Staycation 2021, Part 1

USPA NEWS - After a little over a year of travel restrictions and border closures, many people are becoming weary of not being able to travel freely like days prior to the worldwide pandemic. The anxiety of not being able to travel out side of the country or a regional bubble is universal and not unique to any particular country. With that in mind, now more that ever is a great time to enjoy travel destinations and activities close to home. This way of thinking will allow  rediscovery of attractions close to home while supporting the local economy during these difficult times. 

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For residents of Halifax and the surrounding area, it is not unusual to see a military helicopter flying overhead. Up until its retirement in 2018, the Sea King helicopter was most commonly seen. Since that time, the Cyclone CH-148 has been put into service as the replacement of the aging Sea King. These helicopters are based and maintained at CFB Shearwater. At the present time, there are no active fixed-wing Military aircraft that call 12 Wing Shearwater home, however that has not always been the case. CFB Shearwater has a rich Canadian Maritime Military Aviation history that has been documented and preserved at the Shearwater Aviation Museum.  The Shearwater Aviation Museum is located at 12 Wing CFB Shearwater in Shearwater, Nova Scotia. Shearwater is a small community a short distance from Halifax, which is Nova Scotia's capital.

The museum accepts donations of retired Military aircraft and artifacts with the mandate to restore for the purpose of preserving Canadian Maritime Military Aviation History. Founded in 1978, the Shearwater Aviation Museum has gathered a large collection of artifacts that contains thousands of items. With the continued acquisition of articles, the museum has had to expand its facilities over the years. The current location includes a gift shop, a library, a theater, and a conference room. Each year, the Shearwater Aviation Museum attracts hundreds of visitors from around Nova Scotia, across Canada, and from around the world. There is a collection of aircraft on display as well as Maritime Aviation and Naval-themed exhibits along with a flight simulator.

The following is a list of aircraft on display: Canadair CT-114 Tutor, Lockheed CT-133 Silver Star, Fairey Firefly, Fairey Swordfish, Grumman CP-121 Tracker, Grumman TFB Avenger, McDonnell CF 101 Voodoo, McDonnell F2H Banshee, North American Harvard Mk.II, Piasecki H-25 and the Sikorsky HO4S-3. The following is a list of permanent exhibits: Museum History, RCAF Eastern Air Command, HMCS Bonaventure Exhibit, Uniforms, Flight Simulator, Art Gallery, Victoria Cross Gallery and Shearwater Flyers Football Team exhibit.

Aviation Enthusiasts, Military Fans, and History Buffs will all agree that the Shearwater Aviation Museum offers an exciting way to learn about Canadian Maritime Military Aviation History. Detailed information on each permanent exhibit and each aircraft on display along with the museum's hours of operation can be found on the Shearwater Aviation Museum website. www.shearwateraviationmuseum.ns.ca

Even though every region may have it's own unique attractions to offer, this series of articles is meant to inspire everyone to rediscover the beauty in our own back yard.
Be well, and stay safe while staying active close to home.

UPDATE: APRIL 3RD, 2021-- Upon completion of this article we have learned that out of an abundance of caution the Shearwater Aviation Museum will be closed for the foreseeable future. However it should be noted that there is an outdoor exhibit containing two planes and a Sea King helicopter. Along with the aircrafts on display is historical information on each one. Even though the main indoor museum remains closed there is still much to see in the outdoor exhibit which is still accessible to the public.