Canadian Warplane Heritage
2008
Flyfest Practice Day
13 June 2008
The annual CWH flying day at Hamilton International Airport was held on the Father's Day 14-15 June weekend and, in addition to the resident warbirds, featured some interesting visiting aircraft. A Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVI and Hawker Hurricane Mk. IV from the Vintage Wings of Canada collection came down from Gatineau, Quebec and Ed Russell's Spitfire Mk. IX and Messerschmitt Bf 109E flew over from his field near Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Note: All photos on this page © Philip A. Tachauer
Two classics on the CWH ramp. Part of the large and growing Vintage Wings of Canada organization, Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVI C-GVZB is painted in the late-Second World War / early post-war markings of No. 421 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF. It features a cut-down rear deck and bubble canopy that appeared in limited numbers late in the war. The Hurricane is representative of a No. 6 Squadron, RAF machine as used in Mediterranean area operations. Best known for its contributions during the Battle of Britain, even though it is still often in the shadow of the Spitfire, the Hurricane was used to good effect against ground targets, and often enemy aircraft as well, in Europe, the Mediterranean and Southwest Asia.
The latest, and longest running, CWH restoration is this Westland Lysander. It is, however, now in pristine condition and is seen here getting some maintenance attention in preparation for taxi demonstrations the next day. The unusual paint scheme was the standard for all aircraft with the primary job of towing targets for gunnery practice. There could be, at least in theory, no possibility of confusion by budding young air gunners as to what not to shoot at.
Looking much as it would when parked aboard an aircraft carrier, Great Lakes Composite Group's Eastern TBM-3E Avenger N9584Z has just been rolled out of the CWH museum / hangar. The Avenger's 54 ft 2 in (16.51 m) wingspan is substantially reduced when the wings are folded. The weapons bay, the doors of which are open in this view, could accommodate bombs or the more usually carried 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) Mk. 13 torpedo.
Not your typical ramp scene. In the foreground are four visiting fighters - the Vintage Wings of Canada Spitfire Mk. XVI and Hurricane Mk. IV and, from Russell Aviation Group, Spitfire Mk. IX C-FFLC and Messerschmitt Bf 109E CF-EML. In the background is the CWH Avro Lancaster Mk. X and Douglas DC-3 and three transient Harvards from the Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team.
With all in order the crew of Avro Lancaster Mk. X C-GVRA adds a little power to the four Packard Merlin engines to begin the journey to the runway. In a time long ago, post-WWII Royal Canadian Air Force Lancasters, albeit in less warlike paint, were not unusual visitors to this same field, known then as RCAF Station Hamilton.