Federal money to help new aviation museum take off

The federal government is helping back a brand new 105,000-square-foot Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada.

The new buildingwill also belocated at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport and will featurenine exhibition galleries, a kids centre, library, and workshop, among other facilities, according to a news release.

• Winnipeg museum recalls era of airline freebies, smoking on planes

Ottawa promised Thursday to contribute $1.2 million to theproject. The total cost of the building will be $35million and the museum is currently raising an additional $5 million to pay for operations.

"I am proud to announce the government of Canada's support for the construction of this new museum in Winnipeg, and I look forward to visiting the space once construction is complete," said Liberal MP Dr. Doug Eyolfson.

Helen Halliday, president and CEO of the museum, said the federal funds will help create a "world class facility."

The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada focuses on Canada's bush-flying history. The current location,on Ferry Road near the Winnipeg airport,opened in 1984.

The museum must continue to raise fundswith private donors and other levels of government before breaking ground on a new building.

Halliday said the museum has alreadyraised more than $20 million for the project. The additional federal funds pushed the fundraising over the 50 per cent mark today, she said.

• Local aviation buff has wartime planes in Manitoba Air Show