The Comox Air Force Museum is ideally situated for the region: The Canadian Forces Base Comox has been located 4.6km/2.9mi from the town of Comox since 1942. The museum honours the history of the Canadian Forces Air Command and aviation on Canada's west coast. And with panache.
Heritage Air Park
Only 500m/546yd from the museum building, the Heritage Air Park is home to 19 historic war planes. Take a walk and meet the Canuck, once sneered at as "the Clunk", it proved stalwart in the Korean and Cold Wars. The Canadair Argus was a hybrid of British and American engineering and a powerful anti-submarine warfare aircraft for the RCAF in WWII. The de Havilland Vampire has no fangs, but the postwar aircraft was an air show star for years. Used in Norad defence, the nuclear-capable McDonnell Voodoo emerged as a fearsome fighter. All 19 planes have their stories, their place in history assured.
Y2K Spitfire Restoration
The painstaking process of restoration continues with a Y2K Spitfire in the museum's Heritage Hangar. The Spitfire, the heroic aircraft that saved Britain from Hitler's Luftwaffe in WWII, looms large as an icon of victory in the Battle of Britain. Contemporary pilots dream of flying a Spitfire, still a grail of excitement in the aviation world. The museum and park are open Tues to Sun, May to September, and admission is free. The Y2K spitfire restoration is open Sat only, 10am to 3pm, but call 1 250-339-8162 to be sure.
Canada's Snowbirds
It's no coincidence the Museum's Tutor aircraft is painted in the colours of Canada's Snowbirds 442 Squadron. The Snowbirds choose Comox every year for spring training. And pssssst, for visitors lucky enough to be in the area at the time, Air Force Beach has the best seats in the house for aerial daring-do over the Strait of Georgia.