Hangar Flight Museum celebrates 50 years with major accessibility upgrades, eyes on future expansion
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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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