A High-Flying Start to 2025 with a Trip to the Jet Aircraft Museum in London, ON!
- cailyxmadensky
- May 4
- 2 min read
The Maple Leaf Chapter 99s kicked off flying season in style on April 12 with a fantastic day at the Jet Aircraft Museum at London Airport. Nine members and friends gathered for an exciting tour led by Captain Ken Kennedy, a retired RCAF pilot who has flown several of the aircraft on display.
Capt. Kennedy opened the visit with an engaging overview of jet aircraft history and their impact on global events—especially Canada’s aviation contributions. We then headed outside for an up-close look at several aircraft, with Ken providing fascinating insights at each stop. Back inside, we had the chance to pose for photos in The Red Knight, a Canadair CT-133 jet trainer.
The adventure didn’t stop there—some of us took the controls in the museum’s flight simulator, trying our hand at takeoffs and landings at London Airport. Student pilot Angela Byrne and I opted to start with a classic: the de Havilland Chipmunk trainer. Big thanks to our simulator coaches, Christine and Chuck, for their expert guidance!
No visit is complete without a stop at the gift shop—and of course, we wrapped up the day with lunch at the 427 Wing Café, one of the few remaining WWII-era canteens from the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The café is part of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association and doubles as a museum filled with history and aircraft models.
It was a day full of learning, laughter, and inspiration—a perfect launch into the 2025 flying season. Here's to blue skies and many more adventures ahead!
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