Canada's air force heritage proudly displayed across Ontario

By Eric Dumigan | March 10, 2017

Estimated reading time 7 minutes, 35 seconds.

2017 marks Canada’s 150th birthday and many people will explore our great land with road trips during the summer months. For the aviation enthusiast, Ontario offers an abundance of aviation museums and pedestal mounted ex-Canadian military aircraft.

Here’s a list by region:

Southwestern Ontario

Essex: Essex Memorial Spitfire. Mounted replica Spitfire painted as RCAF 401 Squadron YO-D, ML135 to honour local Second World War Spitfire ace Jerry Billing. The exhibit honours all veterans from the Windsor/Essex area.

Grand Bend: Pinery Flea Market. RCAF T-33 Silver Star on display.

Kitchener: Spitfire Emporium. A replica Spitfire is mounted above the store wearing the markings of Canadian fighter pilot Charley Fox.

London: London International Airport. RCAF T-33 Silver Star mounted at terminal building.

An RCAF Red Knight T-33 displayed at Base Borden. Eric Dumigan Photos

London: Jet Aircraft Museum. The museum has several ex-military aircraft on display and currently flies a Jet Provost. http://jetaircraftmuseum.ca/

London: Charlie Fox Memorial Overpass. A great sculpture honouring a local Second World War Spitfire pilot.

Sarnia: Gremain Park. Mounted RCAF Golden Hawk F-86 Sabre.

Tillsonburg: Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association. CHAA operates several Harvard aircraft and sells rides in the former wartime trainers. http://www.harvards.com/

Waterloo: Waterloo Warbirds. The group operates several vintage jets, including the legendary de Havilland Vampire. http://www.waterloowarbirds.com/

Windsor: Canadian Historical Aircraft Association. CH2A operates several ex-RCAF trainers and is restoring a Lancaster bomber and de Havilland Mosquito. http://www.ch2a.ca/

Windsor: Jackson Park. Second World War memorial with pedestal-mounted replica Spitfire and Hurricane.

Golden Horseshoe / Greater Toronto Area

Acton: Royal Canadian Legion. Mounted RCAF T-33 Silver Star.

Angus: Base Borden Military Museum. Over a dozen aircraft are mounted throughout the base, along with many military vehicles.

Brampton: The Great War Flying Museum. The museum operates several First World War replica aircraft and maintains a small museum. https://greatwarflyingmuseum.org/

Collingwood: Royal Canadian Legion. Mounted RCAF T-33 Silver Star.

Creemore: Royal Canadian Legion. Mounted RCAF T-33 Silver Star.

Dundas: Hamilton Air Force Association. Mounted RCAF T-33 Silver Star.

Dunnville: RCAF No.6 Dunnville Museum. The facility celebrates the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and the history of RCAF No.6 Dunnville. http://www.rcafmuseum.org/site/home

Dunnville: Dunnville Public Library. Mounted RCAF WWII Harvard.

Edenvale: Edenvale Classic Aircraft Foundation. The foundation operates several interesting Canadian aircraft. http://www.classicaircraft.ca/

Edenvale: Edenvale Airport: Mounted MiG 17.

Fort Erie: Sugarbowl Park. Mounted RCAF Red Knight T-33 Silver Star.

Guelph: The Tiger Boys. A great collection of vintage aircraft and Tiger Moths. http://www.tigerboys.com/

Hamilton: Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Canada’s largest flying museum, where flights can be purchased in several of the aircraft. http://www.warplane.com/

Malton: Wildwood Park. Mounted RCAF CF-100 Canuck.

Oshawa: Oshawa Airport. Mounted RCAF F-86 Sabre.

Fiberglass replica Spitfire and Hurricane fighters displayed at Windsor's Jackson Park. — Fiberglass replica Spitfire and Hurricane fighters displayed at Windsor’s Jackson Park.

Toronto: Canadian Military Staff College. RCAF CF-104 Starfighter on display but not accessible for public viewing.

Toronto: Defence Research & Development Centre. Mounted CAF CF-5 Freedom Fighter at Downsview Airport.

North & Eastern Ontario

Barry’s Bay: Zurakowski Park. Avro Arrow Memorial honouring long-time resident and Avro test pilot, Janusz Zurakowski . http://www.zurakowskipark.ca/

Belleville: West Zwicks Island Park. Mounted RCAF Golden Hawk F-86 Sabre.

Brockville: Block House Island Rd. Mounted RCAF Golden Hawk F-86 Sabre.

Brockville: Mounted CAF CT-134 Musketeer on Hwy #2 west of town.

Campbellford: Harold Carlaw Memorial Military Museum. A great family museum with several aircraft on display.

Cornwall: RCAF Association. Mounted RCAF T-33 Silver Star.

Cornwall: Nav Canada Centre. Mounted RCAF T-33 Silver Star.

Haliburton: Sam Slick Park. Mounted RCAF CF-100 Canuck.

Kingston: Kingston Airport. Mounted Second World War RCAF Harvard.

Kingston: Royal Military College. Mounted RCAF CF-100 Canuck and F-86 Sabre.

Kingston: CFB Kingston. Mounted CAF Kiowas & CF-5 Freedom Fighter.

North Bay: Lee Park. Mounted RCAF CF-100 Canuck.

North Bay: CFB North Bay. Mounted CAF CF-100 Canuck and CF-101 Voodoo.

Ottawa: Canadian War Museum. http://www.warmuseum.ca/

Ottawa: Canadian Aviation & Space Museum, Canada’s national aviation collection. http://casmuseum.techno-science.ca/

Petawawa: CFB Petawawa Military Museum. Douglas Dakota on display along with several military vehicles.

Peterborough: River Park Zoo. Mounted RCAF F-86 Sabre.

Canadian Armed Forces CF-116 Freedom Fighter displayed beside the 401 in Trenton Ont.

Picton: Keith Alder Collection. CAF T-33 Silver Star and CT-134 Musketeer on display.

Picton: Picton Airport. Several dozen buildings remain on this Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan site.

Red Lake: Norseman Heritage Park. Mounted Noorduyn Norseman.

Sault Ste. Marie: Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre. A great collection of aircraft used in Canada’s north. http://bushplane.com/

Smith Falls: Victoria Park. Mounted RCAF Second World War Harvard.

Trenton: National Air Force Museum of Canada. The largest collection of military aircraft honouring the history of the Canadian Air Force. http://airforcemuseum.ca/en/

Trenton: Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Centre. Mounted RCAF Golden Hawk F-86 Sabre.

Trenton: Ramada Inn. Mounted CAF CF-5 Freedom Fighter.