Hangar Flight Museum celebrates 50 years with major accessibility upgrades, eyes on future expansion
The Hangar Flight Museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a newly unveiled $1.1-million renovation — a first step in broader plans to expand and modernize the historic site.
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Unveiled Tuesday, the upgrades include widened walkways, automated doors, accessible ramps and a new loading area, designed to make the site more welcoming to visitors of all abilities. The project marks the first phase of a long-term vision to expand the museum's footprint and its capacity to showcase Canada's rich aviation history.
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'This is a major milestone for us,' said museum executive director Brian Desjardins, noting the improvements are already making a noticeable difference for visitors. 'These upgrades have enhanced traffic flow, particularly during high attendance events, creating a more welcoming and efficient experience for everyone.'
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The project was funded through support from Prairies Economic Development Canada, Travel Alberta, The City of Calgary and other partners.
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The museum — located at McCall Way and McKnight Boulevard, named after Canadian war pilots Freddie McCall and William McKnight — was established at its current site in 1985 and became home to Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 2022.
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The site was built in 1941 and served as a drill hall for flight training school during the Second World War as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, which allowed Canada to train over 130,000 air crew between 1940 and 1945. This led former U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt to dub Canada as the 'aerodrome of democracy.'
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Today, the Hangar Flight Museum houses 36 military and civilian aircraft and more than 30,000 aviation artifacts, including a rare Lancaster bomber, one of just 17 remaining worldwide, along with helicopters and other historic aircraft. In 2023, the museum welcomed a record 52,000 visitors, including nearly 13,000 students.
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One of his favourite stories featured in the museum is that of Capt. Fred McCall, a decorated First World War pilot. In 1919, while performing an aerial show at the Calgary Stampede, McCall's Curtiss JN-4D lost power shortly after takeoff. On board were two young passengers, the children of Calgary Exhibition manager E.L. Richardson. With an auto race underway on the infield and crowds packed into the grounds, McCall had no safe place to land. He ultimately crash-landed on top of a merry-go-round. No one was injured in the incident.
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Story continues below advertisement 1. Adventure favours the prepared Unigear Rain Fly Hammock One camping hack that will leave you feeling like a pro even if you're not a seasoned camper is to string up a tarp over your tent, so that even if it rains, you've got extra protection from the elements (tents are prone to leaks over time so it is a good way to extend the life of yours). It can also expand your seating area, so more of your campmates can hang out. It's truly a versatile (and durable) piece of equipment, that doesn't take up a lot of space and that you'll be glad to have on-hand in the event the weather shifts. We recommend the largest size of this Unigear Rain Fly Hammock. 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A canopy that doubles as a kitchen tent Coleman Screened Canopy Tent with Instant Setup If you expect to be tenting for more than a couple of days, you may want to consider bringing along a canopy to serve as a spot to sit and eat in. This is especially a good idea if the forecast calls for rain at any point. You can certainly set up another tarp to do the job, but we like the ease and simplicity of this Coleman Screened Canopy (also because it provides some protection against mosquitoes and flies as well, and because you can modify it to either include the base and screens or leave these areas exposed). $186.98 on Amazon You may also like: Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash Liquid Camp Soap – $20.85 Stanley All In One French Press Coffee Maker – $34 Story continues below advertisement Portable Fan – $51.99 7. 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