The largest event hosted by CWH this year was a well attended celebration of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 100th Anniversary.
See more photos here: https://4ship.smugmug.com/CWH-RCAF-100-Day
RCAF aircraft, past and present, were showcased in a non-flying, relaxed atmosphere. Interior and cockpit tours were offered in most aircraft, with the CC-150 Polaris – Multi Role Tanker Transport ( MRTT) #004 being the largest aircraft available to tour. The Polaris, due to its size, was parked on the active side of the John C Munro cargo ramp, necessitating a very short bus ride to the aircraft. There are four CC-150s remaining in the fleet with airframe #003 being dismantled and returned to Canada after a tail strike incident in Guam last year. The Polaris provides air-to-air refuelling, cargo, and passenger transport capabilities to the RCAF. The versatile aircraft, acquired in 1992, were once commercial passenger aircraft operated by Wardair and Canadian airlines. They will be phased out and replaced by the CC-330 Husky, a version of the Airbus A330 that will modernize the MRTT fleet supporting NATO, the current and future RCAF with its boom and basket refuelling capability. Two airframes of nine ordered have already been delivered, one in tanker configuration and another in passenger configuration.
The smaller CC-144 Challenger was present in a medical transport configuration with a stretcher taking up several seats along one side of the fuselage. The Challenger also provides VIP and emergency transport.
The CF-18 Demonstration Team brought the colourful Hornet 100 painted jet and a tactical grey CF-18B for static display. The jet and team proved to be popular stops for autographs and photos. Along with the Canadian Football League (CFL) Grey Cup sharing the stage. The team’s next show is the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) in the United Kingdom, followed by Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for EAA AirVenture, where Hornet 100 will fly with CWH’s famed Lancaster on aviation’s largest stage.
The newest CH-147F Chinook twin rotor tactical helicopter outfitted with chin machine guns was a popular stop, as was the CC-130J Hercules.
A rare operational visitor, the CC-138 Twin Otter will be heading home to Yellowknife NWT — a 16-hour journey — after participating in RCAF100 activities in Eastern Canada over the last month. Another versatile platform, the Twin Otter supports northern SAR and sovereignty operations on both tundra tires and skis.
Rounding out the static display were Waterloo Warbirds and their CT-133 Mako Shark and Harvard. The massive CC-177 Globemaster and CH-146 Griffon SAR helicopter were invited but could not attend due to operational reasons.
Many museum aircraft were open for tours with long lines forming to go through the B-25 Mitchell and Vera the Avro Lancaster.
The event was well organized, and thanks to the RCAF’s support, it was a successful centenary celebration. Hopefully, some of the families and youth in attendance will be inspired to keep the RCAF flying for another hundred years.
<wiki photos>
