52 FLYPAST September 2018MUSEUMS REYNOLDS ALBERTA
An Eclectic Gathering
RCAF service in World War Two,
Stan opened a car dealership, and
began adding items to his father’s
collection. In 1951, the family built
the local airport, and opened the
first incarnation of the Reynolds
Museum four years later. The list
of items expanded over the next
few decades, partly thanks to
the machinery and vehicles Stan
acquired while running his car
dealership, and it eventually
re-opened in its current
and much larger
structure in 1992.
Stan’s son Byron now
acts as honorary
curatorial advisor to
the museum.Huge array
The attraction is around 9 miles
(15km) east of Highway 2, the main
north-south route through Western
Canada. On approach to the main
building you are greeted with
Conair Firecat ‘67’, a Grumman
Tracker converted for fire-fighting
duties. Entering the atrium, the eye
is drawn to a Curtiss JN-4 Canuck,
a Canadian-built ‘Jenny’. The
biplane was one of the first aircraft
acquired by Ted, who used to fly it.
Behind it rests one of many
unique exhibits, the frame of
Cessna EC-1 NC199V, (one of
just two built by Clyde
Cessna) which
was acquiredwhen Stan was a boy. The main
hall houses most of the vehicle
and agricultural items. Suspended
from the roof above these are
several aircraft; a partial replica of
a Curtiss D pusher, plus Pietenpol
Air Camper CF-BDH, and Arrow
Sport CF-BGD. Two snow vehicles,
both powered by aero engines and
propellers, are among the exhibits
below. After exiting the main
building, you walk to the aircraft
collection, passing a viewing area
that overlooks the busy
restoration room.
Strolling across the 200 yards
to the aircraft hall, I was struck by
the familiar shape of Bristol
170-31M Freighter C-GYQSB
ased at Wetaskiwin in
Alberta, this interesting and
unusual museum is based
on Ted Reynolds’ substantial
collection of agricultural vehicles,
cars, and aircraft. His son Stan and
other family members opened the
latest incarnation of the museum
in 1992. With more than 1,500
exhibits, it charts mechanical
history from the 1890s to the
present day.
A keen flying enthusiast, Ted
designed and built his own
monoplane in 1919, and flew it
several times over the following
few years. He began collecting
items, which were later cared
for by Stan. After returning fromGatheringGathering
McDonnell CF-101B Voodoo 101038. Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck 100759 is on external display.