Surprising Stories on the Fly

Sep 27, 2017

“Boundless Horizons” for Outreach Exhibitions

I love quirkiness—anything surprising that makes me pause, take note, or re-think. That’s one reason I find interpretive planning so rewarding. I get to find creative ways to share stories with museum visitors—layering catchy texts, evocative images, and historic objects.

*Making JN-4 propellers on a specialized machine. This tool could carve four propellers in less than 30 minutes, 1918.* Credit: Canadian Aeroplanes Limited, *Our Second Year*, 1918

In late July 2017, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum mounted a small exhibition at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Montreal. Each year, as part of an ongoing partnership with Aéroports de Montréal, we develop a new aviation-themed display—offering an unexpected diversion for travellers to enjoy. Past exhibitions have ranged in topic from flight in the 1910s to leading-edge ‘green’ aviation technologies. In 2017, with Canada 150 at the forefront of our minds, we created Boundless Horizons: Over 150 Years of Canadian Aerospace Innovation. Featured innovations range from the Silver Dart, the first powered airplane to fly in Canada, to Canadarm2, which plays an ongoing role in the success of the International Space Station.

Boundless Horizons includes a section that shares the story of Canadian Aeroplanes Limited—the first major aircraft manufacturer in Canada. The Museum is fortunate to have a set of the Toronto-based company’s commemorative photo albums. The striking images they contain truly inspired the exhibition team. Canadian Aeroplanes, a British-controlled company, was established in 1916 during the First World War. The company built training aircraft for the Royal Flying Corps (RFC)—a flying service controlled by the British Army. Canadian Aeroplanes produced roughly 1,200 Curtiss JN-4 Canucks for RFC-run flying schools in Southern Ontario. The company also constructed thirty Felixstowe F-5L flying boats for the U.S. Navy. (They look as interesting as they sound—check out the included image). Canadian Aeroplanes disbanded soon after the Armistice, as there was too little demand for aircraft once the war ended.

It’s always interesting to set up the Museum’s airport exhibitions. No one expects to see a display case with workers inside—let alone a display itself—as they wheel their carry-on to arrivals. For a day, we personally get to be part of the quirkiness. People will stop, ask questions, and share their thoughts about the display as we work. It’s gratifying to see people engage with the experiences we create.

*Canada Aviation and Space Museum staff install Boundless Horizons at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport, July 26, 2017.*

*A worker at Canadian Aeroplanes uses a heavy belt-driven sewing machine to stitch wire reinforcement onto pieces of an airplane wing, 1918.* Photo credit: Canadian Aeroplanes Limited, *Our Second Year*, 1918

*Workers laying bricks at the factory site, ca February 1917.* Photo credit: Canadian Aeroplanes Limited, *Our Second Year*, 1918

*Constructing wing panels for the F-5L, late 1918.* Photo credit: Canadian Aeroplanes Limited, *Our Second Year*, 1918

Whispering Loudly: An Update about the “Quiet Updates”

A mid-sized biplane with distinctive yellow wings, photographed outdoors from the back right.

From cobwebs to Interwebs: Uncovering vintage photos of the museum’s aircraft

Image of a video chat taken from a computer screen. A girl appears onscreen, smiling and holding up a grid covered with coloured markings.

Testers in a dangerous time: Rethinking experience testing during a global pandemic

Five men, suited in their flight gear, walk towards the camera with a bomber airplane, facing forward and to the right, in the background.

The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan: Canada’s most important homefront contribution

A wide-angle view of a large space inside a museum, with white walls and a black floor. Colourful panels are visible, as well as a computer screen and a spacesuit inside a glass case.

Six steps for planning clear communication

“Worth Defending” – A brief look at the 1954 advertising campaign of a major Canadian aircraft manufacturing firm, Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, part 4

The advertisement “La liberté d’expression,” in English “Freedom of Speech,” published by Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, as part of its 1954 Worth Defending advertising campaign. Anon, “Canadair Limited.” La Presse, 13 April 1954, 25.

“Worth Defending” – A brief look at the 1954 advertising campaign of a major Canadian aircraft manufacturing firm, Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, part 3

“Freedom of Worship,” one of the advertisements issued by Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, as part of its 1954 Worth Defending advertising campaign. Anon., “Canadair Limited.” The Vancouver Province, 5 January 1954, 5.

“Worth Defending” – A brief look at the 1954 advertising campaign of a major Canadian aircraft manufacturing firm, Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, part 2

One of the advertisements issued by Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, as part of its 1954 Worth Defending advertising campaign. Anon., “Canadair Limited.” Toronto Daily Star, 6 October 1954, 4.

“Worth Defending” – A brief look at the 1954 advertising campaign of a major Canadian aircraft manufacturing firm, Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, part 1

A block of photographs showing some of the people involved in the bombing of beluga whales in the estuary and gulf of the St. Lawrence River. Anon., “La chasse aux marsouins [sic]. » Le Devoir, 15 August 1929, 6.

“The bomb that will kill the porpoise” – A shocking use of air power in interwar Québec: The bombing of the beluga whales of the St. Lawrence River, part 4

A typical pod of beluga whales, Hudson Bay, near Churchill, Manitoba, July 1999. Ansgar Walk, via Wikipedia.

“The bomb that will kill the porpoise” – A shocking use of air power in interwar Québec: The bombing of the beluga whales of the St. Lawrence River, part 3

The Franco Canadian physician / pilot Louis Cuisinier and one of the 45 or so kilogram (100 or so pounds) handmade aerial bombs with which he hoped to kill beluga whales. Anon., “La bombe qui tuera le marsouin.” La Presse, 5 August 1929, 11.

“The bomb that will kill the porpoise” – A shocking use of air power in interwar Québec: The bombing of the beluga whales of the St. Lawrence River, part 1

Several exhibition display cases, panels, and screens in a large, brightly-lit air hangar-style room with a high ceiling and tall, exposed metal walls.

Diane Pitre and Steven P. Deschamps’ LGBT Purge Stories Told at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum

An Institute for Aerospace Research staff member conducting an inspection on a Shuttle Remote Manipulator System, or Canadarm, around 2000. National Research Council Canada.

“It is only with the DAIS that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye” – A respectful look at a great Canadian aerospace invention, the Diffracto DAIS non destructive testing equipment, and a bit more, part 2

$A technician conducting the first corrosion detection trial, on a Boeing Model 727 test airframe, using a Diffracto DAIS-500 non destructive testing equipment, 1992. National Research Council Canada.$