Aviation and Heritage Roundup June 2025
Provided by Paul Squires, CAPA-ACCA Contact, Wetaskiwin, Alberta
A site I found that looks worth checking out, especially the Northern Aviation History section.
Arctic and Northern Aviation
July 31 – Lancaster returns to Australian War Memorial
Iconic ‘lucky’ bomber G for George returns to the Australian War Memorial – ABC News
July 31 – Remembering Bob Diemert, sort of.
Carman’s Bob Diemert remembered as pioneer in aviation innovation and warplane restoration
July 31 – Anniversary of the ‘Gimli Glider’ brings in visitors.
Gimli Glider anniversary draws global visitors, renewed pride in aviation legend – Wings MagazineWings Magazine
July 31 – 90 Years of the B-17
The B-17 Flying Fortress Turns 90 – The National Interest
July 31 – First flight of the Lockheed Ventura.
As a member of the Ventura Memorial Flight Association, I may seem pedantic but this article includes numerous errors. The Ventura was designed to replace the Blenheim as a light bomber, and was ordered into production on that basis, only to be overtaken by the Mosquito. It was the RCAF who requested it be converted to Maritime Patrol operations, which after Pearl Harbour became the GR.V (PV-1) version. It later became the first successful US designed Night Fighter with the USMC. The ex-RCAF 149(BR) Sqn. aircraft #2198 aircraft planned to represent this was chopped up by the City of Irvine without notice in 2023. Of note, the prototype served in the RCAF where it was written off in an accident at Pennfield Ridge, as was the second Ventura built, both by the same pilot which must be some kind of record!
Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura – Vintage Aviation News
The City of Irvine Neglects and Destroys PV-1 Ventura
July 30 – First flight of the DHC-4 Caribou
Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the de Havilland DHC-4 Caribou – Vintage Aviation News
July 29 – SB2C Helldiver returns to flight. Are there no Canadian built Helldivers left at all?
From Zero to Hero: SB2C Helldiver Takes Flight at National Museum of World War II Aviation – Vintage Aviation News
July 29 – First flight of the Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra – Vintage Aviation News
July 28 – Classic aircraft at Edenvale
Aviation enthusiasts fly in for Gathering of the Classics air show – Midland News
July 28 – Aeroflot hacked by pro-Ukrainian group.
Aeroflot: Pro-Ukraine hacker group claims cyber-attack
July 28 – Onboard one of the aircraft dropping supplies into Gaza
Gaza: BBC’s Jeremy Bowen goes onboard a plane dropping aid
July 28 – Work is starting on Qatar’s ‘gift’ B.747
US begins preparing Qatari jet to be used as Air Force One
July 28 – Skycrane down when scooping in Greece
Wildfires in Europe, S 64E downs in sea near Athens – Wildfire Today
July 28 – Painting exhibition of all von Richtofen’s victories. (One of these was an FE-8 with future writer Arch Whitehouse as gunner. He pointed out they held him off, but their engine failed).
‘The Red Baron’ art exhibit coming to Topeka’s Combat Air Museum
July – Misinformation on Canadian wildfires growing
Misinformation linking Canadian wildfires to arson are part of a long trend, reports find – Wildfire Today
July 26 – Global Warming is increasing Clear Air Turbulence. Here are some design solutions being worked on to overcome that.
Turbulence is increasing. Here’s how the aviation industry is trying to smooth things out
July 26 – American Airlines plane evacuated after a tire fire
Passengers use emergency slides to flee plane fire at Denver airport
July 26 – Recreating a Polish training aircraft
Polish Aviation Museum to Display Replica of RWD-8 Army and Civilian Trainer – Vintage Aviation News
July 25 – NASA employees put it on the line. The Voyager Letter
Trump’s NASA cuts will ‘compromise human safety,’ hundreds of employees say in letter | CBC Radio
July 25 – Personal Air Scooter almost crosses English Channel
Moment ‘air scooter’ fails Channel crossing attempt
July 24 – Latest on Lancaster NX611
Avro Lancaster B.VII NX611 ‘Just Jane’ – Restoration Update 246 – Vintage Aviation News
July 23 – Museu Asas de Um Sonho in Brazil back. (and yes, that is a Buffalo).
Revival in Motion: Brazil’s TAM Museum Takes Major Steps Toward Rebirth – Vintage Aviation News
July 23 – Imaginative Display!
“When Nature Calls: At 26,000 Feet” Military Aviation Museum Debuts Its Most Unexpected Exhibit—Inside the Restroom – Vintage Aviation News
July 23 – Transitioning to renewable energy in remote communities would reduce fire risk
Canadian First Nations’ diesel dependance offers transitional opportunity for wildfire reductions – Wildfire Today
July 22 – Smithsonian opens five new galleries of Aviation (Trivia of note: The side of the Spirit of St. Louis are painted the flags of every country the airplane visited except one. Canada, because Lindbergh considered us to be ‘just British’)
National Air and Space Museum Opens Five New Galleries July 28 | National Air and Space Museum
July 22 – Goodyear donates blimp gondola to Oshkosh
Goodyear donates section of blimp to EAA Museum for children’s exhibit
July 22 – Remembering record parachute jumper Felix Baumgartner
His spirit flies on: Felix Baumgartner’s enduring legacy | World Air Sports Federation
July 20 – New museum in Taiwan
Taoyuan Aerotropolis Museum highlights nation’s aviation history | Taiwan News | Jul. 20, 2025 15:58
July 19 – How Star Trek influenced the names of the Space Shuttles
How the Space Shuttles were given better names thanks to Star Trek
July 19 – Fringe play recalls German invasion of Winnipeg
Fringe Fest play shines spotlight on If Day, when ‘Nazis’ invaded Winnipeg | CBC News
July 19 – Annual Mini-Airshow in Muncie, Indiana Museum. Great way to get kids involved.
Years of model aviation to explore at Muncie museum – InkFreeNews.com
July 17 – Virtual Flight exhibit coming to Moose Jaw museum.
Virtual flight experience coming to Assiniboia Museum – DiscoverMooseJaw.com – Local news, Weather, Sports, Free Classifieds and Job Listings
July 17 – Fifty years since the Apollo-Soyuz meet-up
The handshake in orbit that made the International Space Station possible
July 17 – Mortar round dropped off at Municipal office turns out to be practice bomb.
Items removed from Kensington town hall don’t date back to Second World War after all | CBC News
July 17 – Remembering Skyjacking
Looking back on the golden age of skyjacking – Lawyers, Guns & Money
July 16 – How the Bomb is part of all of us, and why that is a benefit.
The atomic bomb marker inside your body
July 15 – New leadership at Winnipeg Museum
Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada Announces New President and CEO – Vintage Aviation News
July 15 – What do you do with an old Air Terminal
Community-led plan aims to transform historic airport terminal into arts, retail and aviation hub
July 15 – Hurricane “The Last of the Many” back in the air.
BBMF Hurricane PZ865 Returns to the Skies After Winter Maintenance – Vintage Aviation News
July 14 – Model Glider Championship in Germany
Two world firsts at next week’s 2025 FAI F3K World Championships for Model Gliders | World Air Sports Federation
July 14 – Did you know the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ includes funding to take the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian collection and move it to Houston?
The “Big Beautiful Bill” Is Trying To Steal A Space Shuttle | Defector
July 14 – AI versus Historic Sites
‘We’re not just gonna roll over’: The US Civil War battlefield at the centre of a new conflict
July 13 – What to do when artifacts are too large? Interesting comments and the third photo of damaged riveted plate is fascinating.
Halifax Explosion artifacts were pulled from the harbour last year. So, now what? | CBC News
July 12 – B.787 lands in Maine on flight from England to Mexico after fight breaks out.
Flight from London to Cancun lands in Maine after fight breaks out on board
July 12 – The BAC 1-11 in US service
The BAC 1-11: American Airlines’ First Short-Haul Jet
July 10 – Celebrating 100 years of DH Moth aircraft, including the oldest airworthy ex-RCAF aircraft
Vintage airplanes soar into Dufferin for Centennial Celebration | Shelburne Free Press
July 9 – Human Rights Court decides Russia responsible for shooting down Air Malaysia Flight MH17
Russia responsible for downing passenger plane over Ukraine, European human rights court rules | CBC News
July 9 – Air Museum sparked interest in Air Maintenance
Wrenches and Wings: Morgan Boyd’s Mission to Keep Aviation Soaring | College of Aviation | Western Michigan University
July 6 – Putting high school project into space.
Croydon High School students create satellite
July 5 – Celebrating 40 years of the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association
Ontario group marks 40 years of keeping the history of Canada’s WW II ‘pilot maker’ alive | CBC News
July 4 – Australia flies indigenous design of ‘buddy fighter’ drone, their first combat design in 50 years
Astonishing images emerge from of Australia’s MQ-28A Ghost Bat drone | Daily Mail Online
Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat – Wikipedia
July 3 – ex-RCAF Crane coming back to Canada
Cessna T-50 Crane Soon Bound for Canada – Vintage Aviation News
July 3 – Royal Navy F-35 has been stuck in India for 3 weeks due to ‘glitch’
The curious case of the Royal Navy jet stuck in India
F-35B: UK experts begin repairs on fighter jet stuck in India’s Kerala for three weeks
July 22 – and finally leaves
F-35B in Kerala: UK fighter jet stuck in India for five weeks leaves for Australia
July 3 – Methane detecting satellite lost. Is this another ‘SeaSat’?
Bezos-backed methane tracking satellite lost in space | CBC News
July 1 – Loss of another Radial Engine service company
Covington Aircraft Engines to Conclude 53 Years of Radial Engine Service at End of 2025 – Vintage Aviation News
June 27 – Trump cuts NOAA access to Hurricane satellite images, leading to less accurate forecasts (and it’s effects on Canada)
U.S. government cuts key hurricane forecasting data from satellites | CBC News
June 27 – Panda patterned racetrack for drone competition
Panda-shaped drone racing track unveiled for The World Games 2025 | World Air Sports Federation
June 24 – 50 years of Calgary Air Museum / Hangar Flight Museum, and new plans.
Calgary’s Hangar Flight Museum celebrating 50 years | Calgary Herald
June 10 – Don’t know how I missed this, latest on Alberta Aviation Museum Hangar
Edmonton’s Alberta Aviation Museum close to buying Hangar 14
June 3 – New Norseman for BCATP Museum Brandon
Norseman aircraft to fly again at Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum – Skies Mag
Finally, a little fun:
