After a 2 year hiatus from the airshow circuit the Rotary Brantford Charity Airshow returned in 2013 with a full airshow in spite of grey skies and rain. The weather wasn't perfect but the show went on and, despite being a weekday airshow, they always manage to attract thousands to the event and only ask for a donation for the local Rotary group.

The airshow, known to many as "... the biggest little airshow in Canada..." manages to attract top performers, from World War II aircraft to Canada's current front-line fighter, the CF-18 Hornet. Young and old have their heads turned skyward throughout the afternoon enjoying all the sights and sounds the show has to offer.

Opening the airshow were the Canadian Forces Skyhawks aerobatic parachute display team jumping from their leased CASA aircraft. The Skyhawks perform in airshows across Canada and the US, opening with jumpers descending back to earth with huge Canadian and American flags. Several jumpers also perform daring parabatic, tri-by-side and 3 stack formations, among others.

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, as always, provided a good showing with their lovely Canso, Canada Car & Foundry (Westland) Lysander and B-25 Mitchell. These iconic World War II aircraft are always popular with airshow crowds and are seen at shows throughout this part of Canada and in some north-eastern US states.

Canadian aerobatic airshow performer and Red Bull racer Pete McLeod put on a wonderful show in his Edge 540. Pete's performance at airshows thrills crowds with his high-G and heart stopping manoeuvres and the Brantford Airshow crowd was loving this young Canadian at the controls of his colourful and quick airplane. Pete also entered the record books becoming the youngest pilot to participate in the iconic Red Bull championship.

The Royal Canadian Air Force 2013 CF-18 Demonstration Hornet pumped up the volume with a window shaking demonstration of the Hornet's performance. Despite the 30 years the Hornet has flown with the Air Force in Canada, airshow spectators never tire of seeing this aging jet aircraft displaying its power and speed. 2013 Airshow pilot, Patrick "Flocho" Pollen, showed the crowd what he and his CF-18 can do in the hands of a skilled pilot and the crowd, as always, showed their appreciation with their usual eye-popping, head turning, smiling faces looking skyward.

Not to be outdone in the skies above Brantford, showing off his skill, was Michael Whiskus in his Lucas Oil Pitts. Whiskus does things in this brightly orange painted Pitts S-1-11b that you wouldn't think was possible nor would be a good idea to do in an airplane but he certainly makes it look easy and effortless. The powerful Lycoming IO-540 engine pulls the airplane through manoeuvres that would batter and bruise most pilots and aircraft and Whiskus does it all with a smile.

Another local pilot who performed in the airshow was Danny Richer in his British built BAC 167 Strikemaster, the ground attack version of the Jet Provost. Danny, also the owner and pilot of a beautiful T-28 Trojan, enjoys showing off his zippy little jet aircraft throughout Ontario. The Strikemaster, though not the fastest or most heavily armed aircraft, was used as a light attack aircraft by countries such as Botswana, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and New Zealand.

The Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team put on their typical superb aerobatic performance, filling the sky with their display smoke and filling ears with the lovely growl of the Pratt & Whitney radial strapped to the front of these iconic training aircraft. The Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association will honour the venerable Harvard in June of this year with "A Gathering of Harvards and Heroes," celebrating 75 years of the Harvard in Canada. To date, they are expecting 50+ Harvards from across Canada and the United States, as well as some 'sister ship' T-6's.

The ever popular Canadian Forces Snowbirds, as always, filled the sky with their 9-plane aerobatic formation of Canadair CL-41 (CT-114) Tutor aircraft. These 40+ year old jet training aircraft, year after year, performance after performance, continue to inspire and thrill the young and young at heart. With a top speed of 486mph and a climb rate of just over 4200fpm, the Tutor isn't the most high performance jet aircraft, but it does the job required of it by the pilots who fly them. Despite their age, the Tutor is expected to fly with the Canadian Forces Snowbirds until 2020.

The show also included static aircraft such as the RCAF CT-146 Griffon helicopter and airshows always offer an assortment of vendors selling a variety of products from food to hats and drinks to model airplanes. The Jet Aircraft Museum attended the show with their JAM merchandise and other wares, sporting their T-33 "photoship" which always attracts a crowd and line up of young and old hoping for an opportunity to sit in the cockpit of this wonderful jet training aircraft.

Don't miss out on the 2014 Rotary Brantford Charity Airshow the last Wednesday in August. The show this year promises to offer an ample variety of aircraft and performers once again. Bring the family, drop a $20 bill, or more, into their donation boxes and enjoy an afternoon of airplanes and airplane noise along with one or two other people who show up to do the same thing.

Rotary Brantford Charity Airshow: brantfordairshow.ca or visit their Facebook page

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum: warplane.com or visit their Facebook page

Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team: canadianharvards.com

Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association: harvards.com or visit their Facebook page

Jet Aircraft Museum: jetaircraftmuseum.ca or visit their Facebook page

Lucas Oil Airshows: sportaerobatics.wix.com/lucasoilairshows#

Pete McLeod: petemcleodracing.com or visit his Facebook page

Canadian Forces Snowbirds: snowbirds.forces.gc.ca or visit their Facebook page

CF-18 Demonstration Hornet: rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/cf-18-demo-team/index.page or visit their Facebook page

Canadian Forces Skyhawks: army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/skyhawks/index.page

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