At The Canada Aviation And Space Museum

 In the latter half of August, I paid a visit to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, one of several national museums in the national capital region. It lies out beyond Rockcliffe Park, sharing space with an airstrip. 

The hanger across the road holds more of the collection.

Here between the buildings is Project Northstar. This is an ongoing restoration of the only surviving plane of its kind in the world- the military Canadair C54-GM.

I headed indoors.

Inside the entrance, hanging from above, is a Snowbird. This is the unit of the Canadian military that does air shows.

Beyond the entrance is a large structure, a hall built in honour of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Flags ot the service branch are assembled at its base, along with a time capsule.

Also here is a ceremonial sword of the RCAF.

Within the hall, a peaceful space that includes a three dimensional topographical map.

And an oculus is at the top.

Back outside, this dedication is found.

A Centennial

Today I begin my series for Winterlude, and in a bit of an odd spot. Last year, the Canadian Forces joined in with an exhibit and ice sculpture on the grounds at the National War Memorial. It appears that they've decided to make the idea a tradition, as it's back this year. 2024 marks the centennial year of the Royal Canadian Air Force, founded in the years after the First World War. This was being projected onto the pavement.

A series of banners looks at aspects of the history of the Air Force, including NORAD, a joint partnership operation with the USAF that dates to the 1950s.

This includes individual profiles, such as Major Stephen Blizzard.

Two generals of the RCAF- Paul Manson and Bill Carr.

Women trailblazers of the RCAF are found here. Jane Foster and Dee Brasseur were the first female fighter pilots of the Forces. Karin Lehmann was the first female aircrew member in Canadian history to fire at the enemy from a helicopter during the Gulf War.

The RCAF have given rise to the Snowbirds, the squadron that does flying tours to demonstrate their exceptional flying abilities to the public.

When Canadians went to war as part of Desert Storm, Canadian fighter jets were part of that, and would fire on the enemy for the first time since the Korean War.

Colonel Jeremy Hansen is set to be the first Canadian astronaut to journey to the Moon later this year as part of the new Artemis program. Chris Hadfield, a former RCAF pilot, was a commander of the International Space Station, and made a big impression on the world during his last time on the ISS.

When Canadian participation ended in the Afghan War, it was the RCAF who brought the soldiers home.

During the First World War, Canadian pilots generally flew with the British, and the RAF was really the Royal Flying Corps, a part of the British army at the time. Canadian pilots like Billy Bishop became aces and legends.

During the Second World War, more examples of fortitude from those who served in the RCAF. Andrew Mynarski, seen second from left, was decorated posthumously with the Victoria Cross for his actions on his doomed bomber soon after D-Day. Willard Bolduc, an indigenous man from Ontario, became an air gunner during raids over Europe, and won the Distinguished Flying Cross. Leonard Birchall, at right, spent years as a POW after being shot down over the Indian Ocean, and later served in command positions with the RCAF.

One of the other functions of the RCAF is in search and rescue.

During the Korean War, some Canadian officers were seconded to the USAF.

Up In The Air

The Canada Aviation And Space Museum is east of the Rockcliffe Park area, along the shore of the Ottawa River. It is one of the national museums in the Ottawa area, and it also has a small airfield on the extensive property, the Rockcliffe Airport, used by the Rockcliffe Flying Club, single engine planes generally. The museum's origins date to 1964, with an amalgamation of three separate collections- items from the War Museum, the RCAF Museum, and the National Aviation Museum. The collection focuses on military and civilian aircraft, as well as the Canadian space program. Its main exhibition space is in the building to the left, while the building at right is the main storage facility, not always open to museum visitors but containing more of the collection. Both buildings have the deliberate design of hangers, appropriate for the collection.

I was here early this past week, March Break in Ontario, and so there were a good number of kids around. The last time I was here was years ago, before I started the photoblog.

Walking up towards the entrance, you can see the shape of a plane beyond the glass. You also see a police vehicle- two officers had a demonstration area inside (which I didn't photograph) presenting the kind of aerial drones the Ottawa police are using in their work.

Here we have a view inside the entrance, where one of the Snowbirds hangs overhead. These military trainer planes are used through the year for the Snowbirds program, an Air Force demonstration team that participates in fly pasts and air shows around the country and beyond. One of their planes hangs here as if in the midst of flight.

This was actually one of the last photographs I took during my visit, inside the giftshop. Imagine doing thousand piece jigsaw puzzles with space as the subject. 

There is a large circular structure near the entrance. I'll be showing you inside tomorrow, but here we have flags on the outside, with a cabinet and ceremonial sword. The flags are of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The cabinet is locked up until 2024, housing a time capsule that was placed inside back in 2000 and will be opened for the 100th anniversary of the formal founding of the RCAF.

The crest of the RCAF is overhead.

This sculpture gives an explanation of the interior of what I'll show tomorrow, and a bit of a hint of the design with its glasswork over top of a landscape model. The structure is the RCAF Hall Of Tribute.

The Grand Hall

My last museum stop on Canada Day was at the Canadian Museum of Nature, over on the Gatineau side of the Ottawa River. The marvelous architecture by Douglas Cardinal is always a pleasure to see. This view, with the gap between the curatorial wing to the left and the exhibit wing at right, gives a view of Parliament across the river.

As I approached I could hear music being played. It was this large wagon cart parked in place, mounted with multiple drums and other instruments for other people to come up to and play.

The Snowbirds happened to fly overhead as I proceeded on. I caught them in formation.

Here we have a view looking down the stairs. The riverside park area would have been ideal for watching the fireworks that evening; the only reason I've never watched them from here is that the nearby Alexandra Bridge is completely shut down during that evening until midnight, and that's the best route home.

I went into the museum, first taking in one of the temporary exhibits, Death In The Ice, about the Franklin Expedition, which you might recall I showed you back in May. The other major temporary exhibit on life in medieval Europe had a line up, but it's on until January, so I'll see that sooner or later.

The Grand Hall as it is called was busy when I came down into it. This fellow was on stilts, posing for photos with anyone who wanted it, playing the part of Optimus Prime of the Transformers franchise (otherwise known as Michael Bay's excuse to blow stuff up). The Grand Hall itself is the architectural masterpiece of the museum, housing totem poles and facades of six Pacific Coast tribes, with exhibit spaces behind those facades. 

At the south end of the Grand Hall, looking up at the dome overhead gives you my favourite work of art in the National Capital Region. Morning Star is the massive 1993 abstract mural by the Dene Suline artist Alex Janvier, incorporating ideas of his First Nations background. 

Janvier's mural uses motifs such as the circle of life- spiritual and physical, natural and human, the seasons, regalia colours of various tribes, and the notion of the morning star as a guide. It is astonishing to behold from down at ground level or closer. This second shot incorporates two women on the top platform, reinforcing how big the mural is.

Another work of art by another First Nations artist is here. Spirit Of Haida Gwaii is a plaster cast version of Bill Reid's sculpture, the original done in order to create a bronze version that resides at the Canadian embassy in Washington. It depicts a Haida canoe with a mix of people and sacred animals as paddlers and passengers.

The totems and facades dominate this space, and always fascinate me when I visit here.

I headed upstairs to take in the permanent galleries, pausing for an up close view of Morning Star.