Airshow Review: 2014 Waterloo Airshow

RCAF BAe CT-155 Hawk

June 28th turned out to be a beautiful day for an airshow, thankfully for the organizers of the 2014 Waterloo Airshow which had been plagued in previous years by terrible weather. It was an excellent mixed bag of past and present aircraft as well as a couple of comedy and pyro acts to shake things up a bit. RCAF aircraft in the show were the CF-18 Hornet demo, the Snowbirds, and the CH-146 Griffon flying a tactical demo, and with a BAe CT-155 Hawk and Beech King Air 90 on static display.

CF-18 Hornet Demo, piloted by Capt. Adam 'Manik' Runge

Warbirds included Yankee Air Museum's B-17G "Yankee Lady" which flew a couple of times during the show, as well as the Canadian Harvard Association's Formation Team. On the jet side of things, airshow producer Richard Cooper flew his Aero L-29 Delfin, as well as Jet Aircraft Museum's CT-133 Silver Star "Mako Shark" putting in a nice routine. Danny Richer of Brantford also flew his very attractive BAC Strikemaster which I hadn't seen in person before.

Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association Formation Team

Aerobatics were strongly represented with Mike Tryggvason opening the show unofficially with his Giles 202, Mike Wiskus of Lucas Oil Airshows in his Pitts Special flying several times throughout the show, Wayne Hadath and his F1 Rocket, and Gord Price flying in his Yak-50.

F1 Rocket - Wayne Hadath

Also featuring in the show were Kent Pietsch with his Jelly Belly Interstate Cadet, and the Indy Boys' Jet School Bus and Jet Outhouse. Static aircraft aside from the RCAF's Hawk and King Air 90 were Commemorative Air Force's P-51C "Tuskegee Airmen" and B-17G "Sentimental Journey", Yankee Air Museum's B-25J "Yankee Warrior", Jet Aircraft Museum's de Havilland Vampire (as of yet not flying), Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association's Harvard Mk IV "Bessy" and Yale, Danny Richer's T-28B Trojan, Charlie Cartledge's Grumman TBM Avenger, and Air Heritage Museum's C-123 "Thunder Pig".

Mike Wiskus passing close to the flame from the Indy Boys' Jet School Bus

Overall, it was a great show. Unfortunately due to other commitments I was unable to see the Snowbirds fly. They were delayed somewhat by a technical issue with one of their Tutors, and I had to leave the show for an evening concert photoshoot. My only complaint about the show was with having several very cool aircraft on static display only, namely the Mustang, B-17G "Sentimental Journey" and B-25J "Yankee Warrior". I think an excellent opportunity for a formation demo featuring the two B-17's, the B-25, and the P-51 was missed, which would have made the show perfect in my mind. However, I'm sure there were logistical issues to prevent such a thing from being organized, but one can always wish for these things! All the same, it was a great show and I'll be sure to see it next year. Check out the gallery below for more shots, as well as my Waterloo Air Show 2014 Flickr album.