indeed |
Inside the hangar you will discover numerous displays of
engines, uniforms and medals and all of the fabric covered aircraft that must
be accommodated inside due to weather concerns. There are also several
restoration projects that are currently underway in the hangar.
All of this is maintained and supported by a cast of
volunteers who meet weekly to help with the myriad of tasks that are required
to run such complex facility.
Plans are underway to relocate to a new, yet to be built
building on the west side of the airport when sufficient funds are raised to
support the project.
*the writer has flown this Finch for
16 hours during displays in 2000 and 2001.
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