The Hangar Flight Museum in Calgary is celebrating a significant milestone this week, marking fifty years of preserving and sharing Alberta's rich aviation heritage with the public.
Five Decades of Aviation Preservation
Located along McCall Way NE in Calgary, the non-profit museum officially celebrated its 50th anniversary on Monday. Brian Desjardin, executive director of the museum, expressed pride in reaching this remarkable achievement. "We're very proud to celebrate and tell Calgary's rich aviation history," Desjardin stated, noting how the city's streets themselves reflect this heritage with names like McKnight Boulevard and McCall Way honoring former Air Force pilots from both World Wars.
Impressive Collection and Recent Additions
The museum's collection is substantial, featuring over 36 historic military and civilian aircraft that tell the story of Western Canada's aviation development. Among the notable exhibits are a Lancaster bomber and Hawker Hurricane, both significant military aircraft from wartime history.
The museum's most recent acquisition highlights local aviation contributions - a STARS BK117 helicopter that represents what Desjardin calls "an all-Calgary story of STARS, the rapid response emergency helicopter that has saved lives and people in Calgary and region, and Western Canada."
Educational Impact and Future Expansion
The museum's educational programs have reached approximately 13,000 students through curriculum-aligned programs that teach the theory and science of flight. "It's amazing to really inspire the youngest generation to pursue post-secondary and eventual careers in aviation and aerospace," Desjardin explained.
However, the museum faces space constraints that limit its ability to host more schools. "We are simply at this stage now, while we're very pleased to have that many students, we are full," Desjardin noted. The institution holds over 30,000 artifacts and regularly receives donation inquiries, but current space limitations prevent accepting more collections.
Recent improvements totaling $1.1 million have enhanced the facility with new walkways, storefront, automated doors, loading dock, and mezzanine extension. Looking forward, the museum is developing a new facility plan to expand operations and accommodate growing educational demand.
To celebrate the anniversary, the museum hosted a special 50th anniversary event on Monday evening and is running a 50/50 cash raffle to support hands-on educational programs. The celebration also marks the completion of the CF100 Canuck's journey and the launch of their Silver Darts program for isolated seniors.
Desjardin extended an invitation to all Calgarians and visitors: "We invite Calgarians and the public to the Hangar to experience and learn more about Calgary's aviation history, Alberta's aviation history, and Western Canada's aviation history, because we have a lot to tell."
