Aviation Fun Day review; Bomber Command, Brantford and CNE air shows upcoming - 2019

   One-Tank Trip for Aug. 10/19

   (c) By Jim Fox

   “Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird . . . it's a plane. . .”

   There will be a lot of aviation action upcoming on the ground and in the air.

   This includes a static fun day in the Kitchener area, a wartime Berlin Blitz virtual reality at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and the Brantford air show.

   The Region of Waterloo International Airport (1-4881 Fountain St. N.) in Breslau held its fifth Aviation Fun Day on Aug. 17.

The RCAF Waterloo Warbird will be on display at the Aviation Fun Day.

    This fifth annual event on the outskirts of Kitchener-Waterloo let visitors get up close to vintage aircraft, airport equipment and classic cars.

   “Grab your walking shoes and explore the airport on foot at this free family event and learn how the aviation industry works,” organizers said.

   Visit aviation-related displays in the terminal building, the flight centre and Royal Canadian Air Cadet Youth Development Centre. waterlooairport.ca/en/about-ykf/aviation-fun-day.aspx; 1-866-648-2256

A highlight of a Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum dinner will be a night engine run-up of the Avro Lancaster.

   Bomber Command

   Here’s a “cinematic experience” that transports visitors inside a bomber that vividly captures the danger of a 1943 Berlin blitz raid.

   It happens at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (9280 Airport Rd.) at the Hamilton International Airport from 9 a.m.to 5 p.m. daily through the end of the month.

   Be there as the bomber crew “endures endless flak and a night fighter attack en route to the heart of Nazi-occupied Europe.”

   The museum says the “powerful experience is the closest that one can get to truly experiencing the bravery demonstrated by Bomber Command.”

   The British Broadcasting Corp. created “masterfully animated” virtual reality experience using war correspondent Wynford Vaughan-Thomas’ original recording that captures the danger of the bombing raid.

   It was in September 1943, during the Second World War, when he boarded Lancaster “F for Freddie” with a recording engineer and microphone headed for Berlin.

   The 14-minute experience is available to those 13 and older at six museum stations.

   The museum houses almost 50 Canadian military planes, aviation exhibits and flight simulators. Admission is $10 to $15.warplane.com; 1-877-347-3359

   Up in the sky

   The Community Charity Airshow takes place at the Brantford Airport on Aug. 28, with gates opening at 10 a.m. and the show starting at 12:30 p.m.

The Canadian Forces’ Snowbirds will be performing at the CNE and London air shows. (RCAF photo)

    The show began 10 years ago as the Canadian Forces’ Snowbirds ran trial runs prior to appearing at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE).

   The event has grown to also showcase military and civilian performers as it raises money for the Rotary Club of Brantford and Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.

   The night before on Aug. 27 at the museum, there’s a dinner and show that includes a night engine run-up of the Avro Lancaster and a chance to win a ride in a B-25 Mitchell bomber. warplane.com/events/upcoming-events

   Red Arrows

   To salute the 70th anniversary, the Canadian International Air show welcomes the Royal Air Force aerobatic Red Arrows, Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 from noon to 3 p.m., at the CNE grounds on Toronto’s waterfront.

   The Canadian Forces’ Snowbirds will also return to to “electrify crowds with their extraordinary aerial manoeuvres performed by nine amazing pilots who come from across Canada.”

   The Snowbirds will also be flying high at the London Airshow, Sept. 13 to 15.

   The Royal Air Force Red Arrows will be flying at the CNE. (RAF photo)

    The Red Arrows are renowned as one of the world’s premier aerobatic display teams, flying nine BAE Systems Hawk fast jets.

   Command performances at the EX include Canadian veteran Gord Price in the Russian-built Yak 50; U.S. Air Forces’ A-10 and Black Hawk helicopter; MiG 15; and Brent Handy in a Pitts Special. theex.com/main/entertainment/canadian-international-air-show

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   Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

   For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca