Flying heritage museum planned for Alberta

The Alberta Flying Heritage Museum will be located at Villenneuve Airport. Photo courtesy of Alberta Aviation Musuem.

A new aviation museum planned for Alberta is expected to bring the province’s story of flight to life.

The Alberta Flying Heritage Museum will be located at the Villeneuve Airport, just 30 minutes northwest of Edmonton.

Executive director for the Alberta Aviation Museum said they were very pleased with the announcement.

“It is completely separate and distinct from the Alberta Aviation Museum,” Thomas Hinderks explained.

“This will create a new, living history museum in Alberta telling the Alberta story.”

The living aspect will set it apart from the current aviation museum, Hinderks said.

“Aircraft flying on a regular basis, exhibits that children and adults can get into, an experience as opposed to just the exhibits and the artifacts.

“The Alberta Aviation Museum will now focus very specifically on the history of aviation in Edmonton.”

The land was donated by Edmonton Airports and a 26,000 sq ft building donated by the federal government.

Hinderks said the project has been estimated to cost $10 million and the museum will be looking for donations in hopes of having it up and running by next summer.

The announcement was made following an award ceremony that saw the Alberta Aviation Museum receive a national award for Outstanding Event of 2013 for their Starfighter Roll Out in August.

The award was presented by the Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association.