(Ottawa, Ontario) – In a very special event in Ottawa this week, Ornge donated a decommissioned Sikorsky S-76 to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.  Members of the public and media were invited to attend the donation ceremony as Ornge officially handed over one of the S-76 models which served the Ontario air ambulance program from 1980 to 2016.

“We would like to express our gratitude to Ornge for their generous donation of the Sikorsky S-76, an aircraft with a rich history that provides a significant contribution to Canada’s aviation heritage,” said Christopher Kitzan, Director General, Canada Aviation and Space Museum. “We look forward to including the Sikorsky S-76 in our national program, to enrich the learning experience for all visitors.”
 
Through a national network of more than two dozen academic, industry, government, and national museum partners, the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum engages hundreds of young Canadians in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) disciplines and inspires new generations to pursue opportunities within the mobility field.

The helicopter will be refurbished into a public display by Ottawa-area primary, secondary and post-secondary students, directly supporting the museum’s ongoing efforts to enhance the learning experience for its visitors.

“We know the donation of this aircraft will give countless youth the opportunity to engage with a helicopter that has a long and distinguished history. We hope that some of these young people will someday aspire to work in the field of aviation, possibly even for Ornge, and in turn support our very important mission of serving the people of Ontario.”  Said Rob Giguere, Ornge Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO

This particular aircraft, registered as C-GIMB, flew more than 14,000 hours and logged 47,554 landings while in service at Ornge. The retired fleet has since been replaced by the Leonardo AW139 helicopters.

About Ornge
Ornge is a vital part of Ontario’s health care system, providing high quality air ambulance service and medical transport to people who are critically ill or injured. In the air or on the ground, their job is to be there for patients so they can get safe and timely care, transport and access to health services they need.

About the Canada Aviation Space Museum
Located on a former military air base just 5 kilometres from the Prime Minister’s residence at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, the museum focuses on aviation in Canada within an international context, from its beginnings in 1909 to the present day. As Canada’s contribution to aviation expanded to include aerospace technology, the museum’s collection and mandate grew to include space flight. The Collection itself consists of more than 130 aircraft and artifacts (propellers, engines) from both civil and military service. It gives particular, but not exclusive, reference to Canadian achievements. The most extensive aviation collection in Canada, it is also considered one of the finest aviation museums in the world.

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