Canadian Museum of Flight : a hidden gem in Aviation

Looking for a fun outing in the Greater Vancouver area that will appeal to young and old?  Anne discovered a hidden gem in Langley, BC’s Canadian Museum of Flight, on a recent adventure with an 8-year-old.

Discovering a Hidden Gem in Aviation in Langley, BC : Canadian Museum of Flight

I recently enjoyed a wonderful visit to the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC, as our multi-generation group of three happily spent a couple of hours there one November morning. Our little group spanned three generations, from an 8-year old boy to a senior woman, and there was plenty to keep all of us interested and entertained. 

Finding the Canadian Museum of Flight

Tucked away in a corner of the Langley Airport in Hangar #3, the Canadian Museum of Flight is literally ‘a hidden gem’. It is located down a driveway off the main road, and except for glimpses of vintage aircraft as you approach, you could easily miss it. 

The museum has been in this location for the past 30 years and doesn’t look very big from the outside, but it houses a vast amount. It is constantly growing and evolving, and in fact, has grown so much that many newly acquired items are stored away in other hangars away from public view for now. 

Before You Visit the Canadian Museum of Flight

Admission to the Canadian Museum of Flight is very reasonable, and there are special rates and discounts for teachers, seniors, and small children. Check the Canadian Museum of Flight’s website for opening days, hours, and special events.

As you enter the museum you are in the reception and gift shop area. The friendly lady at the front desk greeted us and gave us an overview, some useful tips, and some paper maps to help guide our tour. Following this orientation, we took time to browse in the well-stocked gift shop. Full of items like aviator pins, toys, t-shirts, and model airplane kits, it is a great spot to pick up some little gifts or mementos, and it created a sense of anticipation about what we would see in the museum. 

Inside the Canadian Museum of Flight

There are both indoor and outdoor displays, and all the available space is well utilized. 

It was particularly wonderful to experience the museum through an 8-year old child’s eyes. Having learned about his keen interest in airplanes, it was the reason for our visit, and his excitement was contagious. We adults marvelled, exclaimed, and laughed right along with him as we went from one exhibit to another. From tiny memorabilia to huge aircraft, there was so much to see. 

About 25 vintage aircraft are displayed at the museum, and with names like Tiger Moth, Sopwith Pup, and Fleet Finch, they are as much fun to say as to see. The largest planes are in the outdoor display, and getting up close to these aircraft from the past was awe-inspiring. It was amazing to touch the aircraft, gaze at their massive engines, and to actually see where bombs were carried on fighter aircrafts. Where else can you touch a real fighter plane flown during the First World War?

It was exciting to peer into the cramped-looking cockpits and see the old-fashioned looking instruments. We marvelled at how the narrow wooden seats looked barely large enough for an average person today to squeeze into.

For younger children, there were even a couple of small replica planes to climb into and scoot around in, which proved to be a big hit with our young lad. 

Off to the side of the outdoor display is a covered area full of engines and other parts of vintage planes. It is incredible to be able to see the working parts of aircraft from many decades ago, and imagine how far we’ve advanced to our present-day modern jets.

As we entered the large hangar housing the indoor display, we were amazed at the massive amount of artifacts to view. From floor to ceiling the hangar was literally full to the rafters, from countless memorabilia displays at eye level to the many small aircraft and model airplanes suspended from the high ceiling. 

This jam-packed, but well-designed space takes you on a journey through the history of Canadian aviation, from the earliest flights to more recent times. There was so much to see and learn. We saw countless collections of artifacts and memorabilia, uniforms worn by early pilots, and even an actual ejection seat used by fighter pilots. We learned so many interesting facts about the exhibits from the information boards placed alongside the displays – for example, we learned that not only were early planes made of metal, but some were made of wood or fabric. In addition, there were a few hands-on activities with buttons to press which made for a fun way to learn even more about aviation.

Around each corner and in every nook and cranny were a multitude of Canadian aviation exhibits, many of which at times elicited excited exclamations from each of us. After finishing one time around, we ended up going back a second time to get another look at some of the parts we had enjoyed the most.  

The museum staff add and change the displays from time to time, so there are always new things to see. 

We all had such a great time at this museum, and I highly recommend a visit. The Canadian Museum of Flight makes a wonderful outing for all ages. Come check it out and drop us a comment below to tell us what your favourite parts of the museum are.

Tips for Visiting the Canadian Museum of Flight: 

• Come dressed for the weather to enjoy the outdoor displays.
• The museum is not easily visible from the main road. It is in Hangar #3 at the Langley Airport. Turn up the driveway by the flight school and a short ways up you will see the entrance and parking area.

• Langley Airport is an active airport, so allow some time to watch small planes taking off and landing right by the museum.

• There are picnic tables by the museum, so on a nice day bring a picnic lunch and watch the planes coming and going as you eat.   
• The museum is planning to relocate to the Pitt Meadows Airport sometime in the next few years, where it will have a much larger facility and more covered space.  So double check the address before you go!