CIAS - A Sure Sign That Vacations Are Soon Over

As the Labour (Labor) Day long weekend approaches, it’s once again time for the Canadian International Air Show.  The decision by the USAF to save its pennies through the elimination of the nearly all of the Air Combat Command Demonstration Teams has no doubt effected air shows across North America.  The CIAS has a very long history of close ties with the US armed services – especially the USAF – and the organizers have had to fill the gap with suitable aerial entertainment.

And it would appear that they have.  The lineup for the 2012 show includes the Canadian Forces CF-18 Demonstration Team and the Snowbirds – perennial favourites – plus demos by a restored former CF Canadair CT-133 (T-33 ‘T-bird’ to those outside of Canada), the Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team and a CF CP-140 Aurora (looks like a US Navy P-3 Orion).  From my point of view, flypasts by (hopefully) multiple F-16s as only F-16s can do should make up for the missing ACC display and a Canadian Forces CC-130 Hercules/CF-18 air refuelling demo will be most welcome indeed.

Enough of my commentary.  You can check out the full list yourself at the following link:

http://www.cias.org/content/view/37/52/

(above) There’s usually something new or unique at the Canadian International Air Show and the star of last year’s show was this US Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey from VMM-365 at MCAS New River, North Carolina.  The unconventional bird was captured here by Krista Swan during a flypast with the rear loading ramp partially down.