I can see where Mike and Gerry are coming from. I'm especially shocked that Windsor didn't get one. Its clealry a shaft. 2 Shows scheduled, and 3 Teams scheduled for the weekend. That still leaves 3 Teams left: F-22, F-16E, A-10E.

You're telling me ACC can't send ONE to Windsor? Even sending an A-10, which uses no AB, would still save them money by leaving the Raptor and Viper that weekend off.

Even some US shows, fairly major ones (Dover, Selfridge got the shaft), and yet Chicago has the Thunderbirds AND A-10E, F-16E, F-15E!! Can someone explain that to me? LOL

This year's schedules are head scratching for both the USN and ACC, especially all the cuts both Hornet East teams took. A lot of big shows took hits, Miramar, Cleveland, Windsor.

Hopefully next year will be a better year for Canadian shows with regards to the ACC and USN.

Have to agree with you DPG. The complete lack of demo teams is more then a bit weird to me. With Hawk one though this year and CF-18 and a good rep from USAF sqn's at St T it will be good. Also if all of the shafting of the "local" shows ie not Toronto or Ab maybe Gerry will have more leverage next year for London's rebirthing! Am I on the right track Gerry? I hope I'am haha

Gerry, I agree fully with your point about the numbers "game". As it's not solely an airshow, there's a real fudgefactor because they count the people going to the CNE, regardless if they're there for the airshow or not. As for PR, indeed, it's always more fun to have access to the crews and a/c.

In regards to DPG's comments...indeed there are 3 teams available to be sent to a show, but, remember, these guys need their time off as well. All Demos are usually required to have 1 week off in a 4 week period. A single show takes 4-5 days away from home for the crews. When they do get home, they have squadron ops to deal with and usually have a couple days to see their family and friends before jetting to the next show for 4-5 days. Both A-10E and F-16E are pretty much non-stop on the road from August to October. It is quite curious to see that the Raptor demo is VERY sparsely scheduled this year. June, July and August see only ONE F-22 demo per month - I assume operational commitment and/or not being finished with the scheduling are the issues...

The Chicago Airshow is one of the bigger airshows which gets a ton of support because of their 'numbers'. They boast a viewership of 2.2 million people over the weekend. Even if that number is fidged and you take a million away, that's another million people - a HUGE audience!! With those numbers, you are definitely going to get the most support.

Hey there Redman and all, great site you have going on here.

I think that some of the shows you mentioned above (specifically Bagotville, Cold Lake, and Trenton) didn't even request an ACC demo team since those shows are going to be more of an "Open House" theme for the Canadian Forces than anything else.

As far as Windsor, St. Thomas, Nova Scotia, and Saskatoon go, I think that one of ACC's requirements is that the show must be in existence for back to back years for a significant stretch for them to consider a demo team appearance. An example of this could be Brantford, which has had an ACC demo every year as far back as I can remember, which would also explain why they've got the A-10 this year.

With regards to Ottawa - no point in requesting a team when there's no show. I think it sucks that they weren't able to put one together, given it's our national capital, but it's a sign of the times.

With regards to the Raptor, there's something that I'm surprised nobody has spoken about - security. Wherever it goes it needs to have certain levels of security ensured, and with all due respect to the other shows accross the nation, the only ones that can compete with Toronto when it comes to security are CF bases and they don't even want the plane there. Sad reality, I guess.

Late Edit - with an average attendence of over 1,240,000 during an 18 day span which is based on 2007 numbers alone, and given that most of the attendance has always been on the final weekend of the Ex, I think it's safe to assume that most people going to the CNE on Labour Day Weekend are there to see the air show. Keep in mind as well that there are other venues which people take in the air show from and as such those numbers aren't even counted in the total.

Attila

St. Thomas had the F-16 East back in 2007. St. Thomas didn't get an ACC team due to the fact that, the weekend they are scheduled there are a ton of shows in the US that are occuring. There is a good 8-10 shows that same weekend.

As for Windsor, that theory could hold true, but I'm not sure how the ACC works.

I was trying to avoid the scheduling issue as it's an obvious one.

FYI all - my post wasn't meant to say or reflect badly on anyone - everyone in Ontario knows who is the man when it comes to airshows.

I think, though, that it's never easy to put together something when reliance on a foreign force's participation is easy as the US, much like our beloved Snowbirds and Hornet, will perform before a hometown crowd before they perform elsewhere.

AP

LOL. For sure. I personally never saw it that way. Gerry knows what he's doing, and he wouldn't invite an ACC team if he knew he could not get one.

FYI, Adrian mentioned how the ACC requires their teams to have 1 week off in a month. Both the F-16 East and A-10 East are off the first week of August (1-2).

So technically, one of those guys should be able to show up to Windsor!

You make a valid point, but I think that there are a couple of factors which may come into play:

a) how many foreign country performances the teams are allowed, and

b) how much flight time they have allotted throughout the year.

Late edit - also keep in mind that this year is a little different than years past as Labour Day is now a week into September so everything is moved up by a week as well...not sure if that plays into it or not..?

Here's the line-up. Yes, the same one I just posted on ASB:

U.S. Navy Blue Angels - an AWESOME 6-ship, F/A-18 Hornet
formation jet team and Fat Albert - the Blues' C-130.

Mike Wiskus - Lucas Oil Product Canada presents a fantastic demo
featuring outrageous bi-plane aerobatics and LOTS of smoke.

The Russell Air Group's MK IX Spitfire - a fast, vintage warbird
sure to thrill you with its speed and aerial manoeuvres.

F/A-22 Raptor - the United States Air Forces' fifth-generation fighter
aircraft with an incredible demonstration of air superiority.

CF-18 Hornet - a jet bursting with Canadian Centennial of Flight pride.
Royal Canadian Air Cadets featuring the Bellanca Scout Tow Plane
and Schweizer 2-33 Glider.

Canada's aerial icon - the Canadian Forces' Snowbirds.
Mike Goulian - Red Bull's star air racer flying an unforgettable
"edgy, crisp and agressive" aerobatics routine.

F-16 Viper - another outstanding USAF fighter aircraft -
"30,000 lbs of thrust that can fly at speeds in excess of Mach 2."

Hawk One - F-86 Sabre flying in celebration of 100 years of
powered flight in Canada; scheduled to be flown by famed
Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield.

The Horsemen - a thrilling, loud, 3-ship aerobatic display
by the audience-favourite warbird; the P-51 Mustang.

The Canadian Forces' powerful and agile Search-and-Rescue
Chopper - the CH-146 Griffon.

Canadian Centennial of Flight Heritage Flight featuring the
CF-18 Hornet, the Centennaire Tutor and the F-86 Sabre,
Hawk One.

The U.S. Heritage Flight featuring the F/A-22 Raptor, the
F-16 Viper and the P-51 Mustang.

Has anyone ever had any experiences with the boat tours that are offered for the show? If so, was it worth it? I'm looking for a way to get that pesky sun moved for the show.

TIA

Watching the show from a boat would be great. Does anyone know the aircraft arrival & departure times for the show? Angels coming in Fri?

J

OK, can anybody give me some advice on where to park and where to view this airshow (arriving from London)? I definitely won't be going to the VIP area!!!!!

I was looking at Google satellite images of the airshow area and wondered if there was anyplace to the west of Ontario Place to park and view?

I stopped driving to this show last year. I tried to drive there 2 years ago, sat in traffic for an hour and a half, and never moved an inch!! Finally gave up, turned around and watched a few departures from Pearson instead. Missed the 2 Raptors and the Bone. Do what I do instead. Drive to Aldershot Go Train station (near Burlington) and take the Go train. It stops right at the CNE. No traffic, no parking. A lot cheaper than driving there.

As far as a place to watch, I usually go out by the helicopter pad at Ontario Place, or out on the pier. You will miss some of the show, but you get some incredibly close passes, especially out on the pier. The banana passes come right overhead!

Hope this helps.

Paul

Wingy, I Leave home here in London at 8am and I take the 403-QEW all the way to lake shore blvd. then I pretty much drive all the way to where the VIP area is located. theres a city park where you can park right next to where the VIP area is, altho I think they were charging $25 a car last year. either way you car is 100 yards from where you are. I like to sit on the boardwalk right next to the VIP area cuz thats show centre. The only problem is that thousands like to sit there as well, which is why I arrive early. he view is fantastic if you dont mind a couple light poles. Getting out can be difficult but if you know how to handle traffic like I can it shouldnt take you more then 30mins to get on the Gardner.

Hope that helps, see you there Sunday or Monday!

Brawler is spot on when it comes to parking. LakeShore Blvd. - especially right beside the VIP area (or as a better visual reference, right infront of the large wind turbine) is the best place to park. It was actually $20 last year, but, you don't have to walk anywhere after you park so it's well worth it. The waterfront and show centre is right there Indeed, get there early because the blvd can turn into a parking lot near showtime. You might not want to miss the Blues because you're stuck in traffic, haha!