Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre

The well-done museum with its 19 striking bushplanes is a must-see for anyone crossing the border. It appeals to people with an interest in history and the outdoors, not just to airplane fans.

Seaplanes & bushplanes enjoy an illustrious Canadian heritage of adventure and heroic firefighting service. Flying to wilderness lakes and fishing camps made them an early form of adventure travel. It all started right here on the Sault Ste. Marie waterfront. The Ontario Provincial Air Service was started here in 1924. Its mission was to send out planes to patrol and report forest fires via radio. Planes also surveyed timberlands, and occasionally brought food to parties in the bush who hadn't planned for adequate supplies. Later, the air service devised the water-bombing technique, and in 1947 sent out the first planes to fight fires. Later seaplanes were used to reach lumber, mining, and hunting camps.

When the planes became amphibious and land-based, float plane veterans took over this impressive 1940s waterfront hangar as their museum. Here they work restoring planes and organizing bushplane history materials and historical displays. They're the guides, too, and able to speak from experience.

The introductory slide show is excellent. Exhibits include a life-size scene from a firefighters' bush camp, a hands-on engine test cell, a radio lab, a fire station, and vintage survival gear. Dr. Roberta Bondar, Canada's first woman in space and a native of Sault Ste. Marie, is commemorated in a display here.

There's a big aviation gift shop, too. The extensive website, www.bushplane.com , is replete with many historic photos and stories, floatplane events, and links with related sites.

On Pim St. at the water, reached via Bay St. about half a mile east of Station Mall downtown. (705) 945-6242. Open daily year-round. From June through Sept. open 9-6. Otherwise open 10-4. $10.50/adult ($8:40 U.S.), $5/student, $2/child, under 5 free. Wheelchair-accessible.
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SAULT STE. MARIE CANADA
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