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Ingenium Canada Aviation and Space Museum

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Canadair C-54GM North Star 1 ST

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Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday to Monday
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*CLOSED: March 21 to 24
Address
11 Aviation Parkway, Ottawa, ON
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Browse all Visitor Information for Canada Aviation and Space Museum
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Canadair C-54GM North Star 1 ST

Canadair C-54GM North Star 1 ST

Highlights:

  • A Canadian-built transport aircraft produced by Canadair Limited from 1946 to 1950
  • Closely related to U.S.-designed Douglas C-54/DC-4 and DC-6 aircraft but fitted with British engines
  • Served RCAF and airlines (including Trans-Canada Air Lines) on transatlantic and domestic routes
  • Known as a reliable if rather noisy aircraft
  • Civilian version fitted with cabin pressurization system for high-altitude operations
  • Employed by the RCAF in the Korean War to airlift supplies across the Pacific Ocean
  • In 1960 provided aid to earthquake victims in Morocco and Chile, and supported the UN mission in the Congo
  • First flight was on July 15th, 1946

Image Gallery:

CASM-23443

CASM-23443

CASM-25480

CASM-25480

History:

The North Star was a Canadian development of the Douglas C-54/DC-4, with some features of the DC-6. The aircraft were equipped with Rolls Royce Merlin engines. The North Star served dependably with Trans-Canada Air Lines, Canadian Pacific Airlines, British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), and the RCAF. The final version of the North Star was the C-5 with radial engines. Only one was built. Many North Stars continued to fly with small commercial operators after retirement from major carriers. RCAF North Stars were retired in 1966.

Civilian North Stars were pressurized while RCAF versions were not. Passengers found them very uncomfortable because of the noisy exhaust system of the original in-line engines. A special cross-over exhaust was developed by T.C.A. in a partially successful attempt to lower noise levels. The RCAF made no attempt to quieten their North Stars.

Current Location:

Reserve Hangar, Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Provenance:

Transfer from the Royal Canadian Air Force

This North Star was manufactured in 1948 by Canadair Limited in Montreal, Quebec and was delivered to the RCAF in March of that year. It spent its entire career with No. 426 Squadron.

Starting in 1950 the aircraft was used in Operation Hawk to transport supplies across the Pacific during the Korean War. On these missions, it flew from McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington to Shemya, in the Aleutian Islands and then Japan.. The aircraft was also used for Red River flood relief in Manitoba, in northern resupply efforts and in UN peacekeeping missions during the 1950s. It became a transport trainer in 1962.

This North Star was one of two that took part in a ceremony to mark the official "stand down" of the type in December 1965. It was retired and transferred to the Museum in 1966. It is the only North Star left.

Technical Information:

Wing Span 35.8 m (117 ft 6 in)
Length 28.6 m (93 ft 9 1/2 in)
Height 8.4 m (27 ft 6 in)
Weight, Empty 19,730 kg (43,500 lb)
Weight, Gross 33,110 kg (73,000 lb)
Cruising Speed 325 mph (523 km/h)
Max Speed 568 km/h (353 mph)
Rate of Climb 296 m (972 ft) /min
Service Ceiling 10,970 m (36,000 ft)
Range 4,830 km (3,000 mi)
Power Plant four Rolls-Royce Merlin 622, 1760 hp, Vee engines

Canadair C-54GM North Star 1 ST plan

AVIATION
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Artifact No.
1967.0645
Manufacturer
Canadair Ltd.
Manufacturer Location
Canada
Manufacture Date
1948
Acquisition Date
1966
Registration Number
17515 (RCAF)
  • View all the collection highlights at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum
  • View other collection highlights related to Aviation

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About Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Located on a former military air base just five kilometers from the Prime Minister’s residence at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum focuses on aviation in Canada within an international context – from its beginnings in 1909 to today.
Read more about the museum

Contact Us

Canada Aviation and Space Museum
11 Aviation Parkway
Ottawa ON K1K 2X5
Canada

613-991-3044
1-866-442-4416
contact@IngeniumCanada.org
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  • Plan Your Visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Hours
    • Admission
    • Location and Directions
    • Accessibility
    • Browse All Visitor Information
    • Buy Tickets
    • Online Resources for Science at Home
    • About the Museum
  • What's On at the Museum
    • Events
    • Exhibitions
    • Flights and Simulations
    • Spaces and Studios
  • Bookings and Rentals
    • School Programs
    • Summer Camps
    • Venue Rentals
    • Travelling Exhibitions
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Group Visits
    • Birthday Parties
  • Educational Programs
    • School Programs
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Program Location
      • At the Museum
      • At your School
      • Online
      • Browse all Educational Programs
    • Popular Links
      • 3D Educational Resources
      • Digital Learning Kits
      • Games and Apps
      • Online Resources for Science at Home
      • Try This Out
  • Collection and Research
    • Research Institute
    • Research Projects
    • Collection Resources
      • Ingenium Collection
      • Collection Highlights
      • Conservation and Collection Services
    • Library and Archives
      • Library and Archives Services
      • Library Catalogue
      • Digital Archives
    • Open Access
      • Ingenium APIs
      • Open Data
      • Open Documents
  • Projects and Initiatives
    • Ingenium Channel
    • The Legacy Series
    • Let's Talk Energy