Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada

Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada

Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Winnipeg's newest museum, the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, is NOW OPEN! Located at the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, this state-of-the-art facility houses more than 25 aircraft and 17 immersive exhibits. Learn about the people and planes of western Canada's aviation history through exhibits that will spark inspiration and discovery. This brand-new 86,000-square-foot facility also features a boutique gift shop, children's play area, observation lounge, and much more. Learn, play, and be inspired at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada. Plan your visit today!
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • adventure and retire
    Pincourt, Canada48 contributions
    Interesting place to visit the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
    Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada Located beside the Winnipeg Airport. We were impressed with the display. You can see the planes from all sides, suspended in the air. This new facility features 17 thoughtfully curated exhibits filled with stories of Canada's rich aviation history and Canadian innovations. Kids can put their hands on different tools, Interesting place to visit,
    Visited July 2022
    Written December 15, 2022
  • Carol H
    1 contribution
    An interesting way to spend a few hours
    Well worth a few hours of your time. We learned a lot and will certainly be back again. The exhibits are well put together and contain many interesting anecdotes. Thank you for a very enjoyable morning.
    Visited September 2022
    Written December 22, 2022
  • werenotthere
    Geelong, Australia114 contributions
    hidden location
    The redeveloped (its a new building??) museum is a 10 min walk from the arrivals hall. Just walk thru the carpark and cross Wellington Ave. Its a nice place to visit if a few hours to spare while waiting for connecting flights. The museum is not huge but has enough different types of planes for your to explore. Some of the exhibits you can go into like the 1960s(?) Air Canada plane that they had on display and compare the extra cabin space air travel had compared to todays offerings. What I would recommend for the museum to do is to add some signage at the arrivals hall in the airport telling people the museum is located and directions.
    Yes, this is a brand-new building! The museum has been around for nearly 50 years, but we opened this facility in May 2022. Thanks for your feedback re: signage--we're working with the airport authority to install more signs around the campus. So glad you could squeeze in a visit during your layover!
    Written January 3, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2022
    Written January 2, 2023
  • Patricia L
    Winnipeg, Canada2 contributions
    Royal Aviation Museum a real gem
    A great place to tour for all ages. Wonderful aviation playground for kids and lots of hands-on activity. Loved the view of the airport runways from the observation deck. Guided tour was really helpful, thanks to our guide Gerry. Made me even more proud to be Canadian after learning of all our aviation firsts. Good gift shop for aviation fans.
    Visited January 2023
    Written January 4, 2023
  • Lee
    26 contributions
    Worth a visit especially for children
    Very informative, lots of staff and great way to learn about Canadian aviation history! Well organized and great sample of planes to learn about. Awesome showcasing many Canadian aviation Heros. Some video displays are missing content. The facility is very clean. The entrance fee is reasonable but should include the cost of parking.
    Hi there, I'm sorry to hear that some of our video displays weren't working when you visited. We will look into that. Because we are not a publicly funded museum, parking fees are one of the revenue streams that keep us operational. Specifically, parking fees help to fund our educational programs. It sounds like you enjoyed our museum as a whole, which we're very glad to hear. I hope you'll come back soon--we have lots of exciting things planned for 2023. :)
    Written January 16, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited January 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written January 14, 2023
  • alienhunter52
    10 contributions
    The History of Aviation in Manitoba
    I shared a photo of a C74 when I use to charter this big aircraft to fly in groceries to remote reserves up in Northern Manitoba where the roads don't reach. I mostly enjoyed speaking to the staff that work there and the accounts they tell you of the struggle Bush Pilots had in the early days. It's worth the trip to come and see these marvelous machines
    It's so nice to hear you enjoyed speaking with our staff and volunteers. They have some amazing stories to tell and really enhance the experience. :) Thanks for visiting!
    Written June 27, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 23, 2023
  • louguay67
    Winnipeg, Canada74 contributions
    New facility is a big improvement, but, a lot pricier and parking is no longer free.
    A huge improvement over the original facility. More room and better displays. But, admission costs are a lot higher than the old version - 16 dollars for an adult and youth (3 to 12 years of age) price is insane - 9.50 ! As well, no free parking - it costs 5.00 for up to 4 hours. Mentioned on the website, but, you have to dig down three layers to find it. Should be clearly visible alongside the admission prices. No street (free) parking within reasonable walking distance.
    Hi there! We receive very little government funding as part of our operating budget, so we needed to raise our admission rates to support our new facility. All parking fees go to support our education programs. Glad to hear you enjoyed the rest of your visit!
    Written September 20, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written August 16, 2023
  • West Laurel
    Maryland41 contributions
    An Aviation Museum for Anyone Interested in History
    The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada is a museum both for aviation enthusiasts and for anyone interested in the history of the Prairie Provinces of Canada. The airplane collection was assembled to illustrate that slice of Canadian history. Therefore, I saw planes there that I had not seen in any other aviation museum. When combined with the photos, videos, and explanatory signs that are spread throughout the museum, the airplane collection becomes the centerpiece of a short course in the history and geography of the Prairie Provinces. For instance, one of planes on display is the Vickers Vedette, an aircraft designed and built in Canada to help map the Canadian prairies. No complete Vedettes remained, so the museum built a new one, based on some wrecks found in various lakes, along with the assistance of one of the workers who helped manufacture the original ones. The museum has a number of bush planes, that is, planes used to fly people and cargo to sparsely settled areas, where airport runways are short (if they exist at all). Sometimes they fly to isolated settlements. Sometimes they fly hunters and fishermen to places where there are no settlements. Such bush planes need to be rugged and need to create a lot of lift, to take off in a really short distance. One of my favorites of these bush planes is the Bellanca Aircruiser. The strange arrangement of its wings reminds me of the pterodactyl, a flying reptile from the Age of Dinosaurs. The struts that support the main wing are not just simple struts; they are actually built as "extra" wings. Those "extra" wings look strange, but they add lift, to help the Aircruiser take off from a short runway. The museum also highlights Canadian innovation. For instance, they display a Canadair Dynavert, an experimental cargo plane. The Dynavert could take off vertically by tilting the wing back so that the engines pointed straight up. The propellers then acted like the rotors of a helicopter. The museum is kid-friendly. For the younger kids, there are "pedal planes" and an aerospace-themed play area/jungle gym. Older kids can try out the controls of a Piper Musketeer, a plane that was used to train new pilots till it was retired. The museum has no snack bar. However, we were able to get back in after lunch; we talked with the staff before we left, and we saved our receipt when we paid for admission.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written September 21, 2023
  • Lori T
    Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada137 contributions
    Well worth the visit
    We went to this museum to kill time between landing at the airport and getting our hotel room. It was right across the street from the airport and they have small lockers for purses, camera bags, and a coat hanging area. We toured the whole exhibit and then they had a 1 hour and 20 min guided tour with a very well informed guide. I was great to have him explain in more detail the planes and their history. They don't have any special discounts except for seniors.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written October 16, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Lori T
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada137 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Couples
We went to this museum to kill time between landing at the airport and getting our hotel room. It was right across the street from the airport and they have small lockers for purses, camera bags, and a coat hanging area. We toured the whole exhibit and then they had a 1 hour and 20 min guided tour with a very well informed guide. I was great to have him explain in more detail the planes and their history. They don't have any special discounts except for seniors.
Written October 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

West Laurel
Maryland41 contributions
Jul. 2023 • Couples
The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada is a museum both for aviation enthusiasts and for anyone interested in the history of the Prairie Provinces of Canada.

The airplane collection was assembled to illustrate that slice of Canadian history. Therefore, I saw planes there that I had not seen in any other aviation museum. When combined with the photos, videos, and explanatory signs that are spread throughout the museum, the airplane collection becomes the centerpiece of a short course in the history and geography of the Prairie Provinces.

For instance, one of planes on display is the Vickers Vedette, an aircraft designed and built in Canada to help map the Canadian prairies. No complete Vedettes remained, so the museum built a new one, based on some wrecks found in various lakes, along with the assistance of one of the workers who helped manufacture the original ones.

The museum has a number of bush planes, that is, planes used to fly people and cargo to sparsely settled areas, where airport runways are short (if they exist at all). Sometimes they fly to isolated settlements. Sometimes they fly hunters and fishermen to places where there are no settlements. Such bush planes need to be rugged and need to create a lot of lift, to take off in a really short distance.

One of my favorites of these bush planes is the Bellanca Aircruiser. The strange arrangement of its wings reminds me of the pterodactyl, a flying reptile from the Age of Dinosaurs. The struts that support the main wing are not just simple struts; they are actually built as "extra" wings. Those "extra" wings look strange, but they add lift, to help the Aircruiser take off from a short runway.

The museum also highlights Canadian innovation. For instance, they display a Canadair Dynavert, an experimental cargo plane. The Dynavert could take off vertically by tilting the wing back so that the engines pointed straight up. The propellers then acted like the rotors of a helicopter.

The museum is kid-friendly. For the younger kids, there are "pedal planes" and an aerospace-themed play area/jungle gym. Older kids can try out the controls of a Piper Musketeer, a plane that was used to train new pilots till it was retired.

The museum has no snack bar. However, we were able to get back in after lunch; we talked with the staff before we left, and we saved our receipt when we paid for admission.
Written September 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

louguay67
Winnipeg, Canada74 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Couples
A huge improvement over the original facility. More room and better displays.
But, admission costs are a lot higher than the old version - 16 dollars for an adult and youth (3 to 12 years of age) price is insane - 9.50 ! As well, no free parking - it costs 5.00 for up to 4 hours. Mentioned on the website, but, you have to dig down three layers to find it. Should be clearly visible alongside the admission prices.
No street (free) parking within reasonable walking distance.
Written August 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there! We receive very little government funding as part of our operating budget, so we needed to raise our admission rates to support our new facility. All parking fees go to support our education programs. Glad to hear you enjoyed the rest of your visit!
Written September 20, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

travelsinbc
Vancouver, Canada342 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Couples
This museum was a wonderful museum showing some relevant aircraft used for different type of events like the second world war, search and rescue, for delivery of essential medical equipment and so on. There is an interactive area that people can explore what engines are like in aircraft, and also what parts are included in the aircraft! There is even something for the little ones to do too! There is peddle airplanes for young children to use! But what made our visit very special was the greeter at the door. She is very friendly and outgoing, and engaged with each visitor as they arrived! This is a convenient location especially if you have some time before a flight, or if you're wanting to learn more about aircraft. Below are just a few photos that I took in the museum. For learning about other aircraft, and history, please visit this amazing attraction!
Written August 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow, thank you for your kind words! It's so great to hear that you enjoyed your visit. We're very proud of our amazing crew of volunteers and staff who always go the extra mile to make visitors' experiences memorable. Great photos!!
Written August 11, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Doug L
Toronto, Canada7 contributions
Jul. 2023 • Family
It is a good museum to visit. It has lots of unique planes I have never seen before. It is not especially big. I would spend a maximum of 2 hours there.
Written July 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

alienhunter52
10 contributions
Jun. 2023
I shared a photo of a C74 when I use to charter this big aircraft to fly in groceries to remote reserves up in Northern Manitoba where the roads don't reach. I mostly enjoyed speaking to the staff that work there and the accounts they tell you of the struggle Bush Pilots had in the early days. It's worth the trip to come and see these marvelous machines
Written June 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It's so nice to hear you enjoyed speaking with our staff and volunteers. They have some amazing stories to tell and really enhance the experience. :) Thanks for visiting!
Written June 27, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

DMFS
Winnipeg, Canada7 contributions
Feb. 2023 • Solo
We are lucky to have such a great aircraft museum in Winnipeg. The collection is small but there are a few gems in there that enthusiasts will appreciate. It has a bit of a focus on bush aviation. Very family friendly.
Written May 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for coming by. Glad you enjoyed your visit!
Written June 27, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Samer A
Dubai, United Arab Emirates448 contributions
Mar. 2023
Amazing attraction with a lot of historical planes on display. it is good and fun for the entire family.
Written May 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

WRGlover
Winnipeg, Canada7 contributions
Apr. 2023
This needs a professional curatorial staff to improve an exhibition that currently lacks a coherent story line. The visitor footpath did not have any logical flow, topical, chronological or geographic. Military, civilian and exploration/national development (mapping as an example) were all intermingled seemingly by the size of the aircraft on display. As the current building was purpose built , the lack of an apparent story line would suggest that it had not been considered at the design stage. The "bush pilot" story was presented in a much better fashion on the old museum. The gift store in the new museum is a monumental failure of the museum 's responsibility of education in the book selection. One of our group was a retired air force CF104 pilot (with many hours on the aircraft on display) who pointed out numerous inaccuracies in the signage.

Not a first rank museum; not up to a royal designation.

WRG, CD, PhD
Written April 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ralph O
1 contribution
Mar. 2023
Excellent facility. Great displays!
Kid friendly.
Love the history involved here.
Viewing the hanging planes was so realistic.
Written March 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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ROYAL AVIATION MUSEUM OF WESTERN CANADA - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada

Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada is open:
  • Sun - Sat 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.


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