Skies and RCAF Today

Joe Letourneau , Hawk T1A, RAF

CSV9I5. Under blue skies, the Red Arrows wowed thousands in a special one-day edition of Aero Gatineau-Ottawa on Aug. 13. The team last performed in North America more than a decade ago. Joe Letourneau Photo Gatineau 2019-08-13

Galen Burrows, CF-188 Hornet, RCAF

CSV9I5. The issue of one versus two engines has never been a significant issue for Arctic operations except in Canada. Originally, two engines was one of the many discriminators used in choosing the F/A-18 (shown here) over the F-16 in 1979. Galen Burrows Photo

Patrick Cardinal, Hawk T1A, RAF

CSV9I5. Patrick Cardinal caught the Red Arrows performing their signature Gypo Break manoeuvre in Gatineau. The team travelled coast to coast across North America, conducting aerobatic displays, flypasts and ground engagements.

Brian Tattuinee, B737-400, Canadian North

CSV9I5. New look: A former First Air Boeing 737-400C, the first of the type to sport the new Canadian North livery, lands in Iqaluit. Brian Tattuinee Photo

Heath Moffatt, DHC3 Otter, Vancouver Island Air Ltd.

CSV9I5. Much of British Columbia’s rugged coast is serviced by venerable aircraft such as the single-engine de Havilland Canada Turbine Otter. Vancouver Island Air (VIA) of Campbell River, B.C., has found a new way to coax even more performance from this legendary bushplane. Heath Moffatt Photo Vancouver Island Air Ltd/Aerotech Industries Ltd. DHC3 Otter off the East Coast of Vancouver Island near Campbell River

Eric Dumigan, A400M Atlas, RAF

CSV9I5. Members of the RAF Red Arrows North American tour were transported on an Airbus A400M Atlas. The aircraft moved the advance guard and necessary freight to the next location on the tour, before returning to collect the remaining team members. Here, the A400M blasts off from Pearson airport in Toronto before making an appearance in the Canadian International Air Show. Eric Dumigan Photo

Eric Dumigan

CSV9I5. Business aviation wants equal access to Canada’s major airports, especially during periods of construction or runway work. “Their default is airlines can come and go as they please, and we’ll put bans in place for non-airlines,” said one operator. Eric Dumigan Photo

Mike Reyno, MiG-15, Waterloo Warbirds

CSV9I4. The Warbirds’ MiG-15 is the only operational aircraft of its type in Canada. Mike Reyno Photo

Phillippe Colin, F-35 Lightning II, USAF

CSV9I4. The USAF F-35 Lightning II demonstration team made its first Canadian appearance during the Bagotville Airshow in June 2019. Based at Luke AFB in Arizona, the team definitely stole the show. Thousands of visitors attended to see the fifth-generation fighter perform. Philippe Colin Photo

Dave England, Cessna 170B

CSV9I4. Rugged yet beautiful are two words to describe the North: Long summer nights where the sun never sets gives a Cessna 170B pilot the ability to fly a floatplane in the glowing skies of the morning sun. Dave England Photo

Rinat Haque, B787-9 Dreamliner, WestJet

CSV9I4. Rinat Haque captured this shot of a WestJet 787-9 Dreamliner departing Calgary with some gorgeous golden hour sky in the background. Post-storm skies are truly magical!

Rich Cooper, CP-140 Aurora, RCAF

CSV9I4. Photographer Rich Cooper sent us this fantastic shot of an RCAF CP-140 Aurora arriving at the 2019 Royal International Air Tattoo in England.

Mike Reyno, T55 Vampire, Waterloo Warbirds

CSV9I4. On the Cover: The Skies team flew with Waterloo Warbirds in July, giving us a unique opportunity to capture four rare vintage jets in action. Here, photographer Mike Reyno gets close to the de Havilland Vampire Mk55.

Mike Reyno, Bell 407, Wisk Air

CSV9I4. Invented and made in Canada, thousands of Bambi Buckets are used to fight forest fires around the world. Mike Reyno Photo

Célian Genier, Yak-55M, MH Aviation

CSV9I4. Célian Genier shot this picture of a Yakovlev Yak-55M dressed in Chrono Aviation’s livery making a steep ascent above Montreal St-Hubert Airport.

Mike Reyno, CT-133 Silver Star and T55 Vampire, Waterloo Warbirds

CSV9I4. Along with paid passenger flights, enthusiasts might also see Waterloo Warbirds at a number of airshows. The team averages six appearances per year. Mike Reyno Photo

Mike Reyno, T55 Vampire, Waterloo Warbirds

CSV9I4. Along with paid passenger flights, enthusiasts might also see Waterloo Warbirds at a number of airshows. The team averages six appearances per year. Mike Reyno Photo

Heath Moffatt, CT-114 Tutor, RCAF

CSV9I3. You know airshow season is upon us when the Canadian Forces Snowbirds return to 19 Wing Comox, B.C., for spring training! This year, we sent photographer Heath Moffatt behind the scenes to bring you these dynamic shots of a busy training period that began April 17 and ended May 7. With two training sorties per day, there was little time for rest as everyone rehearsed their roles for a busy show season. The Snowbirds had their first performance on May 18 in Barksdale, La., and will finish up on Oct. 20 in Houston, Texas. Snowbirds practice over the beautiful blue skies of CFB Comox

Heath Moffatt, CT-114 Tutor, RCAF

CSV9I3. You know airshow season is upon us when the Canadian Forces Snowbirds return to 19 Wing Comox, B.C., for spring training! This year, we sent photographer Heath Moffatt behind the scenes to bring you these dynamic shots of a busy training period that began April 17 and ended May 7. With two training sorties per day, there was little time for rest as everyone rehearsed their roles for a busy show season. The Snowbirds had their first performance on May 18 in Barksdale, La., and will finish up on Oct. 20 in Houston, Texas. Snowbirds practice over the beautiful blue skies of CFB Comox

Heath Moffatt, CT-114 Tutor, RCAF

CSV9I3. You know airshow season is upon us when the Canadian Forces Snowbirds return to 19 Wing Comox, B.C., for spring training! This year, we sent photographer Heath Moffatt behind the scenes to bring you these dynamic shots of a busy training period that began April 17 and ended May 7. With two training sorties per day, there was little time for rest as everyone rehearsed their roles for a busy show season. The Snowbirds had their first performance on May 18 in Barksdale, La., and will finish up on Oct. 20 in Houston, Texas. Snowbirds over the mountains of Vancouver Island, BC

Heath Moffatt, CT-114 Tutor, RCAF

CSV9I3. You know airshow season is upon us when the Canadian Forces Snowbirds return to 19 Wing Comox, B.C., for spring training! This year, we sent photographer Heath Moffatt behind the scenes to bring you these dynamic shots of a busy training period that began April 17 and ended May 7. With two training sorties per day, there was little time for rest as everyone rehearsed their roles for a busy show season. The Snowbirds had their first performance on May 18 in Barksdale, La., and will finish up on Oct. 20 in Houston, Texas. Snowbirds fly their mid day practice flight over the skies of CFB Comox.

Heath Moffatt, CT-114 Tutor, RCAF

CSV9I3. You know airshow season is upon us when the Canadian Forces Snowbirds return to 19 Wing Comox, B.C., for spring training! This year, we sent photographer Heath Moffatt behind the scenes to bring you these dynamic shots of a busy training period that began April 17 and ended May 7. With two training sorties per day, there was little time for rest as everyone rehearsed their roles for a busy show season. The Snowbirds had their first performance on May 18 in Barksdale, La., and will finish up on Oct. 20 in Houston, Texas.

Brian Tattuinee, B737-400, First Air

CSV9I3. Skilled workers are needed in every aspect of northern aviation, from flight crew to maintenance to airport operations. NATA promotes federally-funded support for vocational training and new hire assistance programs that will help employ local workers. Brian Tattuinee Photo

Mike Reyno, CH-149 Cormorant, RCAF

CSV9I3. Pilots are not voluntarily leaving the Air Force to make their fortunes elsewhere. Instead, research suggests they leave the service for family-related reasons. Mike Reyno Photo

Mike Reyno, CH-146 Griffon, RCAF

CSV9I3. Geographic stability and issues such as family health care and education were uppermost in the minds of RCAF pilots who sought voluntary release. Mike Reyno Photo

John Chung, A330, Air Transat

CSV9I2. On the Cover: Montreal-based Air Transat is currently in the middle of a fleet renewal process that will ultimately see it operating wide-body Airbus A330s (shown here) as well as single-aisle variants of the A321. John Chung Photo

Cullen Burchartz, Basler BT-67, White Desert

CSV9I2. Enterprise Aviation Group of Oshawa, Ont., transports tourists in Antarctica for luxury tour operator White Desert, using rugged ski-equipped Basler BT-67 aircraft. Cullen Burchartz Photo

John Chung, A310, Air Transat

CSV9I2. Air Transat still operates six Airbus A310 aircraft, although they are being phased into retirement. “The A310 is essentially the perfect airplane for us, for Europe, because it has the perfect number of seats,” says Marc Gilbert, Air Transat’s director of flight operations. John Chung Photo

John Chung, A330, Air Transat

CSV9I2. Air Transat is in the middle of a fleet rationalization that will be completed in 2022. Eventually, it will fly only wide-body Airbus A330s (shown here) and single-aisle A321s. John Chung Photo

John Chung, B737 MAX 8, WestJet

CSV9I1. WestJet built its success using a single aircraft line, the Boeing 737. Today, it is purposely parting from that model in order to become a global airline. John Chung Photo

John Chung, Q400, WestJet

CSV9I1. Sims said that in markets where WestJet Encore has introduced service, fares have dropped by as much as 50 per cent while travel has increased by as much as 90 per cent. John Chung Photo

John Chung, B787-9 Dreamliner, WestJet

CSV9I1. On the Cover: WestJet’s first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner marks the dawn of a new era for the airline, which is focused on developing a global network. The 320-seat aircraft will allow WestJet to connect Calgary with Paris and Dublin, for example. John Chung Photo

Lloyd Horgan, CH146 Griffon and CH147 Chinook, RCAF

CSV9I1. MINUSMA has a vast area of operations, making the tactical airlift support provided by Canada especially valuable. “Being able to take a platoon of say infantry or reconnaissance troops, and then push them 80 miles from Gao into a village that hasn’t seen a UN flag for potentially months or years, and do a needs assessment on that village, engage with the leadership of that village, understand what their humanitarian needs might be, and then connect them with local program resources or other humanitarian resources—this is really powerful,” said Col Chris McKenna. Lloyd Horgan Photo

Lloyd Horgan, CH147F Chinook, RCAF

CSV9I1. Canadian aviators regularly travel to Twentynine Palms, Calif., for training in brownout landings, experience that is proving especially valuable in Mali. “We were able to leverage all of that currency and roll it right into the mission, which was perfect,” said Col Chris McKenna. Lloyd Horgan Photo