Another Swiss trip in the books. 18 of them so far.

Highlight had to be plane spotting at Zurich airport. Singapore Airlines A380 doing the “Kloten Roll”. Just pure luck.

ZRH is world famous for its friendliness to plane spotters. Holes in fences to put the camera lens through dot the perimeter fences. This shot of United on rotation was taken from the “Heliport Grill”.

Congressman Michael Turner from Ohio has proposed an amendment to the House National Defense Authorization Act that would bar the Department of Defense in the US from loaning or gifting any US military aircraft or parts if they would be used in flight operations.  Any gifts or loans would only be allowed for static displays in museums.

What would this mean?  Aircraft like “FiFi” , the only flyable B-29 Superfortress shown above in the skies over Florida last month, would be grounded.  Forever.  Flown and maintained by the Commemorative Air Force, FiFi and pieces of flying history like her would never be enjoyed by the public in their natural habitat again.  Instead they would be hanger queens.  The CAF has launched a campaign to bring this to the public’s attention to raise objections to the amendment.

Representative Turner is a former mayor of Dayton Ohio which just happens to house the National Museum of the United States Air Force.  FiFi would make a wonderful exhibit.

Apparently, Representative Turner doesn’t want children given the opportunity to be inspired by the only flying example of the aircraft that ended World War II,” said CAF President/CEO Stephan Brown. “The Queen of the CAF Fleet and the world’s only flying B-29, FIFI is possessed by the CAF as a ‘Conditional Donation’ from the NMUSAF. This means that the airplane is permanently ours as long as we meet certain conditions of care for the airplane. We also have a subsequent agreement to allow the CAF to conduct flight operations with FIFI – and so we have for nearly 40 years. The only way the NMUSAF could ground FIFI is if the law were changed such that it make it illegal to fly her and Representative Turner hopes to change the law to do just that!

From across the border this looks like a pretty blatant attempt by a lawmaker to protect a major constituent by denying thousands of airshow enthusiasts the opportunity to see history on the wing.

Been back home for a few days and it’s time to give my impressions of Sun ‘n Fun 2012.  The Aeroshell team in their T-6 Texans starts us off.

Fun ‘n Sun is the 2nd largest aviation fly-in in North America and perhaps the world.  About 1/2 the size of Oshkosh according to John “Lites” Leenhouts, president and CEO.  2012 marked the 38th year of SnF and follows on last year’s tornado marred event where a number of aircraft and exhibits were damaged or destroyed.  Luckily the weather this year was much better.

I arrived right at the opening on Tuesday with online ticket in hand.  I had splurged for their exclusive VIP ticket called the “9/27 Circle” that came with special parking.  Unfortunately no one had told the rent-a-cop on the gate so I had an hour of BS to go through before it was straightened out. 

Note #1 to Sun ‘n Fun – get that taken care of for next year.  At the price you charge, it should go much, much smoother.

Without a doubt FIFI was the star of this year’s show.  The B28 lovingly restored by the Commemorative Air Force is the only example of her type still flying.  Majestic like you wouldn’t believe.  When FIFI flies overhead, everything stops.

Even got to see a couple of friends perform.  On the left, Jane Wicker and her Stearman and on the right, Dan Marcotte in his Ultimate 10-200 biplane.  I’ve met both at NECAS meetings but this was the first time I got to see their shows live.  Very impressive.

The VIP tent was right along the showline but the sightlines to watch low-level performers were terrible due to the aircraft parking right in front of the seating.  High level work was very visible and both cameras got a good workout.  Some examples:

There was also lots going on all around the grounds on static display and in the fly-in parking and camping areas.

Will I go again?  Probably but I don’t think I’ll be shelling out for the VIP package.  Of course, that means I wouldn’t get spoiled by Nan.

Nan took such good care of me all week that I probably will at least investigate the 9/27 Circle cost for 2013.

Just over a week to go until the airshow season gets a very early start. Sun ‘n Fun 2012 starts on March 27 at Lakeland Florida.  First time for this show which ranks second only to Oshkosh as the largest fly-in event in North America.

Sun ‘n Fun has an impressive roster of performers including the Thunderbirds (above shot from Thunder of Niagara 2011), Rob Holland, Black Diamond Jet Team, Michael Wiskus and others.  Airshows every day!

The only dark cloud on the horizon is the ongoing labor dispute between Air Canada and its pilots.  With legislation preventing a strike or lockout, both sides are playing games with each other. 

Full disclosure:  I’m the web manager for this show.

Check the website

Early morning departure of the 787 from Toronto on to its next stop in Boston.

The future of air travel arrived in Toronto on Thursday afternoon at about 1:40pm.  To the delight of hundreds lining the perimeter fence, Boeing and Air Canada brought the 787 Dreamliner to Pearson International Airport.  AC is scheduled to take possession of over 30 787′s in the next few years and Boeing flew in to show off the airplane and help celebrate Air Canada’s 75th birthday.

Even at this distance the 787 is so quiet that you could hold a normal conversation.  Yes I know the engines are near idle but compared to the 737-700 that proceeded it, this is one quiet airplane.

I’m incredibly lucky to be able to say that I’ve seen 2 Dreamliners.  The first was 001 (above) that dropped into AirVenture Oshkosh last year.  001 has now been retired to the desert where she’ll wait to take her place as a museum piece.  003 remains in Toronto until tomorrow (Sunday March 4) when she flies off to Boston to continue the “Dream Tour”.

I’ll be at the airport early tomorrow to try for departure shots.  It will probably be at least a year if not two before we see another 787 in Toronto

Thanks Boeing.  Thanks Air Canada.

A couple of fat old guys.

A fun weekend at the North East Council of Air Shows meetings at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. Lots of old and new friends, good information and whole lot of laughs.

One of the highlights was a tour of a C-130H2 Hercules flown by the 914th Airlift Wing. They were very gracious to let us climb around the Herc with no restrictions. I’ve always been a huge fan of the Hercules and enjoyed myself immensely.

(click the picture for the entire gallery)

On a cold winter night you go looking for warmth wherever you can find it.  One great place for me is my pictures which, for the most part, are taken on nice sunny days.

This one is actually from a September evening but does a good job of making forget the current cold spell.  Taken in Gatineau Quebec during the Wings Over Gatineau show put on by Vintage Wings of Canada and EAA.  Dan Dempsey at the controls of the Discovery Air Hawk One Sabre and Paul Kissman piloting the spectacular Corsair perform an early evening flyby with the setting sun providing remarkable highlights (check the Corsair’s prop).

Groundschool that is.  I’m probably crazy for this but I signed up to take a pilot course for the T-33 Silver Star jet trainer put on by the Jet Aircraft Museum.  The course is compulsory for pilots wishing to fly the museum’s jets but is also available to others who plan on riding the backseat or are just interested. 

I fall into the last 2 categories which is why I’m willing to subject myself to studying all the documentation, writing 2 exams and attending 2 days of instruction next weekend.

I will never fly one of these on my own – I dropped out of my training for the Private Pilot License but they say any learning is good and this certainly qualifies as something different.

What’s a CT-133 Silver Star you ask?  They look something like this

(of course most are either silver or grey)