Airshow flies into town
Snowbirds aerobatic team, Skyhawks parachute team in town to help mark Royal Canadian Air Force's 90th anniversary
Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Published Friday, July 11, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The artistry of some of the country's most talented pilots will be on display in the skies above Yellowknife Saturday afternoon as the international airshow returns to town for its bi-annual visit.
The CF-18 Demo Hornet flies over Cold Lake, Alta., on April 4. This year's paint job in honour of the Royal Canadian Air Force's 90th anniversary. - photo courtesy of Cpl. Amber Stuparyk/RCAF |
"It's an opportunity for the military teams to show off in the North and it's an opportunity for the community to show their support for the military families that live here," said Gord Van Tighem, the honourary colonel and former mayor who is organizing the airshow for the 11th time.
This year's show will feature performances from the Snowbirds and the Skyhawk military parachute team, as well as the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) prized fighter jet: the CF-18 Hornet.
The Hornet's twin engines are so powerful, according to the RCAF's website, that they can generate enough thrust to lift 24 full-size pick-up trucks off the ground.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the RCAF. Van Tighem, whose father flew combat missions in a Lancaster bomber during the Second World War, said Yellowknifers should be proud of Canada's rich aviation history - both military and civilian.
"Canadian pilots have been some of the best in the world," he said.
While this year's show won't be as momentous as the one that took place two years ago as part of a huge military display in the North, Van Tighem said it would still be quite the spectacle.
"This one's not quite as big, but it's not that much smaller, either," said Van Tighem.
The military performances will be spiced up with routines from three civilian pilots, including "Super Dave" Mathieson. Mathieson will be performing in Yellowknife for the fourth time, said Van Tighem.
"He's the best air show performer in the world, according to his mother," he joked.
Van Tighem said the other two pilots, Jon Melby and Stefan Trischuk, are no less talented.
Saturday's show will start at noon and a viewing area for spectators will be set up at Yellowknife Airport. There will be ice cream and food trucks, as well as other concessions, on hand. Van Tighem said people will have the chance to explore the cockpit of the Hawk-1 training plane, which will be on display throughout the day.
Van Tighem said parking is limited and encouraged spectators to use the specially scheduled bus service which will be stopping at the bottom of School Draw Avenue, the Yellowknife community arena and the Co-op, every half hour from 9:40 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Van Tighem said the smoke from surrounding forrest fires should not affect visibility for the show.
"Hopefully it will be a clear day," he said.
