Brantford Charity Airshow Brantford, ON, Canada

Photography and brief by Kerry J Newstead

With a new name and a new sponsor the Brantford airshow celebrated its 10^th Anniversary. The show is now sponsored by the local Rotary Club.

The show like many airshows was started by the local flying in 1999. It was to feature the Snowbirds and a local skydiving club. The day of the show the weather went from bad to worst. With a ceiling of less than 900’ the CWH’s C45 Expeditor took to the skies with its passengers disappearing into the ever worsening skies. Only to come back to the airport after a few moments in the sky. And then the skies fell. The Snowbirds tried to wait out the rain, but gave up with a promise to return next year.

And they did and have been here almost every year. On the third year of the show, they brought a friend with them. While flying at a show in Thunder Bay, ON, they convinced the CF-18 West demo pilot to bring his bird to Brantford, making one of two visits to the east. From there the show has grown bringing the USAF with their A-10’s, F-16’s and F-15’s demo teams plus USAF Heritage Flights. Flybys from the B-52 and the Boys from Syracuse. Having the Rick Volker, Patty Wagstaff and this year Michael Goulian perform. And famous Canadian performers like Paul Molnar, Bill Carter, the Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team and Manfred Radius for his first appearance this year. The Canadian military sending a SARS demo with a Hercules and Griffon helicopter, the Globemaster III and the ultra cool Cormorant. Last year, they had the very first Spitfire/Hornet Heritage Flight.

This year, like many before, I have been the lead photographer for the show. But I got the see the show from the other side taking on the responsibilities of being the Media Liaison. Now watching how the show is being built and taking an active role in the organizing of it.

From being in Windsor, speaking to Rick Volker and Manfred Radius before their travels to Brantford on Sunday night. Spending time at the airport welcoming the SkyHawks and Captain Tim “Donor” Woods on the Monday. And watching the Tim, buzz the SkyHawks’ CASA 212 after it touched down. And helping him get out of his ride, to giving cockpit tours while he did his paperwork. To Tuesday as one of the team coordinator for the Snowbirds came in, shortly afterwards the second coordinator arrived with the Golden Centennaire Tutor. Then just before lunch the nine Red and White Tutors of the Snowbirds came in. Then in the afternoon, a sore Michael Goulian arrived. As we learned of his plight we were on the phone lining a chiropractor to be on call, as a RMT, Registered Massage Therapist.

That evening the show had its practice. From Rick and Manfred taking to the skies and the SkyHawks jumping from the skies. The Centennial Flight took part, with the Sabre and Hornet doing their solo acts. After the show there was a charity dinner, where the audience was able to sit with the performers. Sitting at the opening of the hangar was the replica of the Silver Dart. The Silver Dart replica made its maiden flight in January of this year at the Hamilton airport under the controls of former astronaut Bjarni Tryggvason. He later piloted the Silver Dart on the frozen lake in Beddeck, NS, on a practice flight one day short of a hundred years of John McCurdy’s flight of February 23, 1909. On the 100^th Anniversary day, the weather was not fit for flying.

During the dinner, speeches were made and honours were given out. The Captain of the SkyHawks, James Sebe made his little speech and said he wanted to honour two people. He called upon the first and gave the person a plaqued litho of the team. Then he went to say that there was a person who has been with the airshow from the beginning and he wanted to honour this person for his years of photographing the show, could Kerry Newstead please come up. What a shock especially that I was standing just off from him doing my pictures. What an honour to be given to me.

The day of the show, more arrivals came. Warplane Heritage sent every serviceable aircraft available except for their Canso, which had been tasked to the East Coast for a show. CHAT arrived with their three yellow Harvards.

Now in full airshow mode, I am now looking for and after media. Trying to do my photographs, catching up on missed phone calls. Chasing down, last minute problems. And having a voice yell at me, Michael asked to come over, he had an autographed book for me.

And watching one of the best shows that Brantford has ever produced. Having the Silver Dart taxi past the crowd before the show. To the opening with the SkyHawks and the ever energetic voice of Captain Ian Lapointe. To the aerobatics of Rick Volker, Manfred Radius, the Harvards and Michael Goulian. Martin Mattes flying his L-29 and Danny Richer and Alf Beam in their T-28s. Warplane and their Lancaster, Mitchell, Firefly, Dakota and making its first appearance in Brantford, the Lysander. Having Canadian aviation history on display in the skies with the Centennial Flight. With Captain Gregg Weibe at the controls of the Tutor, Lieutenant Colonel Steven Wills with Hawk One and Captain Tim Woods and Centennial Hornet. And then watching one of the few high shows of the Snowbirds. And listening to Snowbird #8, Captain Mark “Happy” LaVerdiere yelling in his duck voice “Contact.”

It was also time to renew old friendships of people like Diana Spremo and a John Novak. John was a friend from high school, whom I have not seen for over 32 years.

The Thursday was a time of saying good-bye to friends. With the bulk of the planes leaving after the show, the Snowbirds and Hornet still had to make their way to Toronto for their show. With the team coordinators and the Centennaire leaving first, the show team left about an hour later. Making one pass over the airport, a trip along the shoreline of Lake Ontario to Toronto International. Then it was Donor’s turn to leave. Making short use of the 5000’ runway, Donor banked left and headed to the south only to return from the east. Flying at 600mph and only a hundred or so feet off the deck and using my orange vest as a marker, he made my day as he headed to CIAS.