Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame

Established	1973
Location	The Hangar Flight Museum Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame is a special place in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It celebrates and honors people who have done amazing things in aviation and helped Canada grow. Since it started in 1973, the Hall of Fame has recognized over 200 pilots, engineers, mechanics, and leaders.

Canada is a very big country with lots of land that's hard to travel across by roads or trains. Because of this, airplanes have been super important for connecting different parts of the country. Aviation helped bring new chances for growth and progress to faraway places, making them a part of Canada. Many brave and skilled people made this happen, and their stories are shared at the Aviation Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame tells these stories on large panels. These panels include pictures, details about their achievements, and items they used. The Hall has a huge collection of personal things from its members. These include pilot licenses, flight logbooks, uniforms, medals, trophies, and old photos. There's also a library with about 2,500 books and over 12,000 magazines about Canadian aviation. Some items are loaned to other museums. Researchers and visitors can also see these items by making an appointment.

Each year, the Hall of Fame also gives out two special awards: the Belt of Orion and the Order of Polaris. These awards go to organizations that have made big contributions to aviation in Canada.

How Did the Hall of Fame Start?

A view inside the Aviation Hangar Exhibit at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum

Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame officially became an organization on August 2, 1973. The first 79 members included many important people. These were people who had won special awards like the Order of Icarus or the Trans-Canada Trophy. It also included brave soldiers who won the Victoria Cross in air battles.

Some famous early members were Alexander Graham Bell and F.W. "Casey" Baldwin. They designed and built the AEA Silver Dart, one of Canada's first airplanes. Other members included Group Captain John Emilius Fauquier from World War II's RAF Bomber Command, and Flight Lieutenant George Frederick "Buzz" Beurling from the RAF Fighter Command.

A special committee carefully reviews nominations for new members. They look for people who have made a lasting and major positive impact on Canadian aviation.

Where Has the Hall of Fame Been?

The Hall of Fame first opened on July 17, 1974, during the Klondike Days festival in Edmonton. It moved a few times in its early years. For a while, it was located in the Edmonton Convention Centre.

In 1992, the Reynolds-Alberta Museum opened near Wetaskiwin, Alberta. The Hall of Fame then moved its exhibits to the museum's aviation hangar. This allowed the Hall of Fame to combine its displays with the museum's large collection of aircraft.

In 2022, the Hall of Fame moved again to its current home at The Hangar Flight Museum in Calgary.

Who Are the Inductees?

A Fokker Super Universal airplane in Alberta, Canada in 1935. The person is famous Canadian aviator Leigh Brintnell, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame has honored many people for their contributions to Canadian aviation. Here is a list of some of the amazing individuals who have been inducted, along with the year they joined:

Official medal of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame

What is the Belt of Orion Award?

Belt of Orion Award of Excellence

The Belt of Orion Award for Excellence was created by the Aviation Hall of Fame in 1988. This award honors groups, clubs, or organizations that have made amazing contributions to aviation in Canada. Here are some of the groups that have received this special award:

• 1974 Trans-Canada Airlines
• 1988 Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA)
• 1989 Air Cadet League of Canada
• 1990 Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
• 1991 Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Aviation and Fire Management Branch
• 1992 Not Awarded
• 1993 Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA)
• 1994 Canadian Forces Snowbirds
• 1995 The Ninety-Nines (Organization of Women Pilots)
• 1996 Not Awarded
• 1997 Not Awarded
• 1998 Canadian Forces Search and Rescue (SAR)
• 1999 British Columbia Aviation Council
• 2000 Royal Canadian Mounted Police Air Division
• 2001 Canadian Aviation Historical Society
• 2002 Canadian Aviation Artists Association
• 2003 Not Awarded
• 2004 Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI)
• 2005 Aeronautical Engineering Test Establishment (AETE)
• 2006 International Aviation Training Institute (IAMTI)
• 2007 Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA)
• 2008 Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM)

Other Connections

The Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame is connected with several other important organizations. These include the CMA, the CHIN, the Virtual Museum of Canada, and the Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association (CAPA).

See also

• History of aviation in Canada
• North American aviation halls of fame