Cold Lake Air Force Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1998 |
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| Location | Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada |
| Type | CFB Cold Lake Museum |
The Cold Lake Air Force Museum is a special museum in Cold Lake, Alberta, all about military airplanes and the history of Canada's Air Force in the area. It shows off the amazing heritage of 4 Wing Cold Lake and the former 42 Radar Squadron.
This museum is part of a bigger group of museums called the Cold Lake Museums. They are all connected by a covered hallway known as 'The Tunnel'. The museum is located on the old site of the 42 Radar Squadron, which moved to a new location in 1992. The Air Force Museum officially opened to the public on July 1, 1998.
Contents
What is the Museum's Goal?
The main job of the Cold Lake Air Force Museum is to protect and share the history of 4 Wing Cold Lake. This includes all the squadrons and units that have been a part of this important air force base.
The museum is a key place for anyone wanting to research the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Cold Lake area. It tells the story of how the base grew over time and honors the Canadian Forces units from Cold Lake that served in other parts of the world, like Europe.
History of the Museum
In May 2018, a large white dome called a radome was put back on top of the museum. A radome is a special cover that protects radar equipment from the weather. This radome is a reminder of the building's original job as a radar station.
Aircraft on Display
When you arrive at the museum, you'll see several amazing aircraft and some military trucks parked outside. Each one has a unique story.
- CF-5 Freedom Fighter – This jet (serial number 116704) flew with three different squadrons: 433 Squadron, 434 Squadron, and 419 Squadron. After its service, it was put into storage in 1995. It was later brought to the museum and painted in its classic Canadian Armed Forces colors.
- CT-133 Silver Star – This plane (serial number 133413) was one of the last "T-birds" to fly in Canada. It was used for testing new aerospace technology until 2004, when it was given to the museum. You can see the red 'X' on its tail, which was the mark of the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE).
- CT-134 Musketeer – This is another training aircraft (serial number 134241) that was used to teach pilots.
- CT-114 Tutor – This jet (serial number 114114) has a very cool history! It was flown by the famous Snowbirds aerobatic team for ten seasons. It flew as Snowbird 9, Snowbird 10, and Snowbird 3 between 1977 and 1986.
What's Inside the Museum?
As you enter the museum, you'll find the visitor's book and a gift shop. The shop sells souvenirs from the 4 Wing squadrons and other items from the Cold Lake Museums.
The museum has two floors full of interesting exhibits. The first floor focuses on the ground squadrons that support the air base. The second floor is all about the flying squadrons, powerful jet engines, and a large model of the entire air force base.
Exhibits and Equipment
Here are some of the things you can see and learn about:
- Squadron Histories: Discover the stories of famous squadrons like the 409 "Nighthawks", 410 "Cougars", and 419 "Moose".
- Support Units: Learn about the important jobs of units like the 1 Air Maintenance Squadron, who fix the planes, and the 4 Wing Fire Hall, who keep the base safe.
- Powerful Engines: Get a close-up look at the engines that powered these incredible jets, including:
- An Orenda 9 engine from a CF-100 Canuck
- A Rolls-Royce Nene 10 engine from a CT-133 Silver Star
- Two J-85 engines, one from a CT-114 Tutor and another from a CF-5
- Aircraft Gun: See a Pontiac M39 cannon, the type of gun used in the CF-5 fighter jet.
See also
