Friendly Foes Above The Falls
10-11 June 2006
There has, in the last few years, been something of a resurgence in warbird and vintage aircraft activity in Canada and the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec are now home to an impressive and still growing number of them. A small airfield located between St. Catharines and Niagara Falls in Ontario is home to the unique collection of local architect/businessman Ed Russell who has, for the last two years, hosted a fly-in and air show in the relaxed style of those held in the earlier days of aviation.
Ed Russell's immaculate Hawker Hurricane Mk.XII, C-FDNL, takes a break from the
day's flying. The grass field lends a bit of authenticity to the
atmosphere since the majority of types present did indeed operate from such
aerodromes before and during the Second World War.
A classic angle of the Spitfire to be sure. The second of the Russell trio
of fighters is Mk.IX CF-FLC and is seen on a curving flypast showing the topside of that
famous wing, one of many things for which the type is well-remembered.
The collection's third fighter, Bf 109E CF-EML, fairly whistles past the crowd.
Representing the 'other' side in the Battle of Britain, it completes a
collection of what are surely the most famous fighters of the early Second World
War period in Europe.
A pleasant surprise in 2006 was the appearance of a number of warbirds from the
United States. Painted as a US Navy SBD Dauntless, N82GA began life as a
Douglas A-24B with the US Army Air Corps and is based in Georgia with the Dixie
Wing of the Commemorative Air Force.
Banking in for a nice pass is B-17G, N3703G, painted as the famous
Memphis
Belle and one of the aircraft used in the 1990 movie of the same name.