The only air show in the province was this past weekend in Portage-la-Prairie. It was the Canadian Forces Day air show (which is such a loosely defined day that there's other CF Day shows in July...), so unlike every other air show I've been to there was no civilian performers or American metal - but I don't miss not seeing buddy with his falling apart plane, screw that guy. Also this year is Canada's centennial of powered flight, so they were celebrating that, yay we get to celebrate the centennial of powered flight for a second time!
Even though it was cold and cloudy all day I still managed to get sunburned on me face. I hate my skin. Anyways, here, have a bagillion pictures: warning: lots of red, white, and maple leaves ahead, get your maple syrup ready
Parked planes:
The Snowbirds waiting for their turn
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_1902.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_1904.jpg
Flight helmet on a Sea King
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_1916.jpg
Harvard 4. Meh photo, cool plane.
https://pic.armedcats.net/a/an/anonymous/2009/06/08/IMG_1920.jpg
Old pilot dude talking about the A-26 Invader, which I didn't get any decent photos of, with the Harvard 4 and Sea King in the background.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_1931.jpg
CT-155 Hawk. (almost) The same plane that the Red Arrows fly.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_1939.jpg
Hawk One, a restored Canadair F-86 Sabre mk5 painted in the colours of the now defunct Golden Hawks aerobatics team which was created in 1959 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of powered flight in Canada (yeah, 50, the golden anniversary :lol
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2856.jpg
A CT-114 Tutor painted in the colours of the Golden Centennaires, another defunct aerobatics team formed in 1967 to celebrate Canada's centennial. The Centennaires were based at 3CFFTS (aka. 3 CdnForces Flight Training School, aka. where the airshow was). Ten years later the Snowbirds were formed and the Golden Centennaires' Tutors, plus some more Tutors, were brought back out as Snowbirds, and are still being used today. In the background is the super boring King Air C-90B (it did a few fly bys, yawn), and the Grob G-120s
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2863.jpg
As part of the opening ceremony, this guy parachuted while the national anthem was sung. I thought this time lapse type thing would look cool.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_1964.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_1990.jpg
The three special golden planes flying together for the first time (this was the Centennaire Tutor's first show). The Golden Centennaire Tutor, Centennial CF-18, and Hawk One. A heritage flight of goooold, ish toit loik toiger.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2019.jpg
Some of the planes that call 3CFFTS home, Grob G-120A. Boring training planes are boring, so here, have a weird photo.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2125.jpg
Then there was an army display. Boring compared to a heavy armour display, but it wasn't bad. Two Bell 412 Outlaws dropped off the mechanized squad (although the second helo was just for show and didn't have any troops aboard), the Bombardier MLVW with howitzer in tow came out, and the g-wagons drove past a couple times guns blazing. They used big blue Outlaws instead of mean green Griffons because they have several Outlaws out there and they're just civilian model trainers for Griffons anyways.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2136.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2140.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2196.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2200.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2228.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2244.jpg
The Outlaw came back after for a demo
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2293.jpg
Then there was a little break while a C-130 Hercules circled around high above. After the break the SkyHawks jumped from the Herc and put on a great show.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2339.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2422.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2449.jpg
Followed by a SAR Tech (search and rescue technician) demo out of the same Herc, complete with precision supply dropping and two SARTechs parachuting on a target.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2498.jpg
A sight I see every day. NRRRRRRRRRRrrroooowwwww
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2466.jpg
This year the air force's show CF-18 was done up in a special paintjob to celebrate, yeah you guessed it, Canada's centennial of flight. It's a sweet paintjob.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2629.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2630.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2578.jpg
Hawk One's show. It begins with the golden Sabre flying formation with the Snowbirds, then breaking formation while the Snowbirds continue onwards and disappear into the distance. I think it was the shortest display, which sucks, but seeing an antique jet flying is pretty awesome.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2641.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2650.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2666.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2672.jpg
And finally the always terrific Snowbirds. Gah, it's so hard to photograph opposing solos - after a few crosses I gave up trying to get a tight shot and went wide then cropped later.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2724.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2760.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2759.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2776.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2789.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2826.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2847.jpg
(eagled eyed viewers might notice a bird missing... it was mostly out of frame and he didn't have his smoke on so I just cloned him out)
Mmmm, lots of loud things. Dear reader: I hope you enjoyed that massive dump of photos.
Even though it was cold and cloudy all day I still managed to get sunburned on me face. I hate my skin. Anyways, here, have a bagillion pictures: warning: lots of red, white, and maple leaves ahead, get your maple syrup ready
Parked planes:
The Snowbirds waiting for their turn
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_1902.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_1904.jpg
Flight helmet on a Sea King
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_1916.jpg
Harvard 4. Meh photo, cool plane.
https://pic.armedcats.net/a/an/anonymous/2009/06/08/IMG_1920.jpg
Old pilot dude talking about the A-26 Invader, which I didn't get any decent photos of, with the Harvard 4 and Sea King in the background.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_1931.jpg
CT-155 Hawk. (almost) The same plane that the Red Arrows fly.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_1939.jpg
Hawk One, a restored Canadair F-86 Sabre mk5 painted in the colours of the now defunct Golden Hawks aerobatics team which was created in 1959 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of powered flight in Canada (yeah, 50, the golden anniversary :lol
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2856.jpg
A CT-114 Tutor painted in the colours of the Golden Centennaires, another defunct aerobatics team formed in 1967 to celebrate Canada's centennial. The Centennaires were based at 3CFFTS (aka. 3 CdnForces Flight Training School, aka. where the airshow was). Ten years later the Snowbirds were formed and the Golden Centennaires' Tutors, plus some more Tutors, were brought back out as Snowbirds, and are still being used today. In the background is the super boring King Air C-90B (it did a few fly bys, yawn), and the Grob G-120s
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2863.jpg
As part of the opening ceremony, this guy parachuted while the national anthem was sung. I thought this time lapse type thing would look cool.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_1964.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_1990.jpg
The three special golden planes flying together for the first time (this was the Centennaire Tutor's first show). The Golden Centennaire Tutor, Centennial CF-18, and Hawk One. A heritage flight of goooold, ish toit loik toiger.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2019.jpg
Some of the planes that call 3CFFTS home, Grob G-120A. Boring training planes are boring, so here, have a weird photo.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2125.jpg
Then there was an army display. Boring compared to a heavy armour display, but it wasn't bad. Two Bell 412 Outlaws dropped off the mechanized squad (although the second helo was just for show and didn't have any troops aboard), the Bombardier MLVW with howitzer in tow came out, and the g-wagons drove past a couple times guns blazing. They used big blue Outlaws instead of mean green Griffons because they have several Outlaws out there and they're just civilian model trainers for Griffons anyways.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2136.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2140.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2196.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2200.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2228.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2244.jpg
The Outlaw came back after for a demo
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2293.jpg
Then there was a little break while a C-130 Hercules circled around high above. After the break the SkyHawks jumped from the Herc and put on a great show.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2339.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2422.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2449.jpg
Followed by a SAR Tech (search and rescue technician) demo out of the same Herc, complete with precision supply dropping and two SARTechs parachuting on a target.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2498.jpg
A sight I see every day. NRRRRRRRRRRrrroooowwwww
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2466.jpg
This year the air force's show CF-18 was done up in a special paintjob to celebrate, yeah you guessed it, Canada's centennial of flight. It's a sweet paintjob.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2629.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2630.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2578.jpg
Hawk One's show. It begins with the golden Sabre flying formation with the Snowbirds, then breaking formation while the Snowbirds continue onwards and disappear into the distance. I think it was the shortest display, which sucks, but seeing an antique jet flying is pretty awesome.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2641.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2650.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2666.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2672.jpg
And finally the always terrific Snowbirds. Gah, it's so hard to photograph opposing solos - after a few crosses I gave up trying to get a tight shot and went wide then cropped later.
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2724.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2760.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2759.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2776.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2789.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2826.jpg
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/06/08/IMG_2847.jpg
(eagled eyed viewers might notice a bird missing... it was mostly out of frame and he didn't have his smoke on so I just cloned him out)
Mmmm, lots of loud things. Dear reader: I hope you enjoyed that massive dump of photos.