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ISSUE
32 - September 2008
Over 7,000 Total Ads Listed
1,000 NEW Ads Per Week
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ROCKCLIFFE CANADA
FLY IN |
By Kevin
Moore, Contributing Editor & Photographer
Roslin, Ontario, Canada
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Two of the oldest airplanes in the show,
the 1932 DH Fox Moth, left, and the 1929 WACO Taperwing. |
At the Canadian National Aviation Museum in Ottawa, Ontario,
lovers of classic old airplanes, and cars, gather for a
weekend show in the capital of Canada at Rockcliffe airport
every August.
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The Stinson Reliant lets everyone know
where she originated from. |
This year, participants and spectators
came from across Canada and the USA. Part of the show included
classics from the bygone days of aviation including the
1920s and 1930s, as well as some post-war aircraft.
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Struts, wires, a big radial, and open cockpit.
Images from the pioneers of aviation. |
From biplanes to high-wing monoplanes
from that era, the show was abound with the sound of old
radials, the look of struts and wires, and open cockpits.
From a time when flying was really still in its infancy
and aircraft had to be flown with both hands and feet on
the controls, no electronics, and for the most part, basic
instrumentation.
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Jutting out the nose of the Staggerwing,
the big radial with the gleaming chrome spinner and propeller |
The oldest airplane flying in the
show was the Vintage Wings 1929 WACO Taperwing A.T.O. Painted
in bright red and gleaming black, its distinctive look
graced the crowd, it’s big radial pulling it through
the skies with a throaty roar. Once owned and flown by
Jonathan Livingston, the airplane takes one back to the
barnstorming days and a time when pilots literally flew
by the seat of their pants. |
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The WACO Taperwing
takes to the air for its part in the show, left. A clean,
level pass for the crowd. |
Another old airplane with an interesting
history was the 1932 de Havilland DH-83 Fox Moth. The Fox
Moth is a sort of extended and widened version of the DH
Tiger Moth and was used by both royalty and bush pilots.
The pilot sat alone in the cockpit while his passenger(s)
sat in a small enclosed cabin in front of him in regal
comfort. This Fox Moth, also owned by Vintage Wings, was
initially owned by and was once the personal transport
aircraft of HRH Edward, Prince of Wales (1932). |
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Take-off roll,
the Fox Moth wings its way toward the skies, left. In the
air, the ‘Tiger Moth’ look is visible if not
for the very apparent ‘windows’ in front of the
pilot’s cockpit, right. |
One of the most beautiful and sleek
of the old biplanes was the Beech Staggerwing D-175S, again
owned by Vintage Wings. This gorgeous, bright red airplane,
with its massive nose housing a big radial, made one think
of the days when flying was a rarity for the general public
and airplanes like this were used by wealthy businessmen.
A fully enclosed cockpit/cabin, clean lines (for a biplane)
and full retractable landing gear, the airplane was the
sports car of the era.
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The Staggerwing
just before touch-down with its big flaps down, left. You
can see where the airplane’s name originated with its
staggered-wings, right. |
The 1943 Stinson V77 Reliant has
an elegant, graceful look with a style like no other airplane
of its era. Its distinctive, luxurious lines make it easy
to identify on the ground or in the air. A workhorse when
it needed to be, the Reliant was used for bush and charter
flying, a small airliner, and an executive aircraft. Another
with a big radial up front but with lots of room in the
cabin, the Reliant has a look all its own with the unmistakable
gullwing shape.
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The Stinson Reliant
on its passes, showing her lines from top and bottom. |
A rather unusual looking airplane,
the 1947 Bellanca 14-13-2 Cruisair put on a good display
showing its lines as the pilot put the airplane through
its paces. A four-seat ‘monoplane’ with retractable
main gear and a ‘triple-tail,’ the sleek looking
ship zipped through the air. |
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The Bellanca Cruisair
with tail high on the take-off roll, left. A pass by the
Cruisair to show off her lines. |
Next in the show were two Globe
Swift airplanes. An all metal 2-seat ‘monoplane’ with
retractable main gear, the Swift was a popular personal
airplane in the 1940s and 1950s. Looking more like a little
fighter aircraft, the Swift is a beautiful and slick looking
machine and is still popular and sought after today. |
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Two Globe Swift
took part in the show. |
One of the worlds
best known airplanes used for civilian purposes
is the de Havilland of Canada DHC-2 Beaver,
first designed and built in Canada in the
1950s. This 1965 DHC-2 Mk1 Beaver on floats
made one think of the glory days of bush
flying in Canada. It really was the workhorse
airplane that opened up the northern, most
remote regions of Canada and Alaska. Owned
by Vintage Wings, this Beaver is immaculate.
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The DCH-2 Beaver
Mk 1, taxiing out for the show, left. In her element, the
Beaver does a fly-past, right. |
Last in this part of the show was a classic of classics, the Grumman
G44A Widgeon. The Widgeon is a beautiful amphibious airplane with full
retractable gear and room for 6. A smaller version of the Grumman Goose,
the Widgeon was originally designed for the civilian aviation market,
however, initial production aircraft were used during World War II for
coastal patrol. They were produced by Grumman until 1949, though an additional
40+ were built in France and were known as the SCAN-30. |
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The Grumman G44A
Widgeon, with gear up, looks beautiful in the skies above
Rockcliffe. |
If you like classic, vintage aircraft of any kind, the Classic Air Rallye
at the Rockcliffe airport in Ottawa, Ontario is the place to be. Every
year this show grows and airplanes from across North American gather.
For more information visit www.flightworks.ca or visit the Canada Aviation
Museum at Rockcliffe Airport in Ottawa, Ontario (www.aviation.technomuses.ca ) |
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The Stinson Reliant
on her take-off roll showing the distinctive wing shape that
sets it apart from most other aircraft, left. The Grumman
Widgeon on her take-off roll, tail up, right. Surprisingly,
for the size of the airplane, the Widgeon didn’t need
that much runway. |
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