Hamilton’s Warplane Heritage Museum celebrates 50th anniversary with special events

One of Hamilton’s most popular attractions is celebrating a milestone anniversary this summer and they’re celebrating with a really big event.

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) is marking its 50th Anniversary later this month with a special two-day event that invites guests to get up close and personal with some of the museum’s aircraft and their crews.

The CWHM started out as a restoration project for a group of friends who were aviation enthusiasts back in 1972.

In its five decades, the museum has grown into an internationally renowned collection of 50 aircraft that were flown by Canadians and Canadian military services from the beginning of the Second World War to today.

To celebrate the ongoing legacy of Hamilton’s beloved museum, SkyFest50 will run from June 25 to June 26 and will feature fly-bys of the museum’s Firefly, Dakota, B-25 Mitchell, and Canso.

Aircraft like the Mosquito, Hurricane, Spitfire, P-51 Mustang, P-40 Warhawk, and P-39 Aircobra will also be making appearances at this year’s SkyFest.

The museum’s legendary Lancaster will be open for interior tours for the event but is currently undergoing some preventative maintenance to replace one of its engines so it won’t be taking to the skies for at least a few more weeks.

In addition to SkyFest50, the CWHM is hosting a homecoming event on June 18th for past and present members, staff and volunteers for a “casual afternoon of socializing and reminiscing.”

Tickets for SkyFest are currently on sale for the event, though a notice on the museum’s website said that tickets for Saturday (June 25) are already sold out.

A preview event is scheduled for Friday but there will be no access to the ramp.

Tickets for SkyFest50can be purchased through the museum’s website. So too can tickets for the homecoming event.