January 9, 2024
Did you know that 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the Royal Aviation Museum? We were officially incorporated on July 8, 1974.
Throughout the year, we’ll be sharing photos from the past 50 years on our social channels to highlight milestones, events, volunteers, and more. Make sure you’re following us on Instagram and Facebook to catch these posts!
Here are 10 more things to look forward to in 2024:
1. Open Cockpit Days
Our first Open Cockpit Day of the year will take place on Saturday, February 24. We’ll also have an exciting guest speaker that day. Luke Penner, the reigning Canadian aerobatic champion, will be here to tell you what aerobatic flying is like and answer all your questions.
Visitors will have access to our CL-84 Dynavert and our new mini helicopter. Don’t miss this!
2. Visiting aircraft
Last year’s visiting aircraft included a Boeing 737-800 cargo plane, a water bomber, a crop duster, and several WWII-era aircraft.
Though none of our visiting aircraft have been confirmed yet, we’re working on a few very special ones this year. Stay tuned…
3. Visiting exhibits
Beginning March 23, come check out the Ace Academy: Flight Experience, an immersive exhibit where visitors can “fly” a realistic rendering of the Canada Aviation and Space Museum’s Sopwith Ship Camel biplane. Moving their arms up and down, and tilting their bodies, players manoeuver an airplane onscreen — dodging enemy aircraft and aligning themselves to fire.
This exhibit will be at the museum until August, 2024.
We’re keeping our second traveling exhibit a secret for now, but trust us, it’s going to be ace.
4. Spring break programming
Our ‘Passport to Fun!’ programming over spring break last year brought thousands of you to the museum, and boy, we sure did have fun.
If you’re looking for educational, family-friendly activities to do during this year’s break, make sure you plan a visit to the Royal Aviation Museum.
5. The Great Easter Egg Hunt
In 2023, we had 1,300 visitors at our Easter egg hunt! Hunts, actually. Families could sign up for one of four different time-slots throughout the day.
This year, we’ll have a similar format. Kids can bring their own basket or decorate one of our pre-made ones, race around collecting paper eggs, and then trade them in for chocolate.
Details and ticket information coming soon!
6. May the fourth
Where are all our science fiction fans at?
If you weren’t at our May the fourth event last year, make sure you don’t miss out this year. We had a special guided, science fiction-themed tour, a light sabre demonstration, a robot, and cosplayers.
Watch for all this and more on May 4, 2024.
7. Wings & Wheels 3.0
Our signature Father’s Day event will be back on June 16 with a car show, food trucks, giveaways, and more.
8. A new aircraft and a big party
Our volunteers are hard at work on the restoration of our F-86 Sabre. The plan is to unveil the newly restored aircraft this July in celebration of our museum’s 50th anniversary. We think that’s a pretty good reason to throw a big party, don’t you?
We’re working on the details and will put out a save-the-date announcement soon!
9. The Manitoba Airshow
The Manitoba Airshow is coming back, August 3-4, 2024. Along with aerial performances, the event will have ground-level entertainment, beer gardens, concessions, and souvenir kiosks.
Tickets start at just $12.00 are available now. Get yours here.
10. Halloween with Hobbs
Another one of our favourite traditions, Halloween wth Hobbs, is coming back on October 27.
Stop by for trick-or-treating, children’s activities, and a chance to win prizes in our costume parade!
See? We told you there’s a lot to look forward to—and there’s more we didn’t have room to include on this list!
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