Canadian Aviation Historical Society
  • Home
  • Get Involved
    • Membership
    • Museum Membership
    • Sponsor the CAHS
    • Donate to the CAHS
  • Organization & Chapters
    • CAHS National >
      • Society History
      • Contacts
      • Reports & Documents
    • Chapters >
      • CAHS Calgary
      • CAHS Manitoba
      • CAHS Medicine Hat
      • CAHS Montréal
      • CAHS New Brunswick
      • CAHS Ottawa
      • CAHS Regina
      • CAHS Toronto
      • CAHS Vancouver
      • CAHS CAAA
  • History Resources
    • CAHS Journal
    • CAHS e-Newsletter >
      • e-Newsletter Archive
    • Aviation History Online >
      • Articles – Historical
      • Aviation History Books
      • Articles Archive
      • Photo Galleries
      • Video Viewport
    • In Memoriam
  • Shop
  • Convention 2023
​
  • Home
  • Get Involved
    • Membership
    • Museum Membership
    • Sponsor the CAHS
    • Donate to the CAHS
  • Organization & Chapters
    • CAHS National >
      • Society History
      • Contacts
      • Reports & Documents
    • Chapters >
      • CAHS Calgary
      • CAHS Manitoba
      • CAHS Medicine Hat
      • CAHS Montréal
      • CAHS New Brunswick
      • CAHS Ottawa
      • CAHS Regina
      • CAHS Toronto
      • CAHS Vancouver
      • CAHS CAAA
  • History Resources
    • CAHS Journal
    • CAHS e-Newsletter >
      • e-Newsletter Archive
    • Aviation History Online >
      • Articles – Historical
      • Aviation History Books
      • Articles Archive
      • Photo Galleries
      • Video Viewport
    • In Memoriam
  • Shop
  • Convention 2023

Air shows in London, Toronto and Gatineau


Report and photos by Gord McNulty , CAHS Vice President

Successful air shows at London, Toronto and Gatineau overcame the limitations of the pandemic to provide impressive demonstrations of aviation as the summer drew to a close.
The RCAF Snowbirds, celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, performed at Airshow London SkyDrive August 27-29; at the 72nd annual Canadian International Air Show (CIAS) on the Toronto waterfront Sept. 4-5; and at the Aero Gatineau-Ottawa air show Sept. 10-12 Capt. Dan Deluce, pilot for the CF-18 Demonstration Team, flew his “top gun” Hornet display at the events. 
Picture
CF-18B flown in an additional demonstration of the Hornet at Airshow London 2021
Picture
Hornet Demo pilot Capt. Dan Deluce in a low and slow pass in a CF-18A at Airshow London on 28 August 2021
Picture
US Navy Blue Angels in echelon formation at Airshow London on 28 August 2021
Airshow London SkyDrive staged a socially distanced drive-in event that drew a sellout audience for the second year in a row.  More than 20,000 fans, carefully parked in pandemic-friendly style, filled the grounds at London International Airport to enjoy the show under sunny skies.
At London, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flew their new F/A-18 Super Hornets, introduced this year to replace the F/A-18 Hornets they had flown since 1987. They also introduced their new “Fat Albert” supply aircraft, a C-130J Hercules, demonstrated in public for the first time.

The Blue Angels’ previous support aircraft, a C-130T Hercules, was retired in 2019 after it had flown more than 30,000 hours in support of the team. By fortunate circumstance, the Blue Angels acquired a C-130J that was retired by the U.K.’s Royal Air Force. The J model can fly up to 10 per cent farther than a C-130T and carry up to 50 per cent more cargo by weight.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Blue Angels, which began in 1946 with the prop-driven Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat. Of note, for history buffs, the Blue Angels’ first supply aircraft was a Douglas R4D Skytrain, introduced in 1949.
Picture
The Blue Angels demonstrated the team’s new C-130J supply aircraft at London
The CIAS, meanwhile, returned to the skies after being cancelled by the pandemic last year. Fans could watch in person anywhere along the Toronto waterfront, with physical distancing.

In a much-appreciated innovation, the CIAS partnered with 680 News to allow people to watch a live video stream of the show from coast to coast and internationally. The live stream worked beautifully, with exceptional camera work providing outstanding views of the aircraft.
​

All of the shows this summer featured an outstanding lineup of civil and military performers from Canada and the U.S. We extend our congratulations to all of the organizers, participants, sponsors and volunteers who made these events possible.

The 2022 London SkyDrive is set for Sept. 9-11 and the CIAS will offer an expanded exclusive air show zone next year. The 2022 Aero-Gatineau-Ottawa show will be held Sept. 16-18.
CIAS Poster

Click Here to return to the articles page.

Canadian Aviation Historical Society (CAHS)
P.O. Box 2700, Station D
Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5W7
Business Information Number 118829589RR0001
CAHS © 2023  •  Website design & hosting by SkyGrid Studio
Photographic images used for background and similar allegorical purposes throughout this site are either in the public domain, or used with permission of their respective copyright holders