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ISSUE
178 - July 2011
Over 9,000 Total Ads Listed
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Hamilton
Airshow 2011 - The Return - Part I |
By Kevin Moore, Contributing
Editor & Photographer
Roslin, Ontario, Canada |
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The CWH Avro Lancaster Mk X, one of only
two flying Lancasters in the world. |
For years the Hamilton International
Airshow at Mount Hope, Ontario was a given. Everyone who
loved and/or flew airplanes anticipated the weekend that
Canadian Warplane Heritage and the city of Hamilton hosted
their airshow. It was the place to be to see, and hear,
warbirds. Ten years ago the shows stopped and Southern
Ontario lost a great airshow. |
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One of the most
beautiful sounds in the world of aviation with its four Rolls-Royce
Merlin engines, the CWH Avro Lancaster, left. The ever-popular
Canadian Warplane Heritage aircraft, the Canso, right. |
Earlier this year a decision was
made to have a 2011 airshow. With mere months to plan,
organize, prepare and have an airshow it would prove to
be a tough go to ensure they secured aircraft from other
museums, along with the CWH aircraft, to participate in
the event. The biggest reason for the 2011 airshow was
a precursor to the 2012 airshow and the 40th anniversary
of Canadian Warplane Heritage. The 2012 show is going to
be a big one so better to get the growing pains over with
in 2011. The date was set and the preparations began. |
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Two visiting B-17
bombers, B-17G "Chuckie" from the Military Aviation
Museum (foreground, nose section) and B-17 "Memphis
Belle," background, from the 1941 Historical Aircraft
Group, left. Line up of three of Vintage Wings of Canada
aircraft, left to right, the P-40, Mustang and Corsair, right. |
So, the 2011 airshow became a reality
and on the first day, early Saturday morning, they offered
opportunity for both media and photo pass holders to get
into the CWH museum and ramp early to photograph some of
the aircraft without any, or too many, people around them.
As the sun rose, lighting up the day, airplanes were moved
around and lined up, with ground crews and flight crews
stopping to chat about and prepare their aircraft for the
days flying. |
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The CWH Lysander,
one of only two flying in Canada, left.
The CWH Dakota touches
down, right. |
The usual Canadian Warplane Heritage
attractions garnered much attention including the Consolidated
PBY-5A Canso, North American B-25J Mitchell, the Westland
Lysander Mk III and, of course, the Avro Lancaster Mk X.
Many people took advantage of the opportunity to get up-close-and-personal
with these superb, vintage aircraft with a visit inside
the Lanc and the Dakota. |
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The 1941 Historical
Aircraft Group B-17, "Memphis Belle," left.
The
Military Aviation Museum's B-17G, "Chuckie," right. |
There were some fabulous visiting
aircraft that garnered a lot of attention as well as they
are airplanes not often seen in airshow skies or on flight
lines in Canada. Two "heavies" that fit the bill
were two B-17's, one from 1941 Historical Aircraft Group, "Memphis
Belle," and the other from the Military Aviation Museum, "Chuckie." Seeing
and hearing these two big World War II bombers rumble down
the runway and into the air was an opportunity appreciated
by airshow goers, young and old alike. |
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From the Commemorative
Air Force, West Texas Wing, the only flying example of the
Helldiver takes to the air, left, and in a nice top-view
pass, right. |
A wonderful sight at the show was
the only flying example of the Curtiss-Wright Helldiver
SB2C from the Commemorative Air Force, West Texas Wing.
This magnificent aircraft, known affectionately as the "big-tailed
beast," was fully restored in the late 1980s after
it was badly damaged in an emergency landing. Despite opinions
that it would never fly again, she does so today and is
proof that time, money, very dedicated volunteers and determination
can do just about anything. |
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Taking to the
air, the Military Aviation Museum's FM-2 Wildcat, left,
and
their AD-4 Skyraider, right. |
Also on hand was a beautiful example
of a General Motors FM-2 Wildcat, the big Douglas AD-4
Skyraider and, always a favourite, five of Vintages Wings
of Canada's aircraft including the Supermarine Spitfire
Mk XVI, Hawker Hurricane Mk IV, North American P-51D Mustang,
Goodyear FG-1D Corsair and the ever-popular Curtiss P-40N
Warhawk. These beautiful single engine World War II fighter
aircraft make the heart pound as they cut across the sky
in a nice, tight formation. |
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The S.E.5a and 1
1/2 Strutter in the sights of the Triplane, left.
The Sopwith
1 1/2 strutter, right. |
The Great War Flying Museum out of
Brampton, Ontario brought three of their wonderful World
War I aircraft, the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a, Sopwith
1 1/2 Strutter, and the venerable Fokker DR.I Triplane. Dropping
the speed of the show down with their aerial dogfight in
the skies over Mount Hope airport with the crowd cheering
to the defeat of the "Red Baron" as smoke streamed
from the engine of the Triplane. |
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A rare sight
in the skies, 9 Harvards (4 from CHAA, 3 from CHAT and 2
from CWH) in a nice formation pass, left. The CHAT Harvards,
smoke on, during their aerobatic display, right. |
Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association
(CHAA), seen at airshows across Southern Ontario and at
airshows such as Geneseo, NY was there with 7 aircraft
in attendance, three of which perform as the Canadian Harvard
Aerobatic Team (CHAT) with Dave "Flyboy" Hewitt,
Pete Spence and Kent Beckham at the controls of these beautiful,
70+ year old Harvards, better known in the US as T-6 Texans. |
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Beautiful aerobatic
display by Bill Carter in his Pitts Special S2S, left.
Bill
waves to the crowd as he taxies past after his aerobatic
routine, right. |
Performing a solo aerobatic performance
was Canadian aerobatic pilot Bill Carter in his beautiful
Pitts Special S2S. This little aircraft, which can reach
speeds in excess of 200mph and is fully aerobatic, cut
through the hazy sky thrilling young and old alike. Carter's
final pass was the slicing of a ribbon while not 20 feet
off the ground, inverted! |
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The Nanchang,
with Daniel Fortin at the controls, performing aerobatics
coming out of the bottom of a loop, left, and a nice pass,
right. |
Also performing aerobatics in a
bright red Nanchang CJ-6A was commercial and former Canadian
Air Force pilot Daniel Fortin. A onetime training aircraft
of the Chinese Air Force, the Nanchang was purchased by
Daniel's friend, Michel Côté, in 1996 but
is usually flown in shows by Fortin. The Nanchang, known
for the "Red Dragon" it sports on the nose of
the airplane, is tossed about the sky by Fortin performing
barrel rolls, loops and assorted other aerobatics during
shows.
Next week we'll complete the visit to the 2011 Hamilton
Airshow and will look at what the 2012 Hamilton Airshow
could include in its line-up of aircraft!
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