Speed and
Skills!
by: Jean-François Laissus
Fierce winds and chilly temperatures were not enough to stop more than 85,000 people from attending the 1997 Montreal Air Show, held at Mirabel International Airport, north of Montreal, on May 17 and 18. The U.S Navy flight demonstration team, Blue Angels, were the highlight of this years event, where speed and skills met for the thousands of delighted air show fans!.
The 1997 edition featured more than 60 planes on static display. These aircraft, being reconnaissance (Hawkeye, AWACS), transport (Galaxy, Hercules), refueling (Stratotanker), fighters (Hornet, Tomcat, Falcon), etc. The variety and number of planes exhibited, as well as the many aerobic demonstrations, kept the crowd spellbound!
Visitors could take a close look at the aircraft, and use some very imaginative installations to take a look inside some of the cockpits. Walk-through tours on the tankers and transport aircraft were a popular attraction. But to some, the high point of the day was getting to talk with some of the pilots and crewmembers of the many aircraft on display. Show visitors were able to share their curiosity, and passion for flying, with the highly-trained crews of these technical wonders. Discussing the art of day and night carrier-landings with a US Navy F-14 Tomcat aviator, the finer points of moving cargo on the C-5 Galaxy, or air to air refueling, is not something most of us get to do every day! The dedication and professionalism of these men and women is quite apparent.
Despite the huge attendance at the show, crowd movement was handled very well and no delays were experienced accessing the viewing areas for the planes. The layout of the Air Show was designed with this in mind. The aircraft were parked along a mile-long runway and on a very wide adjacent tarmac. Tents were set up next to the runway with food services and, of course, souvenirs. Blue Angels caps, tee-shirts, pins and posters were very hot items during the two show days!
Moreover, a very interesting technological exhibition was set up in the huge Air Transat maintenance hangar close to the runway. Many were able to learn more about the wonderful world of aviation and aeronautics while warming up!
Starting at noon, one flight demonstration followed one another at a frantic pace. This year Air Show was designed around speed and skills. Captain Steve Langille, RCAF, offered an incredible performance with his CF-18. The aerobatic demonstration he performed was exhilarating. Many difficult moves were flown, accompanied by the crackling thunder of the CF-18 in afterburner! Next up was Captain Glen "Lunar" Lawson, from the US Air Force, 9th Demonstration Team, who just dazzled the crowd with breathtaking maneuvers with his F-16 Fighting Falcon. The Mirabel International Airport sky was torn apart by the roar of two of the most beautiful and powerful modern fighters. If you've not been to an airshow lately, and heard the sound of a modern fighter jet in full afterburner......you must go soon!
The excitement continued to build as the Northern Lights, the only five-aircraft civilian aerobatics team in North America performed their all-new show. Spins, rolls, shoulder rolls, loops, Immelmanns and Half-Cubans were sequenced in a combination of fast-paced opposing and synchronized solo maneuvers as well as slower and more gracious formation maneuvers. No wonder this team is already enjoying a world-wide reputation.
Spectators were awed by more breathtaking demonstrations (including an impressive Search and Rescue demonstration with a Canadian Griffon helicopter and exciting maneuvers by a venerable CT-133 Silver Star - better know as "T-bird"). The crowd excitement was at its peak when the official narrator announced what many were so anxious to see : The Blue Angels and their superb Navy Blue and Bright Yellow F-18!
The Blue Angels, on the occasion of their only performance outside the United States this year, gave a new meaning to skills, precision and boldness. Each split at more than 1,600 km/h was punctuated with exclamations and thunderous applause. FlightLine will feature a comprehensive coverage of this performance, and an exclusive interview with Lieutenant Ryan Scholl, Blue Angels lead solo performer, Blue Five.
After the performance, the crowd witnessed the amazing formation landing of the Blue Angels pilots. This minutely detailed choreography aroused cheers from a public inspired by such professionalism. Afterwards, the pilots approached the stands to sign programs and pamphlets under the young people's eyes filled with admiration.
The 1997 Montreal Air Show has been tremendously successful! Record crowds, record number of aircraft, record number of participating pilots, in short, this event truly deserves its title of most important Air Show in Canada. We can only anxiously wait for next year's edition!
FlightLine will feature some very exclusive material gathered during the couple of days previous to the Air Show. Thanks to Mr.Pierre Patry, Air Show Director, and Ms. Isabelle Dessureault, public relations agent for the 1997 Edition, FlightLine was able to enjoy exclusive access to the site and pilots. Here is a foretaste of what visitors will read in our FlightLine site :
An interview with Lieutenant Ryan Scholl, Blue Angels Lead Solo! We spent a entire afternoon with the Blue Angels, we gathered many pictures and data! Watch here for more of what we saw in Montreal!
We interview Captain Glen "Lunar" Lawson, from the US Air Force 9th Demonstration Team and 20th Fighter Wing. You will learn how to handle a Fighting Falcon from this highly-skilled pilot!
Captain Steve Langille, from the Royal Canadian Air Force, explains for us in detail his performance at the Air Show aboard his CF-18!
EXCLUSIVE interview with Captain Odura, pilot of the F-117A Nighthawk, from Holloman AFB. The pictures we took on this occasion are a first!
Captain Kelley, pilot of a C5-B Galaxy shows us the inner workings of his huge plane! Follow us on a very exclusive and private tour of this gigantic aircraft, from nose to tail!
Lieutenant-Commander Robusto, from the US Navy, will explain in great detail the day and night carrier-landing procedures aboard a F-14 Tomcat.
Many other articles will be features in the upcoming editions of FlightLine. For instance, yours truly had the privilege to fly aboard a Lockheed 10A Electra, owned and operated by Air Canada! Moreover, your FlightLine correspondent took the yoke over Downtown Montreal to fulfill one of his dreams! Let's just say that Linda Finch's glittering feat was not easily achieved... This type of aircraft is no easy bird to control!
FlightLine has much more coming... Be sure to bookmark our site or, better, to make us your starting home page!
