Brant United Way Air Show Brantford, ON, Canada August 29, 2007

Photography by Kerry J. and John Newstead. Story by Kerry J. Newstead

  In the words of a Canadian super group Crowbar “Oh what a Feeling, What a Rush.”  That describes the Brant United Way Airshow for 2007.   Where else can you have between 25,000 to 30,000 people show up in the middle of the week for an airshow?

  Perennial favorites like the Canadian Warplane Heritage provided their Lancaster Bomber, B-25 Mitchell, and the Fairey Firefly to skies of Brantford/Brant County.  They had their Stearman and Harvard providing aerial tours of the countryside.  On static were their DC-3, Canso, Beech 18 and many more of their aircraft.  The Canadian Harvard Aircraft Aerobatic Team provided a display of precision formation flying and a bit history in their yellow Harvard trainers. 

  The 424th Search and Rescue Squadron from CFB Trenton attended with their Hercules and Griffon, to perform a SAR Mission at the airshow.  Casting a large shadow over the countryside was the B-52H from Minot AFB in North Dakota making a low level fly by. 

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  One of best high energy aerobatic pilots in the eastern half of North America, Mr. Rick Volker, returned for his second appearance at the Brant United Way Airshow in his SU-26.  Plus, the very best female aerobatic pilot, and possibly the best aerobatic pilot in the world came to Brantford - Patty Wagstaff. 

 

  There were not one, but two supersonic jet demo teams. Major Jason “Buzzer” Koltes in the East Coast F-16 Viper Demo Team along Mr. Jim Beasley in his P-51C Princess Elizabeth flew in the Heritage Flight.  From CFB Cold Lake, Alberta came Captain Yanick “Crank” Gregoire in the Demo CF-18 Hornet, flying with the lead from the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Aerobatic Team performing their version of the Heritage Flight. 

 

  It was also a place of special moments.  Captain Gregoire fulfilled his desire and jumped with the Canadian SkyHawks, during the rehearsal day.  Snowbird 9, Captain Christian Dallamore met his birth mother.  Captain Dallamore had been adopted when he was young and his birth mother looked for him and they re-connected a couple years ago.  And at the Brantford show was the place where they saw each other in person. 

 

  With the help of our friends in Candiac, Quebec and St. Catharines, Ontario, the Snowbirds were able to appear in the skies over Brant County once more.