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 (flying and aircraft). These brave individuals helped Canada grow and connect as a nation. The Hall of Fame started in 1973. Since then, it has recognized over 200 pilots, engineers, mechanics, and leaders.

Canada is a huge country with many areas that are hard to reach by roads or trains. Because of this, flying became super important for connecting different parts of the country. Aviation helped bring new chances for growth and progress to faraway places. This mix of early flying and developing the country led to many incredible stories. These tales show heroism, skill, courage, and smart thinking. The best of these stories are shared at the Aviation Hall of Fame.

You can see these stories on large display panels. They feature portraits, special notes, photos, and personal items. The Hall has a big collection of things from its honored members. This includes pilot licenses, flight logbooks, uniforms, medals, and awards. There are also documents, letters, scrapbooks, and many photographs. The Hall's library has about 2,500 books and over 12,000 magazines. All of these are about Canadian aviation. Some items are loaned to other museums in Canada for their exhibits. Researchers and visitors can also see these items by making an appointment.

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

The Hall's Story

A view from 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 group of 79 members included many important people. Some were honored with the Order of Icarus or the Trans-Canada (McKee) Trophy. Others were brave soldiers who received the Victoria Cross in air battles.

Famous inventors Alexander Graham Bell and F.W. "Casey" Baldwin were also among the first members. They designed and built the AEA Silver Dart, one of Canada's first airplanes. Group Captain John Emilius Fauquier was honored for his role in World War II RAF Bomber Command. Flight Lieutenant George Frederick "Buzz" Beurling was recognized for his bravery in the RAF Fighter Command.

A secret committee reviews new nominations for the Hall of Fame. They look for people who have made major, lasting contributions to Canada through aviation.

The Hall of Fame first opened its doors on July 17, 1974. This was during the "Klondike Days" festival in Edmonton. Over the years, it moved several times. For a while, it was located in the Edmonton Convention Centre. In 1992, the Hall of Fame moved to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum near Wetaskiwin, Alberta. There, its exhibits joined the museum's large collection of aircraft.

In 2022, the Hall of Fame moved again. Its new home is at The Hangar Flight Museum in Calgary.

Honored Members

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 incredible people. Here is a list of some of the amazing individuals who have been inducted. Their induction year is shown in parentheses.

The official medal of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame.

The Belt of Orion Award

The 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 celebrates groups, clubs, or organizations. It honors those who have made outstanding contributions to making aviation better 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)

Museum Connections

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

See Also

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