In amongst the preserved aircraft at the British Columbia Aviation Museum were displays that lined some of the walls, since the museum only had so much room to work with. The one pictured above as about an aircraft that holds a very special place in my heart, but is beyond the time period of World of Warplanes. I spent a lot of time staring at this exhibit.
This picture didn't turn out nearly is good as I had hoped, but Avro Canada built other aircraft, besides the Arrow. The display case shows models (from left to right) of a Avro Lancaster (a four engine bomber that will probably never make it into the game), the C102 (a civilian jetliner that first flew in August, 1949), a CF-100 Canuck (which could fit the game's time period restrictions) and of course, another Arrow model.
Avro also designed and constructed this powerful Orenda jet engine, read more about it here....
Another nice display of the various aircraft flown by members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Now, here is a small attempt to bring about awareness for a piece of forgotten history. Depending on which source you consult, the Royal Canadian Navy started to fly aircraft in much the same fashion as the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, with the 1946 delivery of a carrier, HMCS Warrior. Although Canadian's flew naval aircraft during World War Two, they were considered more of an extension to the Royal Navy's operations. Starting with the post-war era, Canada would be seen with it's own naval air identity, that would last until the retirement of it's last carrier, HMCS Bonaventure, in 1970.
Which brings me to this entertaining contraption. My son was "flying" this sorta-scaled Hawker Sea Fury and attempted to land it on the deck of this sorta-scaled HMCS Magnificent CVL 21. The trick was to pull a lever up or down, which moved the upper guide line higher or lower from the deck. Think of it as a zip line for a little model plane. With a small metal tail hook, the goal was to catch one of the two lines across the after flight deck and come in for that "perfect" landing. Plain, simple fun.
Small scale models can be as much a labor of love as restoring/preserving real aircraft. I can appreciate the countless hours that people have invested in recreating the smaller history. I have tried on many occasion to build a complete model, but I don't have the patience or focus to finish one off. This little Gloster Meteor caught my eye, a small companion to my premium British tier VII jet I earned from an event, long ago now. But, these are just a few models....
....amongst so many. When I continue, it's back to some real aircraft, including the "Queen of the Hangar".
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