Information
Landmark: Canada Aviation and Space MuseumCity: Ottawa
Country: Canada
Continent: North America
Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Ottawa, Canada, North America
Overview
The Canada Aviation and Space Museum serves as the nation’s hub for aerospace history, highlighting Canada’s remarkable achievements in flight and space-from vintage fighter jets gleaming under hangar lights to artifacts from pioneering missions beyond Earth.In Ottawa, you’ll find one of the world’s finest aircraft collections, where the story of flight unfolds from the rumble of early bush planes to the gleaming edges of space-age technology.Located at 11 Aviation Parkway in Ottawa, Ontario, and established in 1964, the museum sits in a sprawling hangar beside the Ottawa/Rockcliffe Airport, operated by Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, and houses more than 130 aircraft and artifacts, from gleaming WWII fighters to early bush planes, making it the largest aviation collection in Canada and among the biggest in North America.At the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, you can wander past gleaming reproductions and originals of early 20th‑century aircraft, pause by Alexander Graham Bell’s Silver Dart-the plane that made Canada’s first powered flight in 1909-and study artifacts from First World War aviation, including fighter biplanes like the Sopwith Camel.Step into the world of bush flying with floatplanes and rugged workhorses such as the Noorduyn Norseman and de Havilland Beaver, and see how aviation stitched Canada’s remote regions into its trade and infrastructure.The military aviation collection spans Second World War icons like the Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, and Avro Lancaster bomber, through Cold War jets and RCAF training aircraft.In the Jet Age section, meet the CF‑100 Canuck-Canada’s first jet fighter-then follow the rise of commercial flight with Air Canada artifacts, interactive cockpits, and flight simulators.The Space Gallery highlights Canada’s milestones from Alouette‑1 to the Canadarm, featuring astronauts such as Chris Hadfield, scale models of the ISS, and innovations in robotics.Try sliding into a pilot’s seat, flying a simulator, joining a guided tour, watching vintage aircraft soar on demonstration days, or taking a seasonal helicopter ride over Ottawa.Educational programs range from school tours and STEM workshops to summer camps, family discovery days, and events tied to National Aviation Day, Canada Day, and space science.On‑site you’ll find free parking, a boutique packed with aviation and space‑themed treasures, a café serving light meals and snacks, and accessible facilities.Located near the Ottawa River with a clear view of the Gatineau Hills, adjacent to Rockcliffe Flying Club and a working airfield where planes lift off nearby, the museum sits close to other science centres like the Canada Science and Technology Museum-making it a must‑visit for anyone captivated by flight or space.It blends rich history with the latest tech and a dash of hands-on fun-think touchscreen maps and ancient relics-making it a hit with visitors of any age.Whether you’re drawn to the roar of vintage warplanes, fascinated by Canadian space robotics, or just want to feel the rush of flight as propellers blur overhead, this museum offers an unforgettable journey through Canada’s skies and far beyond.
