Ottawa, ON Canada — History is hardly new at the Canada Air and Space Museum in Ottawa, but the eclectic display of vintage and modern aircraft was enhanced on May 30 by the presence of living history – specifically, the 2013 inductees into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame (CAHF). The museum was the venue for the 40th anniversary of CAHF, at which three long-retired fighter pilots – Victor R. Bennett, James “Stocky” Edwards, and Joseph Fernand “Frank” Henley – were inducted, along with industry pioneer John Sandford, whose career highlight was introducing de Havilland’s world-beating Dash 7 and 8 turboprops.
The jam-packed event, with citations handed out by MGen Mike Hood, deputy RCAF commander, was book-ended by videos of Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, recorded aboard the International Space Station before he wound up his five-month stint as ISS Commander on May 13. The former Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 pilot, a 2005 inductee into the Hall of Fame, opened the evening with congratulations to the new inductees and closed it with his guitar-accompanied rendition of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.”
Back on Earth, meanwhile, the Hall of Fame inductees were clearly entertained by Hadfield’s performance – and possibly a little envious of his time in space.
Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame celebrated its 40th anniversary