A "new" airshow has popped up on the airshow circuit in Ontario, Canada in "cottage country." The Orillia Airshow is part of the city's July 1st, Canada Day weekend celebrations and takes place at the waterfront over Lake Simcoe.

Featured in the airshow was Rick Volker performing a superb aerobatic display his Sukhoi Su-26,. Also flying an aerobatic performance and in his first return performance on the airshow circuit was Gord Price flying a beautiful Yak-50. The RCAF participated with a demonstration of a Griffon flown by members of the RCAF who performed several passes and, rounding out the airshow and the show stopper, the Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds aerobatic display team.

Though the "airshow box" was a good distance out over the water, attendees at the Canada Day celebrations were thrilled by the airshow performers.  The waterfront park was packed with people, many of whom were kids who swam and frolicked in the water to keep cool on a very hot day while enjoying the performers above them.

Gord Price, former RCAF pilot, Canadian National and Open, Unlimited Aerobatic Champion and airline pilot, made his return to the airshow circuit flying his beautifully restored Yak-50. This airplane holds serial #01 and was rescued from being stored and tucked away in the back of a hangar in Russia. It was rebuilt in 2003 and eventually ended up in the hands of Gord Price when he purchased the airplane in 2011. The airplane was decked out for airshows with the sponsor being "The Dam Pub" in Thornbury, Ontario. Gord flies a great show with some heart-stopping aerobatics including a flat spin.

Rick Volker, a Buffalo, NY dentist, is one of only a handful of people in the world who has flown the three best known of the Battle of Britain fighters (Spitfire, Hurricane and Bf 109), also flies a spectacular airshow in his Russian Su-26. Rick powers the Su-26 through a series of impressive manoeuvres that show off the abilities of both the aircraft and the pilot. This powerful aerobatic airplane will leave you wondering how it can do what it does and, in the hands of a pilot like Rick, the airplane gets a full workout during his performance.

The Royal Canadian Air Force was represented by the Snowbirds and by a slightly unusual airshow participant, a leased Griffon helicopter flown by two RCAF pilots. The helicopter performed several passes which demonstrated some of the abilities of the chopper before it departed and left the airshow space for the most popular of Canadian airshow acts, the Snowbirds.

The RCAF Snowbirds are one of the most famous and loved aerobatic display teams in North America. Flying the Canadair, Canadian designed & built CT-114 Tutor, an airplane that is close to reaching its 55th birthday. The Tutor was once the Canadian Forces primary jet trainer from the 1960s to 2000. There were 119 Tutors built for the RCAF, however, the only remaining Tutors flying with the Air Force today are doing so with the Snowbirds. They are expected to continue service with the team until 2020.

The Orillia Canada Day Airshow isn't the biggest airshow in the circuit and the city is considering its options for future airshows, including the possibility of holding a full airshow at the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport. The hope is that the city will continue to provide Canada Day revelers with an airshow in some form and, by the crowd numbers attending their first airshow day, it seems the draw they need to justify the time and cost are there.

If you're looking for something to do during the July 1st Canada Day weekend, Orillia's waterfront party and airshow gives you a full day of enjoyment. What better way to spend a day than browsing local vendors, enjoying a swim, taking a boat ride and turning your head skyward for some aviation action.

For more information on Gord Price: thedampub.ca (click on the AIr Show link)

For more information on Rick Volker: rvairshows.com

For more information on the Griffon: rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/v2/equip/ch146/index-eng.asp

For more information on the Snowbirds: snowbirds.dnd.ca

For more information on Orillia, Ontario: orillia.ca

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