For anyone within driving distance of Toronto, Ontario, the Canadian International Air Show has managed to get a Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey for the 2011 edition of the show. To get one for static display at an air show in the United States is challenging enough but to arrange for a flying display at a foreign civilian air show is quite a feat.
The CIAS has a long tradition of displays by unique aircraft including past demonstrations by the Concorde and the Lockheed SR-71. Included here are a few images from 2006-2010 CIAS displays.
For Canadian International Air Show information and 2011 line-up, click on the following link:
(above) 2006: Its unique exhaust nozzles and stealthy shape are seen here against a dark sky as this 1st Fighter Wing Lockheed Martin F-22A accelerates with the use of a little afterburner. Despite poor weather associated with the tail end of former Hurricane Ernesto, it was the first appearance at the air show by the Raptor and was much anticipated by spectators who were not disappointed.
(above) 2007: An excellent display of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III’s capabilities was provided by C-17A 03-3113 and a crew from the Mississippi Air National Guard’s 183d Airlift Squadron, 172d Airlift Wing. It was the second year that the squadron participated in the CIAS and the display gave spectators an idea of what the Canadian Forces’ new CC-177, the first of which was delivered only a few weeks earlier, was all about.
(above) 2008: After many years of absence, the water bombers of Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources returned to demonstrate the art of forest fire control. Unlike the old, radial engine-equipped Canadair CL-215, the smooth sounds of turboprops were evident as Bombardier CL-415s made repeated water pick-ups and drops. Here C-GOGZ picks up speed on a takeoff run before the crowd.
(above) 2009: The year of the ‘Blues’. The US Navy’s Blue Angels headlined the 2009 show and put on their usual excellent display of F/A-18A Hornet and C-130T Hercules flying. Here the tight four-ship formation streaks past.
(above) 2010: The big theme was the 100th Anniversary of the naval branch variously known as the Naval Service of Canada, the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Forces Maritime Command. The naval tribute included a display by Lockheed CP-140A Arcturus 140121 from 14 Wing CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia and seen here against a less-than-ideal sky. A total of three CP-140As were acquired for pilot training use and were not fitted with the antisubmarine warfare equipment carried by the operational CP-140 Aurora fleet.
