Collection and Research

Research

Learn more about Canada’s rich and fascinating scientific and technological heritage. Explore research papers and essays written by members of the curatorial and conservation staff of Ingenium. These papers focus on:

  • collecting and conserving artifacts
  • using artifacts in the National Collection to tell the history of Canada
  • presenting unique artifacts in the National Collection

Watch this space grow as more papers are added regularly.

Research Type
Search-and-Recovery of Free-Flight Avro Arrow Models from Lake Ontario casm

The Canada Aviation and Space Museum is proud to support OEX Recovery Group Incorporated in a project involving the search-and-recovery of free-flight Avro Arrow models which have rested on the bottom of Lake Ontario for more than 60 years.

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A History of the Rockcliffe Airport Site A History of the Rockcliffe Airport Site casm

Type: Photo Essays

How does a former military base become a national showcase and home to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum? Find out in this photo essay.

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Camouflage Camouflage casm

Type: Photo Essays

Did you know the first military aircraft had no camouflage whatsoever? See how air forces came to realize that disguising airplanes was a good idea.

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R-100 R-100 casm

Type: Photo Essays

Learn about Canada’s role in the Imperial Airship Scheme, in the Museum’s photo essay about the R-100 Airship.

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Shield and Sword Shield and Sword casm

Type: Photo Essays

Explore post-Second World War aviation innovation, some of the most important of its century, in the Museum’s photo essay.

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Igor Sikorsky: One Man, Three Careers Igor Sikorsky: One Man, Three Careers casm

Type: Photo Essays

Explore the eventful life of aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky, in the Museum’s photo essay.

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1909 — An Illustrious Year 1909 — An Illustrious Year casm

Type: Photo Essays

French aviators were shocked by Wilbur Wright’s mastery of the air when they saw him fly in 1908. Find out how they reacted, in the Museum’s photo essay.

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The HS-2L in Canada The HS-2L in Canada casm

Type: Photo Essays

Read about the creation, history, and reconstruction of Canada’s first commercial aircraft, now part of the Museum collection.

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The Balloon Era The Balloon Era casm

Type: Photo Essays

Relive the first days of human flight, in the Museum’s detailed photo essay on ballooning.

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“And Look After Our Coasts” “And Look After Our Coasts” casm

Type: Photo Essays

Did you know that in the 1930s, attacks on Canada would likely come from the sea? See how the federal government reacted to the threat in this photo essay.

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Aeronca C-2 Aeronca C-2 casm

Type: Conservation Projects

Tight timelines were no match for Museum staff, who reconditioned this diminutive airplane in time for a test flight by RCAF pilots. Learn more.

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Borel-Morane Monoplane Borel-Morane Monoplane casm

Type: Conservation Projects

Get details of the several-hundred-hour process that brought this artifact back to life while retaining historical materials and coatings.

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Curtiss HS-2L La Vigilance Curtiss HS-2L La Vigilance casm

Type: Conservation Projects

Explore details of the Museum’s largest and longest restoration project to date, which included building an entire hull for this flying boat.

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Curtiss JN-4 “Canuck” Curtiss JN-4 “Canuck” casm

Type: Conservation Projects

Lack of proper facilities didn’t prevent the restoration of this treasure to near-original glory. See how the Museum team did it.

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Curtiss Seagull Curtiss Seagull casm

Type: Conservation Projects

The Museum’s team undertook the restoration of this flying boat with enthusiasm. Get the details of this challenging project, completed in 1974.

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Fairchild FC-2W-2 Fairchild FC-2W-2 casm

Type: Conservation Projects

A forced landing left this aircraft damaged, but the Museum’s skilled team restored it to display condition. See how.

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Messerschmitt Me 163B–1a Komet Messerschmitt Me 163B–1a Komet casm

Type: Conservation Projects

Discover how the restoration of this Second World War-era German airplane revealed the consequences of using forced foreign labour.

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McDowall Monoplane McDowall Monoplane casm

Type: Conservation Projects

Use the original, ineffective fabric treatment or a better, modern alternative? That was one of the challenges posed by the McDowall Monoplane restoration.

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Hispano HA–1112–M1L Buchón Hispano HA–1112–M1L Buchón casm

Type: Conservation Projects

This Spanish-built version of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 was refinished in its original Spanish Air Force markings. Learn more about its restoration.

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