BC Aviation Museum Open House

A superbly run open house with admission by donation and lots to see and do. I loved seeing seniors teaching kids how to use the flight simulators and teenaged volunteers helping with parking and other tasks that helped things go smoothly.

There was a fine collection of military vehicles, helicopters, planes of various types and eras, many interesting displays of all things aviation related.

This 1936 McLaughlin Buick Roadmaster Phaeton stole the show for me. It is one of three ever built. Coal magnate James Dunsmuir ordered them specially made for three of his nine daughters (he also had three sons). Eleanor Dunsmuir owned this particular car which was used to chauffeur President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on his official visit to Victoria in 1937. I believe he is the only sitting US President to visit Vancouver Island.