Canada’s interest in general aviation has been in decline for several years however, there are aspects of it that seem to be turning around.  The Canadian Aviation Expo is Canada’s largest aviation trade show and signs of a slightly improving outlook in general aviation in Canada were present at Mount Hope, Ontario this year.

  Though the show moved from Oshawa, Ontario to the Canadian Warplane Heritage hangar at Hamilton International Airport, the turn out of both those in the aviation industry and the general public gives one the impression that the aviation community in Canada is growing once again, despite the economy.  From the young child holding his father’s hand asking about the Citabria in front of him to the businessman sitting in the cockpit of the new Cirrus VLJ, there were signs that interest in aviation is returning once again.  For those of us who enjoy flying the serenity of the great blue yonder, it’s important that we attend shows like this and just as important that we inspire those around us, both young and old, to do the same.

  Some of the bigger names in the industry attending this year’s show included companies such as Cirrus, Cessna, Canadian Diamond Aircraft Sales, American Champion Aircraft, Canadian Aviator Magazine, COPA, UPAC and many more.  At the show you could purchase an airplane from Piper, a radio or headset from ICOM Canada, floats from Wipaire Inc, join the new Jet Aircraft Museum out of London, and learn to fly through Brampton Flying Club or learn an aviation trade through Conestoga College.  There was something for everyone at the show.

  A number of visiting aircraft attended the Expo including both the industry showing off their airplanes and every-day pilots flying in to attend the show.  There were also rides available in Canadian Warplane Heritage aircraft including the Stearman, Harvard, and Beech 18 or, you could fly with National Helicopters in their Jet Ranger.  Whether you were a novice trying to decide if flying was for you, or an experienced pilot wanting to try something different or new, the opportunity to fly makes the experience even more rewarding.

  Static aircraft included a beautifully restored DeHavilland Turbo Beaver by Viking Air out of Victoria, B.C.  An L-29 Delphin flew in on the Friday and gave the media a spectacular fly-past over the museum’s ramp area before landing and taxiing in for static display.  Also displayed on the CWH ramp were a number of their vintage RCAF aircraft including a DH Chipmunk, Fleet Cornnell, the CF-100 Canuck, CF-101 Voodoo, CT-114 Tutor, CF-104 Starfighter, CF-5 Freedom Fighter, CL-13 (F-86) Canadair Sabre, and the DH Vampire.  The media were offered rides in both the CWH Beech 18 (RCAF designation C-45 Expeditor) and the Citation Mustang business jet.

  Though there was no scheduled airshow, there were a number of aircraft that flew in for the day on static display, and some that offered exceptionally spectacular fly-pasts before departing the circuit.  A 1954 Russian MiG 15-UTI flew in on the Friday and on Saturday did several fly-pasts wowing the crowd.  Canadian Warplane Heritage offered up a beautiful fly-past with two of their Harvard aircraft in a nice formation.  To end off the day, the Canadian Forces two CF-18 Hornet aircraft departed Hamilton with a beautiful fly-past before departing the Mount Hope circuit.

  The Canadian Aviation Expo may not be the biggest aviation show in the world, but it offers the smaller general aviation field in Canada a look at airplanes and aviation industry opportunities that they wouldn’t likely have the opportunity to see without it.  The Expo is a place where one can research; a place where one can buy; and a place where one can dream.  A place … where dreams take flight!