New KF Aerospace exhibit looks to educate, inspire and impress

After eight years of development and 17 months of construction, KF Aerospace has officially opened their brand new KF Centre for Excellence.

The 60,000 sq. ft. mass timber building is as exceptional inside as its beautiful wing-like design is outside.

Two hangars feature rare heritage aircraft including a newly restored Hawker Tempest MKII, and a Second World War-era de Havilland Mosquito bomber plane.

“What we have here today is amazing,” KF Aerospace Executive Director Paula Quinn told Kelowna10, “To open the doors to the public who have followed us for all those 17 months and have taken such an interest in it and to actually now open the doors and let them come in and view this is truly amazing.”

KF Aerospace Founder and Chairman Barry Lapointe sketched out his vision on the back of a napkin which was in the shape of an airplane.

The space is looked to not only celebrate the history of aviation in the Okanagan, but also looks to be an inspiration for a younger generation thinking of a career in aviation.

“We really want to educate women on the industry as well, it’s a paramount for us to up our numbers and our percentage of women within the workforce,” Quinn said. “We’re presently at 13 per cent and we want to be at 23 per cent by 2023 and we want to be advocates for women in this industry as well.”

She added there is lots of things to see and learn for all ages.

“Once you start reading the stories as you walk around, it’s quite amazing. The engines we have on display, the heritage aircraft we have on display, people can go back to their grandfathers and forefathers, they have a connection,” Quinn said. “They have that history and it’s brought a lot of emotion out in people and it’s great to hear the stories and to share that with them.”

Quinn said there has been tremendous support from the community who have followed the project since day one.

“We want as many people as we can to come through these doors and experience this, because it’s worth it,” she said. “It’s had a good following, and I think people are going to keep coming back and we’re going to keep expanding and growing the story and the exhibits, so people come back and enjoy this mass timber we have in our community.”

The centre is open Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A minimum donation of $10 per family or $5 per person is required.