Prepare your eyes and ears for amazement as the 49th annual Abbotsford International Airshow lands at the Abbotsford Airport this Friday to Sunday (Aug. 12-14).
As always, the entertainment will thrill families and aviation enthusiasts alike.
A number of well-known planes will be returning to the skies, as will popular static displays and demonstrations.
Special this year, the Canadian Forces SkyHawks will be celebrating its 40th anniversary, and the Supermarine Spitfire will be celebrating its 75th anniversary.
IN THE AIR
As the show gears up for its 49th year, the air performances will follow the same routine as in the past, featuring military planes, warbirds and civilian aircrafts.
Canada’s military aerobatic team, the Snowbirds, will be returning to Abbotsford skies for performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The team consists of nine Canadian designed and built CT-114 Tutors.
A CF-18 Hornet TAC demo will be flown by 409 Squadron for the first time this year. 409 Squadron has a rich history at the Abbotsford Airshow having performed for many years in the ’70s and ’80s in their CF-101 Voodoos.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II will be taking over the skies this year at the show as well. It is the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Canadian Forces Parachute Team, the SkyHawks will be demonstrating a signature canopy relative work parachute performance.
Meantime, the C-17 Globemaster, which is one of the latest planes in the Canadian Air Forces inventory, will also be flying.
The warbirds taking to the sky will include the T-6 Texan which is painted in the colours of the RCAF Golden Hawks, and Discovery Air Hawk One, which is an F-86 Sabre also painted in the colours of the famed Golden Hawks aerobatic team.
In addition, the Supermarine Spitfire will return to Abbotsford after a long absence from the airshow, celebrating its 75th anniversary.
The civilian aircrafts at this year’s show will include the T-34 Mentor flown by Julie Clark, the MX2 Aerobatic Aircraft flown by Rob Holland, and a comedy act in an 1942 Interstate Cadet flown by Kent Pietsch.
Another civilian act will be the Indy Boys. An Abbotsford first, they will present a jet-powered school bus that can run up to 580 km/h.
ON THE GROUND
The static displays on the ground will showcase aircrafts in four categories: heavies, fighters, trainers and helicopters.
In addition, the 39th Canadian Brigade Group will provide a ground demonstration to display the capabilities of personnel and equipment.
The Canadian Forces Tactical Assault Demonstration is another highlight.
For more information on what acts and attractions will be featured at the show, visit www. abbotsfordairshow.com.