We are now back at our home airport and have the next three days to enjoy the Abbotsford International Airshow.
The ABBOTSFORD INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW is designated as Canada’s National Airshow and is Canada’s premier aviation festival.
The President of the Abbotsford Airshow, Jim Reith, was also an Air Cadet in the 60’s. In 1968 we met on a training course at the Canadian Forces Base Borden (then known as Camp Borden) about 100 kilometres north of Toronto, Ontario. The six week Technical Training Course had 100 Air Cadets from across Canada. Jim and I were in the same class together for the course and hung around in the evenings with a few other guys.
For the first two weeks we had a photography course learning how to capture images use a large press camera, the Speed Graphic which uses 4 x 5 sheet film. They are the kind of cameras that one sees in old movies from the 30s, 40s and 50s. After shooting it was into the darkroom to develop the film and make 8 x 10 black-and-white prints. That was so cool for me being taught by military photographers; I thought it was right up my alley.
Jim went on in the military and had a career as a pilot in the RCAF and later with Air Canada, while my career as a pilot was with Transport Canada. Last year we met up again for the first time since 1968 in Camp Borden and our conversations seemed to pick -up where we left off. I am looking forward to working with Jim on the airshow.
I usually have the Turbo Arrow on display in the General Aviation section at the airshow. Taxiing out I couldn’t resist stopping on the flight line for a shot with the Snowbirds. I guess the Arrow could be Snowbird #13. The paint scheme looks good, I just have to figure out how to install the smoke system.
The CF-188 Canada 150 Jet had arrived yesterday and was parked on the hot side so I thought that was a good opportunity for a photo with our Canada Flag. I will probably get a few more this weekend but had to take advantage of this early shot.
A lot of business are participating in Canada 150 celebrations and this mobile food wagon, the Double Decker Diner, was getting ready to feed the crowd.
The Friday airshow is a evening/twilight show followed by fireworks. Valerie looks like she is ready for the evening and all she needs is a red blanket.
The CF-188 flew in the evening show and one interesting thing they did at the end of the show while on the landing roll out was the pilot lowered the arresting hook creating a shower of sparks. I really don’t think the wear on the hook will create any operational issues since Canadian aircraft don’t land on Aircraft Carriers. Once back at the flight line the ground crew carefully inspected the aircraft to make sure all is well for tomorrow’s airshow.