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ISSUE
136 - September 2010
Over 9,000 Total Ads Listed
1,000+ NEW Ads Per Week
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The
Battle of Britain (2010) |
By Kevin Moore, Contributing
Editor & Photographer
Roslin, Ontario, Canada |
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In the summer sky came the growl of Royce
and Benz engines
as a dogfight ensued between the two famous
aircraft. |
Out of the blue came the whistling
growl of an airplane engine. From behind the trees a single
Bf109 appeared, circling, obviously taking stock of what
was on the airfield below prior to launching an attack! The
pilot of the 109 then banked hard right and dove toward the
ground, seemingly taking aim of anything that looked like
a suitable target. |
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The Russell Air
Group Rolls-Royce powered Hawker Hurricane Mk XII, left,
the
Daimler-Benz DB601 powered Bf109, the only flying example of
its type, right. |
A Hawker Hurricane had just taxied
to the end of the runway and had completed its run-up. The
pilot throttled up as the 109 came around again for another
pass. As the 109 flew over top, the Hurri' pilot, now climbing
his aircraft, worked his way in behind the 109 in an effort
to stop the destruction. |
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The tail-chase is
on with the Hurricane keeping station behind the '109, left.
The Hurricane, victorious, lands unscathed, right. |
The mêlée between the
two fighters, the agile and quick 109 and the tough and maneuverable
Hurricane, lasted 10 - 15 minutes. Though the 109 pilot tried
in vain to shake the Hurricane, he could not and his only
course of action was to put the throttle to the wall and
make for home. The Hurricane pilot, despite not shooting
down his opponent, never-the-less, landed victorious. |
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One of many veterans
on hand for the airshow being interviewed by local media, left.
The Bf109 and Hawker Hurricane perform a formation flypast,
right. |
This could very well have been a scene
played out in the skies above England in 1940. In fact, this
was the scenario in the skies over Central Ontario on a very
warm, sunny day in July during the first Battle of Britain
airshow at the Huronia-Midland Airport. Joining the Bf109
and the Hawker Hurricane came several vintage aircraft and
an assortment of other airplanes from around Ontario. A gathering
to honour those who fought for our freedom over the skies
of Southern England during the Battle of Britain 70 years
ago. |
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CHAA Harvard taking
to the skies with one of many veterans who were honoured with
a flight in the historic trainer, left. One of the early training
aircraft for the RCAF, the Fleet Finch, right. |
The airshow not only honoured the
history of those who fought in the Battle of Britain, but
also those who fought the Battle of Norway earlier in 1940.
Though the Battle of Norway had a different outcome than
the Battle of Britain, it was no less historic and those
veterans who fought in both battles deserve our respect and
our everlasting gratitude. |
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Visiting for static
display, this beautiful L-39 sat on the tarmac, left.
One of
the most famous of aerobatic aircraft, the Pitts takes to the
air, right. |
Some of those other aircraft varied
from vintage trainers to 1950's jet fighters. Spectacular
aircraft from across Ontario and Quebec performed in the
airshow with more expected in future years as the show grows
and expands. The Huronia-Midland airport, though relatively
small with just a single runway, proved to be a lovely location
with a great bunch of staff and airshow volunteers. |
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Viper North's MiG
15 UTI performed two high-speed passes, left,
and a down and
dirty pass (gear coming up), right. |
Viper North made an appearance with
their MiG 15 UTI, a 2-place version that dazzles crowds where-ever
it shows up. Flying up from Pearson (Toronto) International,
the MiG 15 flew several passes, including a "down and
dirty," throttling up with a roar to come around for
a high speed pass. Viper North also flies an L-29 at many
shows and it arrived they day before for the media day event. |
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CHAA with a four
plane formation overhead with the first aircraft breaking for
the circuit, left, followed closely by the remaining three
Harvards, right. |
The Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association
(CHAA) brought four airplanes, flying several passes for
the crowds, but also taking a number of local veterans for
rides, bringing back floods of memories for some, and a thrill
of a lifetime for others. |
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The Bf109, owned
by the Russell Air Group of Niagara Falls, Ontario and flown
by Rick Volker of Buffalo New York, left. The Hurricane, with
Dave Hewitt piloting, off the right wing of the Bf109, right. |
The Hurricane Mk XII from the Russell
Air Group out of Niagara Falls, Ontario along with its sister
ship and dogfight partner, the Bf109, were flown by Dave
Hewitt and Rick Volker respectively. Both, though with many,
many hours of flying time, had only recently qualified on
their respective airplanes but you wouldn't know it by the
show they performed for spectators. |
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Canadian Warplane
Heritage Canso performed several great passes for the crowd. |
Canadian Warplane Heritage from Hamilton/Mount
Hope, Ontario brought their Canso and Lysander, always crowd
favourites. Also appearing were two Fleet Finch aircraft,
Vintage Wings of Canada's brought their P-51 Mustang and
Rob Erdos flew in their P-40 Kittyhawk. Two Fleet Cornell
aircraft flew as part of the show, one of which was painted
in Norwegian Air Force markings, honouring those who fought
in the Battle of Norway. |
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Carol Pilon takes
to the air hanging on to the wires of the Stearman before ascending
to the upper wing, left. Carol Pilon waves to the crowd as
pilot Kirk Wicker taxies the Stearman in after their performance,
right. |
Carol Pilon performed her wing-walking
demonstration atop her beautiful Stearman aircraft, flown
pilot Kirck Wicker, who also performed a beautiful solo aerobatic
act.. The Stearman wowed the crowd with rolls and loops and
other breath-taking maneuvers with Carol positioned atop
the upper wing as smoke streamed from the aircraft. |
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In the livery of
the Norwegian Air Force, this Fleet Cornell
performed several
passes for the crowd. |
It's hoped that, in future years as
the show and performers grow, more and more airplane enthusiasts
will make the one hour trip north from Toronto to take in
the spectacle. So, if you're looking for something different
to do, love airplanes, and haven't visited Southern Ontario,
make the trip and book the day for a trip back to The Battle
of Britain. |
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Canadian Warplane
Heritage Lysander sits quietly on the tarmac, left,
and across
from it, the Vintage Wings of Canada P-40, right. |
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Vintage Wings of
Canada Mustang in a level pass, left.
Rob Erdos landing the
Vintage Wings of Canada P-40, right. |
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Canadian Warplane Heritage Canso in a nice
top-side flypast. |
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One of a few vendors
at the show was D-Day Wear, owned and operated by Joe Wilson,
left, making a cash donation for every garment sold, such as
this T-shirt logo right, to the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy,
France in memory of every soldier K.I.A. on D-Day. |
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Viper North's L-29
in a nice top-side pass, left. T-28 Trojan
having a bit of
a tough time with the crosswinds on landing, right. |
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Ending the show, the Bf109 heads for home
against a backdrop
of Cumulonimbus filled skies, wounded, to
fight another day. |
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