SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Bella Lewsaw, 13, said she has been inspired to become a pilot after spending an afternoon watching the 2016 International Airshow Saturday.

Camryn Forsbloom, left, 13, Bella Lewsaw, 13, and Tori Forsbloom, 12, look toward the sky where airplanes perform aerobatics. They were waiting for the Canadian Snowbirds - their favourite show. - Robin Grant/NNSL photo

"It would be fun," she said.

The Yellowknife Airport was packed with airplane enthusiasts, flight captains, aircraft specialists and young, would-be pilots like Lewsaw to catch a range of exhilarating performances. The Canadian Forces Snowbirds flew in formation, Brent Handy Aerobatics performed aerial tricks and the Yellow Thunder Harvard Formation Team could be seen - and heard - in jaw-dropping displays.

Naomi Bourque said she was enjoying the show, especially after a hot coffee on a chilly day.

"It's really dramatic," she said.

Camryn Forsbloom, 13, agreed, saying the air show is fun.

"I love the food. I really like the Hornet, because it is fast."

In fact, some of the most enthusiastic observers were children who stared up at the sky in awe and reached their tiny hands into the air as planes sped by.

Conan Donahue and his son, Cian, 4, were wandering around looking inside aircrafts they normally wouldn't get to see. "The little guy is excited about airplanes," said Donahue. "So it is a good chance to let him see everything up close. It's a little loud for him, but other than that, he likes them."

Many people seemed just as excited about the flying planes as they were for the aircrafts on display in the Air Tindi hangar. Maj. Craig Tomlinson stood beside the Royal Canadian Air Force's CT-156 Harvard II, offering up information about the exotic aircraft.

"It goes about 316 knots. It's our primary trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force," he said.

"All our pilots come through Moose Jaw and on this aircraft they learn basic formation, low-level navigation, aerobatics and instrument flying. And from there they are streamed, whether they go flying transport to helicopters or they go onto the fires."

Capt. John Miller of the Canadian Forces 440 Squadron educated an engaged crowd about the Yellowknife-based CC-138 Twin Otter and the responsibilities involved with the flying the aircraft in the vast expanse that makes up the North.

He said the plane operates in some of the harshest weather conditions on the planet.

"We operate everywhere from Whitehorse to Iqaluit," he said. "We carry people, cargo, supplies, goods all over the North. The aircraft can go on wheels or skies and we can land on a variety of surfaces, including tundra and sea ice."

He said the 440 Squadron has the secondary responsibility of conducting search and rescue missions and was involved with two recent rescues on Great Slave Lake last week.

Over at the Air Tindi display, Capt. Andrew Otterstrom talked with people about the King Air 52, which he said is used primarily for medical evacuations.

"When someone is injured, we fly in and transport the injured person either to Yellowknife or, if the injury is serious, to Edmonton," he explained.

Approximately 3,000 people bought tickets for the event and 1,000 people watched from the highway, Gordon Van Tighem, chair of the Airshow Society, said.

He called the show a great success.

"The weather stayed with us. People came out and watched it. They all seemed to have a good time. We lost two kids and we found the same two kids. Safety was upheld, no incidents at all," he said. "There were lots of planes and helicopters, people getting to go up close to things they normally wouldn't get to go up close to."

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