This eFLYER was developed in HTML for viewing with Microsoft Internet Explorer while connected to the Internet: View Online.
To ensure delivery to your inbox, please add eFLYER@barnstormers.com to your address book or list of approved senders.
Barnstormers Logo ISSUE 309 - January 2014
Over 9,000 Total Ads Listed
1,000+ NEW Ads Per Week
  Home     Browse All Classifieds     eFLYERs     Events     Testimonials     Post Ad     Search Ads  
BARNSTORMERS eFLYER... a collective effort of the aviation community.
YOUR photos, videos, comments, reports, stories, and more...
Find Us On
Click to Subscribe Follow Us On
SUBSCRIBE TO eFLYER  •  SEND BARNSTORMERS eFLYER TO A FRIEND
A Day With Great Friends

By Kevin Moore, Contributing Editor & Photographer
Watford, Ontario, Canada

The beautiful B-17 "Sentimental Journey" from the
Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force.

Every other year there's an airshow held at the St. Thomas Airport in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. The Great Lakes International Air Show is a semi-annual airshow that combines a mix of Canadian and American aircraft and acts that proves the continued friendship between our two countries.

The 2013 CF-18 Demonstration Hornet, left.
  The Nieuport 28 from The Great War Flying Museum, right.

From the supersonic CF-18 Hornet to the World War I replica fighters that fly at, what almost seems like, walking speed compared to a fighter jet.  There are airplanes and acts to suit all likes and ages and the airshow continues to improve every season.

The crew of the B-17 did a great job showing off this
fantastic airplane performing several superb passes.

One of the more popular of the visiting American aircraft was the CAF B-17 "Sentimental Journey."  This beautiful World War II bomber made several passes with the crew showing off the aircraft with high speed, low passes that wowed the crowd.  There were many comments on how impressive it would be to see several of these iconic bombers in formation at a Canadian airshow so stay tuned for word on the 2015 show!

The aircraft of The Great War Flying Museum performing mock dogfights
with the Nieuport 28 & Fokker Triplane, left and the Fokker Triplane and SE5a, right.

The Great War Flying Museum put on a fine show with their replica World War I aircraft including the Fokker Dr.I Triplane, the Sopwith 1 & 1/2 Strutter, the Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a and the lovely Nieuport 28.  Performing a mock dogfight in the skies with the eventual shooting down of the "Red Baron" in the Fokker Triplane.

Manfred always puts on an impressive display 'throwing' his Salto sailplane
around the sky, left.  Out comes the 'drag chute' for landing, right.

Moving from noisy to quiet, almost completely silent, we turn our heads way up to see Manfred Radius, aerobatic sailplane pilot, putting his Salto sailplane through a series of stomach turning loops, rolls and assorted other maneouvers that have the crowd in awe.  Manfred finishes up with an inverted, low to the ground, ribbon cutting before his parachute assisted landing.

The 2013 CF-188 (F-18) Demonstration Hornet takes to the air, left,
and in a high-G turn, right.

Getting loud again the 2013 RCAF CF-18 Demonstration Hornet, with pilot Captain Patrick "Flocho" Pollen at the controls, ripped up the sky.  The CF-18 Hornet, still Canada's front-line fighter, is shown in all its glory with high speed, high-G turns, rolls and a climb to 10,000'+ in seconds.  The crowds absolute favourite with the CF-18 Hornet is the high-speed pass, flying at speeds JUST below the speed of sound, often with signs of just how close the aircraft is to the sound barrier when you see vapour ripping off the underside of the fuselage and the wings.

Pilot Bill Shepard putting the CAF Tuskegee Airmen
"Red Tail" P-51C Mustang through its paces during the show.

Another very popular aircraft during the 2013 airshow was the CAF Tuskegee Airmen "Red Tail" P-51C Mustang, flown by a very popular local pilot, Bill Shepard.  Bill always does a wonderful job of showing off the "Red Tail" and his talents at the controls of this beautiful and iconic World War II fighter.  Bill never fails to spend time with any young airshow spectator who wants an autograph or just wants to talk about the airplane... and how THEY can fly such a stunning airplane one day.

Four ship Harvard formation smoking through the sky, left.
The "Red Tail" P-51C in formation with one of the Harvards, right.

The Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association flew four of their Harvards in an assortment of formations, taking one back to the BCATP days when allied airmen, during World War II, learned to fly across Canada at dozens of bases created during wartime just to train pilots.  These four Harvard aircraft are all 70+ years of age and are very well maintained by the awesome maintenance and crews from CHAA.  It was also a great opportunity for "Red Tail" AND CHAA pilot, Bill Shepard, to fly a few beautiful formation passes with the Mustang and one Harvard.

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds, flying their 40+ year old
Tutor training jets, love to fly and perform and always impress with their shows.

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds, seen at airshows across Canada and often in many US airshows, flying the 40+ year old Canadair Tutor, always stun the crowd with their tight formation passes and often dangerous looking maneouvers.  These RCAF pilots are among the greatest ambassadors for both aviation and Canada, whether in the air or on the ground meeting young and old alike.  Flying these former air force training aircraft takes maintenance and ground crews hours of behind the scenes work and all involved in the shows deserve a great deal of credit for their dedication in making sure the show goes on!

Shawn D. Tucker thrills the crowd in the Oracle Pitts with
stomach turning high-G turns and knife-edge, low passes.

Another American act that has become quite popular in Canadian skies is that of aerobatic pilot Shawn D. Tucker in the Oracle/Oracle 310hp Pitts.  Shawn throws this airplane around the sky doing things that make people on the ground feel a bit woosey!  An impressive performance is a constant for Shawn and the Pitts!

The speedy L-29 Delphin, pilot Martin Mattes at the controls, left.
Danny Richer flying his British built & designed Strikemaster, right.

Martin Mattes also performed a number of passes in his L-29 Delphin and Danny Richer in his Strikemaster.  These two aircraft have become a relatively common sight in the skies over Southern Ontario and, along with the Viper North L-29 and MiG 15, its expected that these aircraft will be seen for some years to come.

There was an assortment of venders from food to aviation items including Jeff Stephenson, left, selling his beautiful aviation prints and the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Museum, right, with one of their Harvards and their booth selling an assortment of aviation and CHAA related items, right.

There were also a number of ground displays including aircraft, food vendors, and museums including CHAA and the Jet Aircraft Museum.  Thousands of people attend the airshow and vendors were busy throughout the day.  These folks also put forth a great deal of work to ensure that their part in making the airshow visitor welcome, fed, and supplied with a great assortment of aviation related items, comes off without a hitch.

The Snowbirds performing the Maple Split during their performance.

If you're planning a visit to Southern Ontario make a point of visiting any of the airshows that happen during the summer and, in 2015, look for the next Great Lakes International Airshow and make a point of making it a GREAT part of your summer holidays!

Crowds enjoyed lots of different foods before and during
the show picked up along the 'food alley.'

For more information on The Great Lakes International Airshow:
greatlakesinternationalairshow.ca

The RCAF 2013 Demonstration Hornet on take-off.

For more information on the CF-18 Demo Hornet:  rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/cf-18-demo-team/index.page

The beautiful lines of the CAF Arizona Wing B-17 "Sentimental Journey."

For more information on the CAF B-17:  azcaf.org

The high performance Mustang from the CAF Red Tail Squadron
celebrating the Tuskegee Airmen.

For more information on the "Red Tail" Mustang:  redtail.org

Four ship formation of Harvards, with the deep-throated growl
of their Pratt & Whitney radial engines, always put on an enjoyable display.

For more information on the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association:  harvards.com

Manfred Radius performing his silent skies routine in the Salto sailplane.

For more information on Manfred Radius: radiusairshows.com

The Sopwith 1 & 1/2 Strutter, with the brave gunner in the rear, watching for the Red Baron!

For more information on The Great War Flying Museum: greatwarflyingmuseum.com

The Snowbirds 7 ship formation inverted during one of their maneouvers.

For more information on the Snowbirds:  snowbirds.forces.gc.ca

The nose of the Jet Aircraft Museum's "Mako Shark" T-33

For more information on the Jet Aircraft Museum: jetaircraftmuseum.ca

Shawn D. Tucker showing off the Oracle Pitts.

For more information about the Oracle Pitts:  oracle.com/us/corporate/teamoracle

Single Snowbird Tutor takes to the air to head to the next airshow.

 

RCAF CF-188 Hornet vertical in a rolling climb, after-burners glowing red-hot!

 

RCAF CC-130 Herucles, with some of the crew waving from the back,
makes a pass after dropping some parachutists.

 

Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association Harvard doing a
break over the airport before heading for the circuit.

 

The Oracle Pitts

 

Think about 2015 and your airshow schedule and add
"The Great Lakes International Airshow" in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada.

 

By Kevin Moore, Contributing Editor & Photographer
thestickandrudder@execulink.com

Return to eFLYER

 
Visit www.barnstormers.com - post an ad to be viewed by nearly 1,000,000 visitors per month.
Over 17 years bringing more online buyers and sellers together than any other aviation marketplace.
Don't just advertise. Get RESULTS with Barnstormers.com. Check out the Testimonials
Copyright © 2007-2014 All rights reserved.