If you want to get up close and personal with some of the most iconic and historic aircrafts since the invention of the airplane in 1903, then the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is a must see. The display at the museum located in Mount Hope, ON, (Greater Hamilton Area, within an hour of UOG) features historic aircrafts used and operated for military services. I myself have had the pleasure of visiting the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and was blown away with the display and history surrounding these aircrafts.

A particular aircraft featured among the display of warplanes that stands out not only for its bright yellow and black bumblebee-like features but more importantly for its astounding history surrounding Canada and Britain during WW2 is the Westland Lysander. The aircraft design began in 1935 by the British military in Yeovil, UK and was first flown just a short year later. The first Canadian built Lysanders rolled out of the National Steel Car factory at Malton, Ontario in September 1939 (Canadian Warplane Heritage, 2023). The Lysander on display was built in 1942. The Lysander was considered to have elite STOL (Short take-off and landing) capabilities. The Lysander’s STOL abilities were utilized in German Occupied France during WW2 in night operations in order to fly in agents and pick up escapees. Having a piece of history that was relevant in helping the Allies to victory during WW2 that you can examine such as the Lysander is extremely remarkable.

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Work Cited:

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (2023): Westland Lysander Mk. IIIA. Aircraft Description.

Images Linked Below:

https://www.warplane.com/aircraft/collection/details.aspx?aircraftId=37