After a 10 year hiatus, London International Airport in London, Ontario, Canada once again hosted an airshow over the Battle of Britain weekend of 16th to 19th September. The published list of participants promised to make the long drive to London worthwhile, and so it was albeit with a few minor disappointments.
After an 8 hour drive from Montreal we had time to catch part of the (3 hour) Hour of Power held in the late afternoon/evening of Friday. It provided to be a nice appetiser for the weekend show days……..
1) F-15C Eagle Louisiana National Guard
F-15C Eagle - Hour of Power (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
In the gathering gloom the F-22 Raptor did a full solo display and also displayed with a P-51D in the Heritage Flight.
2) F-22 Raptor
F-22 Raptor - Hour of Power (2) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
3) F-22 HUD glowing in the twilight
F-22 Raptor - Hour of Power (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
Saturday dawned and with it, unfortunately, came the forecast heavy rain and threat of severe thunderstorms which caused the organisers to cancel the show for the day. Thankfully, after some early morning fog, Sunday’s weather was glorious and was matched by a great display.
Before the official start of proceedings there were a few interesting arrivals/departures/movements.
4) Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association Harvard
CHAA Harvard - Sunday (2) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
5) One of two CF-18’s that departed for a flyover of Ottawa – they would return with a friend later
CF-18 - Sunday (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
6) A Stearman visitor that amused the commentators by doing a few passes with smoke on
Stearman - Sunday (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
7) Antonov An-2 did a few high speed passes.......
Antonov An-2 - Sunday (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
8) 2 Ohio ANG F-16’s departed to do a flyover at the stat of the Cincinnati Bengals v Pittsburgh Stealers game. They would return later.
F-16 Ohio National Guard - Sunday (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
9) CC150 Polaris accompanied by the two returning CF-18’s that departed earlier.
CC150 Polaris & 2 x CF18 - Sunday (3) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
10) CF-18’s
2 x CF18 - Sunday (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
The show then started with the Canadian Armed Forces Parachute Team, The Skyhawks delivering the U.S and Canadian flags accompanied by the appropriate National Anthems.
11) Skyhawks with U.S. Flag
Canadian Skyhawks - Sunday (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
12) Skyhawks with Canadian Flag
Canadian Skyhawks - Sunday (2) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
13) CC-130J flypast
CC130J Hercules - Sunday (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
The Ohio ANG F16’s returned and performed a few spirited passes
14) Ohio ANG F-16
F-16 Ohio National Guard - Sunday (2) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
15) Ohio ANG F-16
F-16 Ohio National Guard - Sunday (3) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
Joeseph Masessa then displayed his Grumman OV-1 Mohawk painted with the names of US service personnel MIA in conflicts back to Vietnam.
16) OV-1 Mohawk
OV-1 Mohawk - Sunday (2) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
17) OV-1 Mohawk
OV-1 Mohawk - Sunday (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
The London based International Test Pilot School then displayed their Aero L-39 Albatros
18) L-39 Albatros
L-39 Albatros -ITPS - Sunday (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
Which was followed by the London based Jet Aircraft Museum displaying their Jet Provost T Mk4
19) Jet Provost T. Mk4
Jet Provost Mk4 - Sunday (2) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
The US Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin demo included featured some nonchalant leg dangling by the GIB throughout.
20) USCG MH-65 Dolphin
MH-65 Dolphin US Coast Guard - Sunday (2) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
Pete McLeod put on an impressive aerobatic display in his Edge 540, putting his low level Red Bull racing series skills to good use
21) Edge 540
Edge 540 - Pete McLeod - Sunday (4) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
The RCAF CT-156 Harvard II was displayed at a less frenetic pace
22) CT-156 Harvard II
CT-156 Harvard II - Sunday (4) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
After which the RCAF CF-18 Demo performed solo ……
23) CF-18 Demo
CF-18 Demo - Sunday (8) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
24) CF-18 Demo
CF-18 Demo - Sunday (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
25) CF18 Demo
CF-18 Demo - Sunday (7) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
And then with the CT-156 Harvard II as the RCAF Heritage Flight
26) RCAF Heritage Flight
Canadian Heritage Flight - Sunday (2) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
27) RCAF Heritage Flight
Canadian Heritage Flight - Sunday (5) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
The US Navy T-45 Goshawk then departed
28) T-45 Goshawk
T-45 Goshawk - Sunday (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
To be followed into the air by a locally built Diamond Aircraft DA62
29) Diamond DA62
Diamond DA62 - Sunday (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
Gregory Colyer then displayed his Lockheed T-33
30) T-33
T-33 - Sunday (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
31) T-33
T-33 - Sunday (4) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
The USAF Heritage Flight P-51D flew a few passes
32) P-51D Mustang
P-51D - Sunday (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
Before leaving the stage to the star of the show
33) F-22 Raptor
F-22 Raptor Demo - Sunday (14) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
34) F-22 Raptor
F-22 Raptor Demo - Sunday (5) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
35) F-22 Raptor
F-22 Raptor Demo - Sunday (11) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
36) Post-Impressionist F-22 Raptor
F-22 Raptor Demo - Sunday (10) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
After an awesome display the F-22 joined the P-51D to display as the USAF Heritage Flight
37) USAF Heritage Flight
USAF Heritage Flight - Sunday (2) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
38) USAF Heritage Flight
USAF Heritage Flight - Sunday (4) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
Finally, an excellent show was brought to a close by the Snowbirds
39) Snowbird mirror formation
Snowbirds - Sunday (1) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
40) Snowbird synchro pair
Snowbirds - Sunday (2) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
41) Snowbird synchro pair
Snowbirds - Sunday (3) by Stirling Images, on Flickr
If you’ve made it this far, thanks for looking. If you would like to see more please visit my Flickr album https://flic.kr/s/aHskKeDFTF
Comments and criticism welcome.
Ian
Airshow London 2016
- StirlingImages
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Tue 18 Sep 2012, 11:23 pm
Re: Airshow London 2016
Some crackers in there!
Loving the detail and crispness of the f-18 and f-16 shots. Not yet seen a Lightning II fly about, it's on my list though.
Loving the detail and crispness of the f-18 and f-16 shots. Not yet seen a Lightning II fly about, it's on my list though.
Re: Airshow London 2016
Great shots. Really like the first Snowbird synchro picture, they look very close.
- Gundylunch
- Posts: 172
- Joined: Thu 02 Sep 2010, 9:21 pm
- Location: Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Re: Airshow London 2016
8 & 31 for me - stunners !!
Canon EOS 7D Mk II, 24-105L, 100-400L, 1.4x Extender
Re: Airshow London 2016
The Snowbirds synchro pair photo !!! Had to look a few times to see if not photo shopped as they look too bloody close
Re: Airshow London 2016
Lovely! Great selection too. 9 and 37 for me and can't help admiring the synchro pair! really enjoyed viewing