Hamilton Air Show back after 10 years, set for June 18-19

[culshawm]

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/artic ... june-18-19

Hamilton Air Show back after 10 years, set for June 18-19
The Hamilton Air Show will resume after a 10-year hiatus, and many of the vintage aircraft at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Musuem -- such as the Avro Lancaster pictured here in 2009 wiith flight engineer Craig Brookhouse, pilot Don Schofield, and senior engineer Brian Jackland -- will be part of the June 18-19 event.
Hamilton Air Show The Hamilton Air Show will resume after a 10-year hiatus, and many of the vintage aircraft at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Musuem -- such as the Avro Lancaster pictured here in 2009 wiith flight engineer Craig Brookhouse, pilot Don Schofield, and senior engineer Brian Jackland -- will be part of the June 18-19 event.
Kaz Novak/The Hamilton Spectator

After a 10-year hiatus, the Hamilton Air Show is back off the ground.

“We’re all very excited about it,” said Dave Rohrer, CEO of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. “Bringing the air show back to Hamilton is a good thing for the airport community, a good thing for the City of Hamilton and it’ll be a positive step for the museum.”

According to Rohrer, at least a dozen of the museum’s vintage military aircraft will fly in the show at John C. Munro Airport on June 18 and 19. Planes will also be brought in from Gatineau, Tillsonburg and New York State.

The show will also feature seminars by pilots and guest speakers as well as a large contingent of planes on the ground.

Rohrer said the 2011 show will be used as a “dry run” for the museum’s 40th anniversary. Planned for Father’s Day weekend in 2012, the anniversary air show will be a chance for the community to recognize the museum’s founders and the sacrifices of those who have contributed to the museum over the past four decades.

The once-annual event has been defunct since 2001, when it lost $100,000 and could no longer afford skyrocketing insurance premiums in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

“Air shows aren’t known for making money, but at least you have to be able to break even,” Rohrer said.

“We’ll only do what’s prudent and rational from a fiscal point of view,” he added.

The museum is working with airport tenants, the city and Transport Canada to iron out the plans and intends to appeal to both the city and private sponsors for financial support.

Councillor Brenda Johnson wouldn’t comment on whether the city intends to help fund the event, but said she’s put museum officials in touch with Tourism Hamilton and the planning and economic development department to discuss funding options.

“It’s in the early stages right now, we’re just going to see what all the partners are willing to contribute,” she said.

Don Schofield, a professional pilot with more than 50 years of military and commercial flying experience, said he was “heartbroken” when the show was cancelled in 2001.

Since 1989, the 69-year-old has been at the controls of the museum’s famous Lancaster — one of just two of the big Second World War bombers that can still fly.

Schofield will resume his post in the famed plane for this year’s show and said he’s thrilled he’ll once again have a chance to bring a part of Canada’s military history to life.

He said he’ll find it particularly gratifying to perform for Second World War veterans who might not have many more opportunities to see the Lancaster take flight.

“For people like that, the history, the nostalgia and the sentiment is absolutely immense,” he said. “A lot of them are aware it might be the last time in their lives that they’ll see it.”

But his focus is also on a younger crowd.

“We’re not in the business to glorify conflict in any way,” he said. “But we want to show the younger generation of Canadians the rich heritage and rich legacy of their forefathers. We want to tell the story of Canada in those difficult years.”

tpecoskie@thespec.com

905-526-3368

[fleet16b]

Back in the 70's and early 80's, the show was run by CWH and was an excellent Airshow.
It was participated by many Canadian and American Vintage and Warbird owners from all over N America. Plus some of the top Military acts Blue Angels Snowbird etc
Unfortunately it got too big for CWH to run at that time and in order to keep it going the Hamilton Airshow committee was formed. The first couple of shows were OK but they started becoming more geared towards the modern fighter jets reather than the vintage aircraft.
It was felt at the time that this would attract the younger geneartions but it did not.
History have proven that most people young and old are more attracted to the older types that the jets.
This and the fact that the committee started selling prime showline spots to corporate sponsors ruined the show for the average attendees. All along the showline were corporate tents blocking everyones view. The show no longer catered to the average viewer.
Another change from the earlier shows was the lack of ground displays. There use to be all kinds of organizations with displays in and out of the hangers but all this ended with the city taking over the show.
Hopefully, there are enough people left at CWH that remember how the show was run in it's successful/golden years and will learn from the Airshow Committees mistakes.
CWH is a great Museum. They went thru some lean years but over the past 10 yrs , the current Staff and Volunteers have turned things around and got many of the aircraft back in the air.
I wish them all the luck in a successful rebirth of the Hamilton Airshow. I for one am looking forward to attending.

[warbirdpilot7]

This is great to see. I hope alot of you can make it down to CYHM for the airshow. Back in the day, this was one of North America's premier warbird shows. I'm glad to be part of it.

[fleet16b]

This is great to see. I hope alot of you can make it down to CYHM for the airshow. Back in the day, this was one of North America's premier warbird shows. I'm glad to be part of it.

Hopefully CWH will put the word out to invite the many owners of Warbirds and Vintage aircraft to fly in and put their a/c on display. I know there are many owners that would love to be a part of this.
This helps make the ground displays a little more interesting

[wan2fly99]

I remember going every year Was very dis-appointed when they shut it down

Would get the photo gold pass right by the runway It was fantastic when the jets made there low fly by's

I wonder if they will get any of the jet teams in and if they will have the photo gold passes again

Can't wait

[warbirdpilot7]

People often forget that the static displays are just as important as the flying display. You have to interact with the public about your aircraft and let them take pictures and "teach" them the history of each aircraft. I make this an important point.

Back in the late 80's and early 90's, you had a good warbird turnout and alot of participation from the US. The cancellation of the show in 2001 hit some people hard, but we are now back and this will get nothing but better.

[bizjets101]

In the early 80's I did volunteer fueling of the aircraft at the show . . . I had heard last year it was coming back, wasn't it something to do with the 2011 show is a warm-up to a big anniversary Air Show in 2012?? I don't know the history of the Hamilton Airshow to know the importance of 2012 is.

Used to love the London Airshow for jets, and Hamilton for Warbirds !!!