Bummer

[jknaus]

Airshow weekend here in Cold Lake and a heat wave. I decided I might go despite the heat kicking the stuffing out of me, but yesterday the smoke rolled in. Really heavy. I'm not sure they will fly in this. Frecce Tricolori is here, a P-51, P-40 and what I really want to crawl all over, a Lancaster. F-35 is here and a bunch more. Kind of bummed because I definitely wont go out in this. Chris and I are feeling the effects.

Cold Lake, Alberta - Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) - Environment Canada

Current values and forecast maximums

weather.gc.ca

Not a good picture as its thicker and more orangey , but an idea.

 

[moon puppy]

Mask up and get crawling James! How often do you get close to a Lanc?

 

[RichB]

They are trying to get some birds in the air. I heard aircraft taking off earlier but it has been quiet for a while. The Snowbirds have low and flat shows they may be able to perform. The Frecce Tricolori may have something similar in their bag of trcks. The Lancaster won't be flying so likely the Harvard IV and P-40E won't be either. The F-22 went U/S after its arrival earlier in the week. They are moving some of the aircraft that were scheduled to fly over to the static display area.

There has been WiFi problems as well for people with E-Tickets on their phones. The Organizing Crew have been having the same problems trying to get updates posted.

On a brighter note, the CF188 Demo aircraft was a big hit over at RIAT. For those on FB, there are photos and videos (videos may be on YouTube too) of it flying the Mach Loop in Wales and doing a formation pass at RIAT with the 402 Sqn marked Spitfire LF Mk Vb of The Fighter Collection.

Cheers,
RichB

 

[RichB]

From what I've just read, it seems the flying has been called off for the day. The smoke is forecast (10+ AQHI and 1.2 km visibility) to remain as is for at least the next 24 hrs, not looking good for flying tomorrow.

Cheers,
RichB

 

[moon puppy]

Man that sucks, but that means the Lanc is socked in, maybe you guys can get more access to it while the air clears up?

 

[razordws]

That's too bad. A veteran that I work with drove up with his family after work yesterday from Edmonton. I'm sure they are disappointed

 

[RichB]

Visibility did improve a bit during the afternoon on Sunday so a few more aircraft were flying. The Harvard IV was up, the CH149 did its SAR demo, the CF188 and P-51 did their formation flight (the P-51 flew over the house twice), the KC135 and C-17 did their air to air re-fuelling demo, the F-35 and Frecce Tricolori were also able to do modified shows.

Cheers,
RichB

 

[paddy]

Most airshows have stopped here following the fatal crash at Shoreham down the road from me where 11 people died in 2015
Its not the authorities, its the insurance companies who have made the public liability insurance financially unviable :-(

 

[jknaus]

Visibility did improve a bit during the afternoon on Sunday so a few more aircraft were flying. The Harvard IV was up, the CH149 did its SAR demo, the CF188 and P-51 did their formation flight (the P-51 flew over the house twice), the KC135 and C-17 did their air to air re-fuelling demo, the F-35 and Frecce Tricolori were also able to do modified shows.

Cheers,
RichB

Most airshows have stopped here following the fatal crash at Shoreham down the road from me where 11 people died in 2015
Its not the authorities, its the insurance companies who have made the public liability insurance financially unviable :-(

I was a bit interested in Frecce Tricolori as the last time I saw them was at TAM 88 in Baden. After the air meet there was a small air show and we only had 1k ceiling. Everyone else did some fly pasts and then they did their show under the ceiling. A week or two later they did the Frankfurt air show and mid aired into the crowd. I only found out about the air show that morning and so didnt have time to go or i would have been in that crowd.

Crashes are a sad inevitability, especially when they happen at an air show in front of a crowd. It was 2016 when a T-28 Trojan plowed into the infield here during an airshow with one loss of life.
James

 

[paddy]

I always rate the Frecce Tricolori as the most entertaining display team in the World Yes the Reds are technically near perfect but the Frecce Tricolori throw in some silly flying as well. you know the sort of thing, 10 flying by with 1 upside down

With the BBMF grounded here there is no lanc at any displays. Spits are 10 a penny here so no shortage of those, i think there are currently 30 airworthy in the UK and its growing. Its not unusual to see one fly over.

 

[jknaus]

I could be wrong as my memory sucks, but I think the only 2 flying Lancasters in the world are in Canada.

 

[paddy]

No, 1 in Canada and the other in the UK still flying with the RAF in fact its their only heavy bomber.
We have another undergoing restoration to flying status.

Here.

Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre

www.lincsaviation.co.uk

 

[RichB]

We have one at the Bomber Command Museum of Canada in Nanton, Ab that can taxi under its own power. There are no plans to make it airworthy. They are now working on restoring a Halifax for display.

The BC Aviation Museum in Victoria, BC is restoring a Lancaster to its post-war RCAF martime patrol configuration. They are hoping it will be airworthy. The 2018 project estimate was 10 years and $5 million.

Cheers,
RichB

 

[moon puppy]

Any Vulcans flying? I was shocked when I saw how big it was at the RAF Museum.

 

[RichB]

The last flying Vulcan, XH558, was retired in 2015. It is maintained in taxiable condition at Doncaster Sheffield. Two other aircraft, XL426 and XM655, are also maintained for ground runs and taxiing.

Cheers,
RichB

 

[paddy]

XH558 will not have engine runs anymore as its permanently indoors. It last ran in 2022 and was retired in 2023 from "live" condition.

They certainly were large Bob, 558 was the display aircraft in the RAF and stayed on with the RAF as a display for years after the fleet was retired as the RAF still had spares and knowhow to keep it in the air at a reasonable cost. it was retired in 1999 but had a brief stint from 2007-15 following a £6.5m public funded revamp as a flying warbird. I saw it many times and it was quite awesome when it cast a shadow over you on low fly pasts

 

[jknaus]

Went through one when I was in Air Cadets. May be big outside but tiny and cramped inside. Thing that has always amazed me is the wool seat covers. Such a cool A/C.
James

 

[moon puppy]

Thing that has always amazed me is the wool seat covers.

Well you have to be comfy when delivering nuclear weapons.

 

[paddy]

Sheepskin maintains a constant temp despite cockpit temp. Its also hypoallergenic.