If you happen to be in the Hamilton, Ontario area and are looking for something to do, you might want to slip over the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. This is a large collection of vintage aircraft (some still quite operational) that can be discovered at a relatively low cost of admission.
The museum is located on the grounds of the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM) on the outskirts of the city, in the community of Mount Hope. It consists of a historical display exhibit, a large hangar full of aircraft, an outside area also full of aircraft, a cafe and one heck of a gift shop.
We visited in May, 2018 and, I’ve got to say that this is not just a place for adults. The kids loved it as much and maybe even more than myself. Also, if you’re from the GTA and need to fly, consider the Hamilton Airport if possible. It’s easy to get to and the parking is much cheaper and very much more convenient than Pearson.
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Image Gallery
Below is a collection of images we captured on our visit to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. For details on what is found in these photos, please see the collection page at the CWHM’s official website: Museum Collection.
For full-size, high resolution versions for any of the photos in the image gallery, simply click on the individual pictures.
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum has roots back to 1972 when it was founded by Dennis Bradley and Alan Ness. Their first aircraft was a Fairey Firefly. Unfortunately, Ness died a few years later when his Fairey Firefly crashed at the 1977 Canadian International Air Show.
The museum is home to one of just two airworthy Avro Lancaster aircraft in the world. The Lancaster was acquired in 1977. At the time, it was inoperative and on display (cemented to the ground) at the Royal Canadian Legion in Goderich, Ontario. After being moved to Hamilton, it took until 1988 before the aircraft found its way into the sky again. This is the aircraft shown entering the hangar at the top left of the image gallery.
The Lancaster was reunited with the only other airworthy version of that aircraft back in 2014. The historic airplane was flown across the Atlantic Ocean where it met up with the other in the United Kingdom. The two were featured in the documentary film, Reunion Of Giants
In 1993, fire swept through the hangar and destroyed five aircraft. The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum came back from that setback stronger than ever. The current building was opened in 1996.
The museum currently houses 47 aircraft, inside the hangar and on the tarmac. Some are still active and may not be on site when you visit. Some are setup for cockpit viewing and there’s even a few where you can sit in the pilot’s seat. Other than the aircraft displays, there is also a cafe and large gift shop on site. Adding the fun are flight simulators.
The location is open everyday from 9am until 5pm, except for December 25, 26 and January 1 when the museum is closed. The entry fee for adults is $15 with discounts for seniors, students and children. A one year membership for an adult is $125 while a family one year membership is $175. The museum is located at 9280 Airport Road in Mount Hope, adjacent to the Hamilton International Airport. There is ample free parking next to the building.
John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport
The John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM) was originally opened in 1940 as the Mount Hope Airport, serving as a Royal Canadian Air Force station. Owned by the City of Hamilton, the airport served just shy of 600,000 passengers in 2017. The main runway is 10,006 feet or 3,050 metres in length and is able to handle large cargo aircraft like Boeing 747’s and the Antonov 124.
Located eleven kilometres from downtown Hamilton, Ontario, the airport is just 64 kilometres from the downtown of Toronto. Parking on site is just $6o per week in the economy section and $80 per week in the premium section. The economy section places you no further from the front entrance of the terminal than a parking spot at your local mall.
Passenger airlines offering regular flights from YHM include WestJet, Swoop (WestJet subsidiary), Air Canada, Flair Airlines, Air Transat and Sunwing. This is the base for CargoJet and a hub for Purolator and other cargo companies.
Time Lapse Drive To The Museum
A time lapse video of the drive from Caledon to the museum parking lot. This will give you an idea of how to get there from anywhere along the highway 410 / 403 corridor. If you like what you see and find the video useful, please give it a ‘Thumb’s Up’ in YouTube. If you love what you see, consider subscribing to our Travel YouTube Channel.
