North Atlantic Aviation Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1985 |
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| Location | Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. |
| Type | Aviation Museum |
The North Atlantic Aviation Museum is an aviation museum located in the town of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It's a fantastic place to learn about the history of planes and flying, especially in the North Atlantic region.
Contents
History of the Museum and Gander's Airport
The idea to create this museum started in 1985. The museum officially opened its doors to visitors in 1996.
The museum has several exciting parts to explore. One section tells the story of how Gander International Airport was built. It also shows Gander's important role in World War II. During the war, Gander was a key stop for planes in the RAF Ferry Command. This group helped fly new aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean.
Another part of the museum focuses on international and transatlantic civilian travel. You can learn about how people used to fly across the ocean for regular trips. There's also a section about Eastern Provincial Airways. This part also covers flights from countries like the Soviet Union and Cuba.
A very special section is about Gander's part in the events of September 11, 2001. On that day, over 6,700 passengers were unexpectedly rerouted to Gander International Airport. They were stuck there when flights were grounded. The museum has a steel beam from the World Trade Center on display. This beam is a permanent reminder of that time.
Around the museum, you can find many other cool items. These include a working Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. This type of engine powered many famous World War II planes. You can also see a Link Trainer, which was an early flight simulator. There's also a de Havilland Tiger Moth plane and the oldest known mercury barometer in Newfoundland.
Aviation has always been super important to Gander. The airport, first called the Newfoundland Airport, was finished in 1938. The very first plane landed there on January 11 of that year. Gander became a major stop for planes flying across the Atlantic. This started during the Second World War and continued for many years. Planes needed to refuel there before jetliners could fly longer distances. Because of its important role, Gander earned the nickname "Crossroads of the world." The famous Concorde jet even used Gander for test flights starting in 1974.
Amazing Aircraft Collection
The museum has several cool planes on display. These are called "static displays" because they don't fly anymore. You can see an F-101 Voodoo jet. There's also a Lockheed Hudson plane. Another interesting aircraft is a "Canso" waterbomber. This plane was made from a PBY Catalina and used to fight fires. You can also spot a de Havilland Tiger Moth and a Beechcraft Model 18-S.
At the front of the museum building, the tail of a 1930s Douglas DC-3 plane is used as an awning. The cockpit of the same plane is at the back of the building. You can even go inside it from the museum!
Museum Affiliations
The North Atlantic Aviation Museum works with other groups. These include the CMA. It also works with the CHIN and the Virtual Museum of Canada.
See also
- List of aerospace museums
Images for kids
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Lockheed Hudson
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A Canadian Forest Service Consolidated PBY Catalina
