Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre
Encyclopedia
Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre (CBHC), located on the north bank of the St. Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie
, Ontario
, Canada
, is dedicated to preserving the history of bush flying
and forest protection in Canada. It was founded in 1987 by a group of local volunteers to preserve the province's history in bush planes and aerial firefighting
.
The CBHC prides itself on being a completely interactive and hands-on museum, with fun activities for every member of the family. The 25000 square feet (2,322.6 m²) hangar
contains over thirty aircraft exhibits. Climb a real fire tower
, see the Algoma region from above in the flight simulator
, or experience flight in the special effects-packed Object Theatre.
s, bush planes, waterbombers, and forest fire
fighting equipment along with other aviation and forestry-related artifacts in order to celebrate the achievements of Canada's aviation and forest firefighting pioneers.
Aircraft in the collection include:
The centre also operates the Sault Ste. Marie Water Aerodrome
(46°30′13"N 084°19′30"W).
The CBHC hosted the 13th annual Bushplane days on September 20 and 21, 2008, a weekend of fun and activities to embrace and appreciate the history of bush planes and firefighting. Named one of Canada's top 100 festivals, Bushplane days is quickly becoming a landmark of Ontario summers.
Wings and Wheels 4th annual car show took place at the CBHC on June 15, 2008.
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. The community was founded as a French religious mission: Sault either means "jump" or "rapids" in...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, is dedicated to preserving the history of bush flying
Bush flying
Bush flying is a term for aircraft operations carried out in remote, inhospitable regions of the world. Bush flying involves operations in rough terrain where there are often no prepared landing strips or runways, frequently necessitating that bush planes be equipped with abnormally large tires,...
and forest protection in Canada. It was founded in 1987 by a group of local volunteers to preserve the province's history in bush planes and aerial firefighting
Aerial firefighting
Aerial firefighting is the use of aircraft and other aerial resources to combat wildfires. The types of aircraft used include fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Smokejumpers and rappellers are also classified as aerial firefighters, delivered to the fire by parachute from a variety of fixed-wing...
.
The CBHC prides itself on being a completely interactive and hands-on museum, with fun activities for every member of the family. The 25000 square feet (2,322.6 m²) hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
contains over thirty aircraft exhibits. Climb a real fire tower
Fire lookout tower
A fire lookout tower, fire tower or lookout tower, provides housing and protection for a person known as a "fire lookout" whose duty it is to search for wildfires in the wilderness...
, see the Algoma region from above in the flight simulator
Flight simulator
A flight simulator is a device that artificially re-creates aircraft flight and various aspects of the flight environment. This includes the equations that govern how aircraft fly, how they react to applications of their controls and other aircraft systems, and how they react to the external...
, or experience flight in the special effects-packed Object Theatre.
Collection
Volunteer members actively acquire, restore, preserve and display floatplaneFloatplane
A floatplane is a type of seaplane, with slender pontoons mounted under the fuselage; only the floats of a floatplane normally come into contact with water, with the fuselage remaining above water...
s, bush planes, waterbombers, and forest fire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
fighting equipment along with other aviation and forestry-related artifacts in order to celebrate the achievements of Canada's aviation and forest firefighting pioneers.
Aircraft in the collection include:
- Aeronca 11 Chief
- Beech 18Beechcraft Model 18The Beechcraft Model 18, or "Twin Beech", as it is better known, is a 6-11 seat, twin-engine, low-wing, conventional-gear aircraft that was manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas...
- Bell 47DBell 47The Bell 47 is a two-bladed, single engine, light helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. Based on the third Model 30 prototype, Bell's first helicopter designed by Arthur M. Young, the Bell 47 became the first helicopter certified for civilian use on 8 March 1946...
- Buhl CA-6 Air SedanBuhl Airsedan-See also:* Buhl-Verville CA-3 Airster...
- Canadair CL-215Canadair CL-215The Canadair CL-215 was the first model in a series of firefighting flying boat amphibious aircraft built by Canadair and later Bombardier. The CL-215 is a twin-engine, high-wing aircraft designed to operate well at low speed and in gust-loading circumstances, as are found over forest fires...
- de Havilland Canada DHC-2 BeaverDe Havilland Canada DHC-2 BeaverThe de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver is a single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, STOL aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada, primarily known as a bush plane. It is used for cargo and passenger hauling, aerial application , and has been widely adopted by armed forces as a utility aircraft...
- de Havilland Canada DHC-3 OtterDe Havilland Canada DHC-3 OtterThe de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter is a single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, STOL aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada. It was conceived to be capable of performing the same roles as the earlier and highly successful Beaver, but was overall a larger aircraft.-Design and...
- de Havilland Canada Turbo Beaver MKIIIDe Havilland Canada DHC-2 BeaverThe de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver is a single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, STOL aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada, primarily known as a bush plane. It is used for cargo and passenger hauling, aerial application , and has been widely adopted by armed forces as a utility aircraft...
- de Havilland Fox MothDe Havilland Fox Moth|-References:NotesBibliography* Hotson, Fred W. The de Havilland Canada Story. Toronto: CANAV Books, 1983. ISBN 0-07-549483-3.* Jackson, A. J. British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972: Volume II. London: Putnam , 1988. ISBN 0-85177-813-5....
- de Havilland Dragon RapideDe Havilland Dragon RapideThe de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide was a British short-haul passenger airliner of the 1930s.-Design and development:Designed by the de Havilland company in late 1933 as a faster and more comfortable successor to the DH.84 Dragon, it was in effect a twin-engined, scaled-down version of the...
- Fairchild F-11 HuskyFairchild F-11 Husky-See also:-Bibliography:* Milberry, Larry. Aviation In Canada. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-07-082778-8.* Molson, Ken M. and Taylor, Harold A. Canadian Aircraft Since 1909. Stittsville, Ontario: Canada's Wings, Inc., 1982. ISBN 0-920002-11-0.-External links:*...
- Fairchild KR-34Fairchild KR-34-References:* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft , 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1674...
- Grumman CS2F Tracker
- Noorduyn NorsemanNoorduyn NorsemanThe Noorduyn Norseman is a Canadian single-engine bush plane designed to operate from unimproved surfaces. Norseman aircraft are known to have been registered and/or operated in 68 countries throughout the world and also have been based and flown in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.-Design and...
- 2, CF-AYO & CF-BFT - Republic RC-3 SeabeeRepublic RC-3 SeabeeThe Republic RC-3 Seabee is an all-metal amphibious sports aircraft designed by Percival Spencer and manufactured by the Republic Aircraft Corporation.-Design and development:...
- Saunders ST-27Saunders ST-27|-References:NotesBibliography* Gerritsma, Joop. "The Saunders ST-27: A Prop-Jet Commuter Liner by Conversion." Canadian Aviation Historical Society – Journal, Vol. 35, No. 4, Winter 1997....
- AEA Silver DartAEA Silver Dart-References:NotesBibliography* Aerial Experimental Association . Aerofiles. . Retrieved: 19 May 2005.* Green, H. Gordon. The Silver Dart: The Authentic Story of the Hon. J.A.D. McCurdy, Canada's First Pilot. Fredericton, New Brunswick: Atlantic Advocate Book, 1959.* Milberry, Larry. Aviation in...
replica - Stinson SR-9 ReliantStinson ReliantThe Stinson Reliant was a popular single-engine four to five seat high-wing monoplane manufactured by the Stinson Aircraft Division of the Aviation Manufacturing Corporation of Wayne, Michigan.-Design and development:...
- Taylorcraft 20
History
The museum occupies a historically significant air base first established by the Ontario Provincial Air Service in 1924. The Centre's operating revenues are derived from sales from the gift shop, admission fees, and membership dues. The centre does not rely on operating support from the public funds, though corporate costs associated with artifacts and displays have been partially funded through corporate donations and tourist infrastructure programmes. Continued support ensures a strong future and on site development and expansion of the CBHC.The centre also operates the Sault Ste. Marie Water Aerodrome
Sault Ste. Marie Water Aerodrome
Sault Ste. Marie Water Aerodrome, , is located adjacent on the St. Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.The airport is classified as an airport of entry by NAV CANADA and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency...
(46°30′13"N 084°19′30"W).
The CBHC hosted the 13th annual Bushplane days on September 20 and 21, 2008, a weekend of fun and activities to embrace and appreciate the history of bush planes and firefighting. Named one of Canada's top 100 festivals, Bushplane days is quickly becoming a landmark of Ontario summers.
Wings and Wheels 4th annual car show took place at the CBHC on June 15, 2008.