Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton celebrates 80 years for its Lancaster

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton is celebrating 80 years for its World War II Lancaster plane.

Its Lancaster FM213 rolled off the production line at Victory Aircraft in Malton (Mississauga) in July 1945. It served as a maritime patrol aircraft and retired from the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1963.

Many decades later, the Mynarski Memorial Lancaster, sometimes affectionately known as VeRA, is a staple of southern Ontario skies.

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum hosted a birthday party for their Lancaster and a lucky few went up for a ride.

Over 2,000 guests were expected today for her 80th birthday.

“The Lancaster is known for being a Canadian icon. Our Lancaster is only one of two left flying in the whole world,” said spokesperson from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Emily Mascitti.

“It’s just like a Taylor Swift concert or any other rock concert where you’ve got to be online to make sure that you are in the queue there to get your ride because they do sell out very, very rapidly,” said pilot Chris Rekiel.

Rekiel has been a pilot for over 25 years and just recently got certified to fly the Lancaster. He remembers the first time he took her for a spin.

“To start a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine for the first time, just seeing it happen since I was seven years old was a very magical experience,” said Rekiel.

Canada turns 158 today but the Lancaster turns 80. And to give you an idea of the amount of horse power it takes to fly this plane, it equals 36 SUVs.

Those in attendance Tuesday got to see the Lancaster up close getting ready for take off and returning after an hour-long flight. In the meantime, guests could tour the museum, sit in aircraft on display and try their hand at making and flying a paper airplane. But for some, it wasn’t just a party but a dream come true.

“When you see that you know about the people that spent their time in the forces and did what they needed to do, and it’s very powerful,” said retired Sgt. Alan Gorman.

Jim Wenin got to go up in Lancaster Tuesday. His dad served in the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II. Since he passed away some years ago, and loved this plane, Wenin says he was there in spirit.

“I kind of went up with him and my mom. They met during the war. He met her over there. She was a nurse in London during the war,” said Wenin.

More information about the Lancaster is available at the museum’s website.

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