Base Borden Military Museum
CFB Borden, Ontario
September 2026
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The Base Borden Military Museum explores the military history of CFB Borden and its role in training Canadian service personnel. Its collections include military aircraft vehicles, weapons, uniforms and equipment documenting the development of the Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force. Exhibits highlight Borden's contribution to Canada's military heritage, from World War One to the present day.
Actually there are many more aircraft scattered around the large air base than in the museum. Some are displayed alongside internal roads and others are in open storage adjacent to the museum.
CFB Borden: Located near Barrie, Ontario, CFB Borden is one of Canada's largest military training bases. Established in 1916 during World War One, it has trained Canadian military personnel for more than a century. Originally an aviation training centre, it expanded to support a wide range of army and air force training. Today, Borden remains an important Canadian Armed Forces installation and training facility with very little active flying operations. |
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Left to right: Avro 504K (D8971 marked 'G-CYCK'). Built in 1918 by the Grahame-White Aviation Company Limited in London, England, this Avro 504K passed through several private owners before being purchased by Major James S. Appleby in 1961. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) subsequently acquired the aircraft and carried out a full restoration between May and October 1966. It was restored and marked as G-CYCK, a registration originally assigned to an authentic Canadian Air Force Avro 504K received in 1920 under the post-World War One Imperial Gift Scheme. That original aircraft crashed in 1921, and the registration was later adopted for this restored example.
de Havilland DH.82C Tiger Moth (8979 marked '4974') ex Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The DH.82C was a Canadian winterised version of the classic British de Havilland Tiger Moth trainer, specially adapted for the harsh flying conditions encountered during the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in World War Two. Unlike the open-cockpit British DH.82A, the Canadian-built DH.82C featured a sliding glass canopy and cabin heating for improved crew comfort in cold weather. Other modifications included wheel brakes and a tailwheel in place of the original tail skid, together with reinforced axles that allowed the wheels to be replaced easily with skis or floats. It was powered by a 145 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major 1C engine. |
| Outside Base Borden Military Museum |
Left to right: Northrop CF-116A Freedom Fighter (116759 '912B') ex 419 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
Sikorsky CH-124A Sea King (12429 '429') "HMCS St.John's Heliairdet Black Horse", ex Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). |
Left to right: Northrop CF-116D Freedom Fighter (116835 '35' registered N835AV) ex 419 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The aircraft made its maiden flight on April 10, 1974, and was initially delivered to CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, serving with No.1 Flying Training School and No.419 'Moose' Squadron. In the early 1990s, it underwent the Avionics Update Program (AUP) at Bristol Aerospace in Winnipeg before returning to No.419 Squadron. It remained in service until the CF-5 in 1995. Following retirement, the aircraft was stored at CFD Mountain View before being moved to CFB Borden.
Canadair CT-133 Silver Star Mk.3 (133623 '623') ex Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The aircraft served with several operational and support units, including the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE) at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta. Aircraft associated with AETE were identifiable by a distinctive red 'X' on the tail, marking their test and evaluation role. |
| Left to right: Canadair CT-114 Tutor (26121) ex Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). |
| Left to right: Bell CH-136 Kiowa (136247 marked '136288/288') ex 400 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). |
| Left to right: Northrop CF-116A Freedom Fighter (116769) ex 434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). |
| Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering |
| Left to right: Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter (104792) ex Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). |
| Left to right: Grumman CP-121 (CS2F-1) Tracker (1507). License-built, anti-submarine warfare aircraft produced by De Havilland Canada for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). |
| Left to right: McDonnell CF-101B Voodoo (101011 '011') ex Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Built as an F-101B-85-MC Voodoo, originally carrying USAF serial number 57-289, the aircraft served with the 84th, 322nd and 445th Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons before entering storage at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) in July 1968. It was taken on strength by the Canadian Armed Forces as 101011 on July 2, 1970, and subsequently served with operational units including 409, 425 and 416 Squadrons. The CF-101 Voodoo played a vital role in Canada’s air defence under the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), carrying air-to-air weapons that included the AIR-2A Genie nuclear-armed rocket. 101011 was struck off charge on August 13, 1984, as the Voodoo fleet approached the end of its service before being replaced by the CF-18 Hornet. |
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Left to right: Canadair CT-133 Silver Star Mk.3 (21079 '079'). Delivered in September 1953, the aircraft was assigned to No.3 Advanced Flying School at RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba. On January 19, 1954, it suffered a Category B crash but returned to service. In April 1955, it transferred to No.4 Advanced Flying School at RCAF Station MacDonald, later moving to No.2 Advanced Flying School at RCAF Station Portage la Prairie. In August 1959, it was converted for pilot training.
The aircraft entered long-term storage at MacDonald in March 1960 before being moved to Camp Borden in March 1961, where it was converted into an instructional airframe and designated 668B. In June 1966, it began a new role as a static display. |
Left to right: Canadair CL-13A Sabre Mk.5 (23228 '228') ex RCAF. It has been here since 1981.
Northrop CF-116A Freedom Fighter (116710 '911B') ex RCAF. Taken on strength by the Canadian Armed Forces on April 7, 1970, the aircraft had originally been ordered as RCAF serial 14710. Initially placed in storage, it subsequently entered operational service with No.434 Squadron, based at CFB Cold Lake and CFB Chatham, and No.419 Squadron at CFB Cold Lake. |
| Stored aircraft on the former flight line |
| Left to right: British Aerospace CT-155 Hawks, assumed to be (155204, 155206, 155213, 155221 and 155210 with 155219 on trestles) ex RCAF. |
| Left to right: Canadair CT-114 Tutors (114066 '066' and 114091 '091' '898B') ex 2 CFFTS, RCAF. |
| Left to right: Canadair CT-114 Tutors (114012 'X-20' and 114049 '10') Snowbirds colour scheme. |
