Aviation & Space Museum

The Canadian Air and Space Museum is Canada’s answer to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the American National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. Located on the edge of Rockcliffe, an auxiliary airport on the eastern end of Ottawa. 

The museum is really more air than space. The only space-related exhibits are in a small corner of the museum with the original Canadarm on display. The Canadarm was Canada’s contribution to the space shuttle program. It was used to hoist satellites in and out of the shuttle’s cargo bay. A second and improved version of the arm is installed on the International Space Station.

Most of the exhibits relating to aviation talk about Canada’s contribution to allied air power during the two world wars and NATO in modern times. The displays show technical information on aviation innovation but lack the excitement of the National Air Force Museum of Canada at Trenton. This museum is not to be confused with the Canadian Air and Space Museum in Toronto.

They have the Lancaster bomber without stories of the horrors of carpet bombing civilian targets. They have a DC-3 on display without mentioning how the military version, the C-47 Skytrain, helped lift the Berlin Blockade during the Cold War. There’s a Harrier jump jet without the history of its contribution at the Falklands War. A Spitfire is right next to a Hurricane, but success for the Battle of Britain is misattributed to the Spitfire instead of the Hurricane.

A museum isn’t just a place to put cool things on display, it’s also an opportunity to educate people on the successes, horrors, and innovations of past generations.