Author Archives: Ken

The 2012 planning begins

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sunnfun2012

Still almost 2 months to go before the new year but I’m already antsy to break out the cameras and head out to watch airplanes.

Here in the Great White North (take off eh?) the airshow season cranks up around the beginning of June.  Looks the Waterloo Airshow will be first of the mark in this area with their show on the first weekend of June.

Since that’s a long dry stretch between here and there I took the plunge and made my bookings to attend SUN n FUN in Lakeland Florida at the end of March.

Lakeland is about 1/2 way between Tampa and Orlando and is second only to Oshkosh for Fly-In participation and large crowds of aviation enthusiasts. This event has been on the bucket list for a while so it will be good to cross this one off.

Air Canada flight to Tampa booked (thank you Aeroplan).  Courtyard Marriott in Brandon booked. Rental car booked.  Tickets purchased.  Flying down Monday the 26th and coming home late on April 1.  Sunshine, warm weather and things that fly.  That’s the way to beat the winter blahs!

Auf Wiedersehen Switzerland

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Many thanks to the crew of Air Canada flight 879 for getting me home yesterday.  Another Swiss trip in the flight log and hopefully the last one for the year.  Outside of turbulence over France it was an uneventful trip and, if you have to fly economy, seat 19K (exit row window) is one of the best.

Here C-FMWY,  a Boeing 767-300ER built in 1996, sits at gate E47 in Zurich just before we boarded.  That makes 14 flights for 2011 for a total of 20,385 miles flown with 49 hours in the air.

Jet Air Museum

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ykf_004

A new fixture on the central North America airshow circuit is the T-33 “Mako Shark” from the Jet Air Museum headquartered in London Ontario.  I was so happy to see one of these 60 year old trainers done up in such a striking fashion that I joined the museum to show my support.  Last night I finally made the 2 hour drive down to London to attend a meeting.

With 2 T-33’s flying, one DH-115 Vampire very close to being airborne and more aircraft in reserve, the Jet Air Museum is very worthy of your support.  Drop by their website for information on their aircraft and be sure to check out how to become a member and/or get one of their 2012 calendars that gives you a chance to win a flight in the T-33 or Vampire or cash prizes.

Nice surprise in the mail today

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Vintage Wings of CanadaAll year long I’ve been running into Dan Dempsey, pilot of the Discovery Air Hawk One Sabre from Vintage Wings of Canada.  Last month up in Gatineau we talked for a few minutes and I asked if he had any Hawk One badges.  “Not with me”, he said but he promised to see what he could find.  I gave him my address but didn’t think anything of it.

Today in the mail came a plaque for the Canadian Air & Space Museum (click the link to visit their website and see how YOU can help them survive) which I’ll hang on to until things settle down and a few other goodies. On the left is the current patch and on the right is the 2009 patch celebrating the 100th anniversary of powered flight in Canada.  2 very rare and very cool additions to my collection.

Thanks Colonel Dempsey (that’s him above and below waving from one of the most beautiful offices in the world.)  It was a pleasure working with you at Wings & Wheels where we were all so amazed at your stamina and how much fun you were having with the kids.  And thanks for making Hawk One dance.