Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada's new home set to soar on May 21

After two years of construction, Winnipeg's new and expandedRoyal Aviation Museum of Western Canada is about to spread its wings and take flight orrather, open its doors and welcome visitors.

The86,000-square-foot building, set on more than 1.5 hectares (four acres) of land near a bend on Wellington Avenue andaimed at the runways of Winnipeg's international airport, strikes adramatic pose, with a large glass faadeexposing six suspended planes. There arealmost two dozen more on the floor.

It's amarked change from the museum's former location, tucked off Ferry Road andhidden at the back end of a strip of old brick hangars. It was a place you had to know was thereyou didn't just pass it while out driving.

"The very first thing people see now when they arrive in Winnipeg [from the airport] is our facility. You cannot leave the airport without driving by," said Terry Slobodian, president and CEO of the museum, which has been operating since 1974.

Pre-pandemic, when the airport was running at normal capacity, 4.5 million vehicles per year would drive past the site where the museum now stands, he noted.

It is scheduled to open May 21 for the general public, but one day earlier for those who buy a museum annual pass.

The new location also offers thecity's best vantage point for viewing planes arriving and departing the airport.

The observation lounge hasa clear line of sight tothe main runways, with audio from the air traffic control tower providing a soundtrack,Slobodiansaid.

The$27-million building itself ispart of an overall $48-million price tag for the museum's overhaul project, with 14 immersive galleries and a rich selection of artifacts acrosstwo floors of display space.

There is also an exploration gallerywhere kids can play,interactive zones, amuseum store, a snack bar and an archive room.

While the old location could only squeeze in so many exhibits, the new site offers more space for the public to walk, large windows lots of natural light, andplaces to sit and "admire the aircraft and the beauty of the building," Slobodian said.

The seats also offer a comfortable wayto look. There aresix aircraft suspended from the ceiling, includinga Snowbird Tutor jet andTigerMoth biplane.

"No one in Canada has more than one aircraft suspended from the ceiling, so it was a huge challenge, but we were able to figure it out," Slobodian said.

There is also anoutdoor aviation plaza beside the building, which has a massive door to enableplanes to be moved in and out.

The Western Canada Aviation Museum, as it was originally called before Queen Elizabeth gave it royal designation in 2014took off with an idea fromits five founders to preserve a rich aviation heritage that includes bush planes, military and commercial aircraft.

The first one they acquired was aBellanca Aircruiser that lay wrecked and abandoned in the bush of northwestern Ontario.

"Now they're featuring all types of aircraft, which is really, really good," said Steve Pajot, who spent seven years restoring an RCAFCF-104 Starfighterthe first one to fly in Canadafor the museum.

"It's going to be really information to the general public, to see aircraft through the years, how they've progressed."

A Vickers Viscount that has been in the collection since 1982 remains a favourite of visitors, said Slobodian.

It hearkens back to the golden age of commercial travel, when seats were larger, dining was more luxurious, and the windows had cloth blinds.

"It was sophisticated [travel],"Slobodian said.

In addition to its artifacts, the museum seeks to showcase the complex history of travel, trade, and relationships, while also honouring and commemoratingthe history of Indigenous peopleinvolved in aviation, according to its website.

Slobodianbelieves the depth of storytelling and displays in the new facility will be a valuable contribution to Winnipeg's tourism offerings, which have been enhanced in recent years bythe additionsof the Canadian Museum for Human Rightsin 2014 and the QaumajuqInuit art gallery last year.

"Winnipeg has gone through a cultural renaissance,"he said."We're one in a series, but we'll be the newest one."