[PICS] Hamilton airshow 1985 memories
Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:46 pm
From the 1970s through the late 1980s, the Canadian Warplane Heritage sponsored an annual airshow at its Mount Hope base that provided Canadians with a surprisingly complete pageant of the military aircraft flown by their country during and after WWII. Here are some shots from the 1985 show, the first that I attended.
Fleet Fawn C-FGDM. The CWH's fleet of trainers was always a unique delight, especially when supplemented by visitors at the annual airshow.
CWH Tiger Moth 8922.
Cornell C-GCWC.
The rare and beautiful CWH Anson.
Chipmunk 18035.
Visiting Yale 3406.
The CWH's T-6 Texan and Harvard IV 20415.
One of several visiting T-6s, fresh from the Spanish air force.
The T-34 had a very short RCAF training career.
Transport and utility types were also not neglected. Here is Argus C-FGZL.
A Crane visited the show from somewhere. Anyone have an ID on this one?
CWH's wonderful C-GDAK, when acquired reputedly the second-highest-time DC-3 in the world, overtaken since then by others I would imagine.
This Stinson 105 is the most oft-forgotten of the aircraft later lost in the 1993 hangar fire.
CWH's twin Beech is now well into its third decade of service as the museum photo ship and support aircraft.
Lockheed 12A N112LH in sort-of RAF/RCAF markings.
Nice looking RAF SEAC color scheme on this L-5.
On to the heavy iron. The visiting Mustang lineup included familiar faces Bald Eagle, Double Trouble Too, Rascal, Petie 3rd, Gunfighter, and What's Up Doc. Two of these (Rascal and Gunfighter) were ex-RCAF machines.
Also an ex-RCAF airplane was CWH's own Old Boy.
Ex-RCAF Kittyhawk AK940 was a welcome sight.
And, of course, there was Hurricane 5377, still the most lamented lost warbird in Canada, even though there are a couple others now.
*Sigh*
Not all of the fighters attending had to do with Canada. Two FM-2s showed up.
Howard Pardue brought his Bearcat quite a long way from home.
And to give the cats some adversaries, a nicely maintained Tora Kate and Zeke appeared.
Canadian navy warbirds were well represented, led off by the CWH's iconic Corsair.
Visiting Sea Fury TG114 was an actual ex-RCN machine, done up at that time in sort-of RCN colours.
As for jets, a Venomous presence on the ramp was provided by ex-Swiss AF J-1730.
And the Canadian Forces sent along a noisemaker, along with the Snowbirds.
The CWH's B-25 in those days was not tarted up with as many gaudy markings as it is now.
A rare treat was "CWH West" B-25 45-8884, interestingly the very next consecutive serial number after the CWH machine. Neither one actually served with the RCAF.
They flew together with B-25 44-30456 "Silver Lady".
Finally the CWH Lancaster on static display, still with a few years of restoration ahead of it but already magnificent.
Hope these bring back memories for some of you.
August
Fleet Fawn C-FGDM. The CWH's fleet of trainers was always a unique delight, especially when supplemented by visitors at the annual airshow.
CWH Tiger Moth 8922.
Cornell C-GCWC.
The rare and beautiful CWH Anson.
Chipmunk 18035.
Visiting Yale 3406.
The CWH's T-6 Texan and Harvard IV 20415.
One of several visiting T-6s, fresh from the Spanish air force.
The T-34 had a very short RCAF training career.
Transport and utility types were also not neglected. Here is Argus C-FGZL.
A Crane visited the show from somewhere. Anyone have an ID on this one?
CWH's wonderful C-GDAK, when acquired reputedly the second-highest-time DC-3 in the world, overtaken since then by others I would imagine.
This Stinson 105 is the most oft-forgotten of the aircraft later lost in the 1993 hangar fire.
CWH's twin Beech is now well into its third decade of service as the museum photo ship and support aircraft.
Lockheed 12A N112LH in sort-of RAF/RCAF markings.
Nice looking RAF SEAC color scheme on this L-5.
On to the heavy iron. The visiting Mustang lineup included familiar faces Bald Eagle, Double Trouble Too, Rascal, Petie 3rd, Gunfighter, and What's Up Doc. Two of these (Rascal and Gunfighter) were ex-RCAF machines.
Also an ex-RCAF airplane was CWH's own Old Boy.
Ex-RCAF Kittyhawk AK940 was a welcome sight.
And, of course, there was Hurricane 5377, still the most lamented lost warbird in Canada, even though there are a couple others now.
*Sigh*
Not all of the fighters attending had to do with Canada. Two FM-2s showed up.
Howard Pardue brought his Bearcat quite a long way from home.
And to give the cats some adversaries, a nicely maintained Tora Kate and Zeke appeared.
Canadian navy warbirds were well represented, led off by the CWH's iconic Corsair.
Visiting Sea Fury TG114 was an actual ex-RCN machine, done up at that time in sort-of RCN colours.
As for jets, a Venomous presence on the ramp was provided by ex-Swiss AF J-1730.
And the Canadian Forces sent along a noisemaker, along with the Snowbirds.
The CWH's B-25 in those days was not tarted up with as many gaudy markings as it is now.
A rare treat was "CWH West" B-25 45-8884, interestingly the very next consecutive serial number after the CWH machine. Neither one actually served with the RCAF.
They flew together with B-25 44-30456 "Silver Lady".
Finally the CWH Lancaster on static display, still with a few years of restoration ahead of it but already magnificent.
Hope these bring back memories for some of you.
August
Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:05 pm
Nice photos, thanks for posting them!
That Lockheed Model 12 was owned by Lou Hilton and did see service with the British during WWII. Not sure if the markings are accurate, but it was a beautiful aircraft. It's now on the West Coast having been sold twice since Hilton sold it.
Jerry
That Lockheed Model 12 was owned by Lou Hilton and did see service with the British during WWII. Not sure if the markings are accurate, but it was a beautiful aircraft. It's now on the West Coast having been sold twice since Hilton sold it.
Jerry
Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:37 pm
I understand that the Lockheed is one of the ones modified for Sidney Cotton's famous aerial spy missions. Hence the teardrop-shaped bulge in the flight deck window. According to the page below, it has had no less than eight different identities, including the USAAF serial 42-38349 and the RAF serial LA621, plus various US, British, and French civil IDs.
http://www.adastron.com/lockheed/electr ... others.htm
August
http://www.adastron.com/lockheed/electr ... others.htm
August
Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:40 pm
Those pictures are great. It looks like that was quite a marvelous show.
I wish I were older, so I could have experienced airshows like that. Then again, I kinda wish I was MUCH older so I could buy a few airlpanes that were being sold off after WWII.
Ah well, the best I can do is love warbirds now, and help with the restoration and preservation of them for a long time into the future.
Cheers,
David
I wish I were older, so I could have experienced airshows like that. Then again, I kinda wish I was MUCH older so I could buy a few airlpanes that were being sold off after WWII.
Ah well, the best I can do is love warbirds now, and help with the restoration and preservation of them for a long time into the future.
Cheers,
David
Great pics, tks for sharing.....
Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:55 pm
Great pics, tks for sharing.....
Any more may I ask
of the Lanc under restoration ?
Cheers
Any more may I ask
of the Lanc under restoration ?
Cheers
Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:17 pm
The first picture is of Canadian actor Paul Soles Fleet 16B Finch..later sold to someone in the U.S.
Mr Soles now has a Chipmunk kept at the Brampton Flying Club.
Cheers
Doug
Mr Soles now has a Chipmunk kept at the Brampton Flying Club.
Cheers
Doug
Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:46 pm
Thanks so much.
I was there, but Steve T and myself spent most of the show in the hangar and missed quite a bit of the fun.
Great memories!
I was there, but Steve T and myself spent most of the show in the hangar and missed quite a bit of the fun.
Great memories!
Re: [PICS] Hamilton airshow 1985 memories
Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:23 pm
Great stuff August!
To be fair, it's actually relatively accurate RCAF scheme I think. I thought I had a wartime shot, but can't find it. In the meantime:
http://www.rcaf.com/aircraft/transports ... a%20Junior
The RCAF colours over the standard Lockheed polish & red cheatline can be seen in two variants above, and IIRC, there were others.
Not bad.
k5083 wrote:Lockheed 12A N112LH in sort-of RAF/RCAF markings.
To be fair, it's actually relatively accurate RCAF scheme I think. I thought I had a wartime shot, but can't find it. In the meantime:
http://www.rcaf.com/aircraft/transports ... a%20Junior
The RCAF colours over the standard Lockheed polish & red cheatline can be seen in two variants above, and IIRC, there were others.
Not bad.
Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:37 am
Those shots bring back a lot of memories. My first CWH show was in 1975 ( just realized how old I’m getting, I was 11 at the time) and I never missed a year.
Here are some more images from various years at Hamilton.
I sure miss those shows and all the fun but at least I have the photos to remind me of the great warbird shows.
Happy Landings,
Eric
Here are some more images from various years at Hamilton.
I sure miss those shows and all the fun but at least I have the photos to remind me of the great warbird shows.
Happy Landings,
Eric
Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:15 am
Sweet pics, Eric. I had no idea the XP-51 ever made it to Hamilton.
August
August
Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:53 am
Eric,
What is the aircraft above the Skyraider?
bill word
What is the aircraft above the Skyraider?
bill word
Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:16 am
bilwor wrote:Eric,
What is the aircraft above the Skyraider?
bill word
Percival Pembroke?
These are some great pics!
Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:21 am
Ztex wrote:bilwor wrote:Eric,
What is the aircraft above the Skyraider?
bill word
Percival Pembroke?
These are some great pics!
Yes, Percival Pembroke N51973.
Eric
Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:07 pm
WOW, what memories that gave me. I was there too during that time. We used to take the spare Short 330 from AirNorth and fill the airplane and fly up for the day. Thats how the Lanc looked when I had seen it in person. Wow I feel old too.
The Venom is one of Dean Martins ( Warplanes Inc.)
Please post more. When I was a kid, I had a big poster of Passion Wagon. George signed it for me one year. I would like to see my other fav mustang, CF-FUZ!!!!
The Venom is one of Dean Martins ( Warplanes Inc.)
Please post more. When I was a kid, I had a big poster of Passion Wagon. George signed it for me one year. I would like to see my other fav mustang, CF-FUZ!!!!
Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:41 pm
One of my favourite Mustangs as well. Garry McCann’s CF-FUZ.
Anyone remember this Thunderbolt formation from Hamilton 1982. Long before the Heritage Flights. It was performed after the Sunday show with Dennis Bradley in BAU with a photographer.
A real oddball formation
Cheers,
Eric
Anyone remember this Thunderbolt formation from Hamilton 1982. Long before the Heritage Flights. It was performed after the Sunday show with Dennis Bradley in BAU with a photographer.
A real oddball formation
Cheers,
Eric