Last week we visited the Aero Gatineau Airshow 2022 held at Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport, just east of Canada's capital of Ottawa, Ontario. Some of the aircraft we looked at last week were from Vintage Wings of Canada, including their 'yellow wings' aircraft and their Westland Lysander, Brent Handy in his Pitts S-2, P-51 Mustang 'Double Trouble' and the DHC-6 Twin Otter, among others. This week we return to Aero Gatineau to look at more of the performers.

Vintage Wings of Canada flew their historic de Havilland DH-83 Fox Moth. This aircraft is one of the best examples of the aircraft type still flying and is said to have the richest pedigree of all the Fox Moths built. It was originally built for the then Prince of Wales. While in the UK, the aircraft was registered as G-ACAJ while it flew for the Royal Flight. After being sold, it was owned by a Belgian who flew the aircraft to the Belgian Congo and return. In 1936 it was relocated to New Zealand & crashed in 1943 on a glacier in the southern mountainous region. After being rebuilt it returned to service until 1953 when it was purchased and used for crop spraying on the island of Fiji. Unfortunately, the aircraft suffered terribly in the tropical climate, being a wooden aircraft, and was nothing more than scrap by 1960. Fortunately, what was left of the aircraft was returned to New Zealand and restored.

Two P-51D Mustangs, 'Mad Max,' owned by Louis Horschel and 'Little Witch,' owned by Ariel Luedi, performed some formation aerobatics. The P-51D was a formidable aircraft during World War II, capable of escorting bomber aircraft well into Germany and return. It was one of many Allied aircraft that helped to stem to Axis tied, beating them all the way back to Germany, ensuring an Allied victory. The Mustang was not initially successful due to its underpowered American built Allison engine until it was replaced with the Rolls-Royce Merlin. Future P-51s were outfitted with the Packard built Merlin and the fighter excelled in performance. It served in multiple roles both in the European and Pacific Theatres of war, though mainly in the European Theatre. As a fighter aircraft, it could take on any German, or Italian, fighter aircraft it faced, and was formidable against bombers. Today, there are dozens of flying examples around the world, most of which are in the United States.

Canadian Kyle Fowler has developed a rather unique act flying his Rutan designed Long EZ in an aerobatic routine. Though not designed to be aerobatic, in the hands of an experienced pilot like Kyle, the aircraft offers a great demonstration of its capability. Outfitted with a Lycoming 0-320 the aircraft can cruise at 180mph with a Vne of 230mph and has a range of 1000nm. The EZ sports a rear engine and rear wing design with canard up front, fixed main gear and a retractable nose gear. Kyle has followed in the footsteps of his father, Ken Fowler, who flew as part of Team Rocket. At a young age, Kyle began announcing at his father's airshows. Kyle obtained is private pilot's license at the age of 21 and then went on to obtain his commercial pilot's license and his multi engine and IFR ratings. He now flies commercially in various aircraft, between his airshow flying!

Dave Hadfield put on a great display with the Vintage Wings of Canada Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX, Y2-K, better known as the Roseland Spitfire. This aircraft underwent a long restoration which was completed by Vintage Wings of Canada. The aircraft wears the livery of the late Arnold Roseland, a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot with 442 Squadon who was killed in action over Normandy, France in 1944 after having completed 65 missions. Hadfield, who's flown a multitude of warbirds for VWC, puts on a graceful and elegant display with this stunning example of the Spitfire.

Vintage Wings of Canada recently finished a complete rebuilt and restoration of their National Steel Car, Hawker Hurricane Mk XII. This aircraft has been meticulously finished in the livery of famed Canadian fighter pilot, Flying Officer Willie McKnight, DFC and Bar, who flew with the RAF 242 (all Canadian) Sqn. McKnight, who hailed from Alberta, joined the RAF before the outbreak of World War II. McKnight died somewhere over the English Channel in January of 1941. He was the leading Canadian ace during the first 18 months of the war. There were 14,487 Hurricanes built in the UK, Canada, Belgium and Yugoslavia. Today, there are about a dozen or so flying examples remaining, as well as static and/or in storage or restoration. Unfortunately, the VWC Hurri did not fly in the airshow after suffering a mechanical issue after run up.

The Northern Stars Aeroteam was formed in 2019 by former RCAF and Snowbirds pilots, Brent Handy and Todd Farrell. Joining the team later was another former Snowbirds pilot, Greg Hume-Powell. These three experienced former RCAF pilots fly 3 Pitts Specials S-2 aircraft in a nice aerobatic display, flying some similar aerobatic routines to that of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. The displays are beautiful to watch and it's easy to see how these three pilots have been able to mesh into the formation team they are today. They made a great addition to the airshow line up.

Trevor Rafferty brought his Pitts Model 12 to the show in another example of aerobatics. The Pitts Model 12 was designed by Curtis Pitts, with the design completed by Pitts in 1995, on his 80th birthday, having spent 2+ years designing the aircraft. It has a cruise speed of 170mph, a stall speed of 56mph, a rate of climb of 2900fpm and a range of roughly 430nm. It is fully aerobatic and Rafferty puts the aircraft through its paces in a high-g, graceful display. He's authorised for aerobatics to the ground and uses that rating to show off both his, and the aircraft, abilities.

The Canadair CT-133 (CL-30) Silver Star was built under license and is the Canadian built version of the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star. It operates with the Rolls-Royce Nene 10 engine which gives it better performance than the Lockheed T-33. This aircraft wears the livery of the Black Knight of the Royal Canadian Air Force. It was purchased by Bob Hewitt who formed the Jet Aircraft Museum in London, Ontario and was one of 6 CT-133s purchased for the museum. The aircraft was acquired by Fighter Jets Inc in Mobile, Alabama and was restored to flying condition by JAM before being ferried to Fighter Jets Inc for the restoration completion and paint to the beautiful example it is today. The aircraft was flown in the airshow by Bill Culberson.

Mario Hamel slowed things down a bit flying a graceful and elegant display in his Salto Sailplane. Mario, is a former RCAF pilot who flew the Canadair CT-114 Tutor as a flight instructor for three years before joining the Canadian Forces Snowbirds as the #2. After his tour with the Snowbirds Mario departed the RCAF and formed the Northern Lights Aerobatic Team, initially flying the Extra 300 before moving up to the Aero Vodochody L-39 and then the Hawker Hunter. He eventually joined Yak Attack Airshows, flying the Yak-52. He also acquired and enjoys flying a Pitts Model 12 "Monster Pitts." In the Aero Gatineau Airshow, Mario put on a great performance that had heads looking way up, watching high above the flightline as he slowly, quietly and gracefully returned to earth in the Salto.

Rick Volker, dentist by weekday and high energy airshow aerobatic pilot by weekend, flies the powerful Russian designed & built Sukhoi SU-26M in his aerobatic display. Rick works out daily in a rigorous routine in order to keep fit enough to continue performing at his level of aerobatics and it shows in his routine. Rick loves to perform and it shows in every aerobatic routine he flies!

The Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Forces CF-18 Demonstration Team Hornet flew a great demo over the airshow crowd. Though the CF-18 Hornets are showing their age, having been Canada's frontline fighter jet since the mid 1980s, they are still considered an effective and deadly weapon. RCAF pilots are highly skilled, effectively trained and are among the world's top fighter pilots. This year's demo pilot, Captain Jesse "Modem" Haggart-Smith, flew a great demonstration, putting the CF-18 through its paces. The CF-18 is soon to be replaced but, whether the RCAF continues to operate CF-18s as their demo jet, remains to be seen. For now, we can still enjoy the aging fighter jet over Canadian skies, thrilling and chilling crowds.

Rounding up the airshow was the USAF A-10 Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team. The A-10 was designed and built around its massive GAU-8/A seven barrel Gatling gun. The A-10 can carry up to 16,000 pounds of mixed ordnance. It was designed to operate as close air support for ground troops and is an effective weapon against maritime targets, tanks, troops and armored vehicles. The 'Warthog,' as it's affectionately known, is a much loved support aircraft by US forces and a feared one by the enemy. It is a highly maneouvreable and effective weapon in the hands of skilled pilots. Though considered by some as being outdated, the USAF plans to continue operating the A-10 for several more years.

This week we returned to Aero Gatineau Airshow 2022 to have a look at the remaining aircraft that performed in the airshow. Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport is a great place to visit, whether it's to come to see an airshow, visit Vintage Wings of Canada, come to learn to fly, or take a trip. The airshow is wonderfully done and is accessible by land or air to anyone who decides to make the trip. Don't miss next year's airshow!

Affiliated websites:

Visit aerogatineauottawa.com for more information on their airshow, sponsors, etc.

Visit stallion51.com for more information on P-51D Mustang 'Little Witch'

Visit vintagewings.ca for more information on Vintage Wings of Canada and their aircraft

Visit canada.ca/en/air-force/services/showcasing/cf-18-demonstration-teams.html for more information on the CF-18 Demonstration Team

Visit canadianarmytoday.com for more information on The SkyHawks

Visit jmbaircraft.com for more information on the VL3 ultralight and their other aircraft

Visit northernstarsaeroteam.com for more information on the Northern Stars Aeroteam

Visit longez.ca for more information on Kyle Fowler and his aerobatic Long EZ routine

Visit fighterjets.com for more information on their aircraft