Visitors will have a chance to see history come alive during the Wings Over Springbank Airshow July 18, with a pair of Second World War-era bombers scheduled to land a day prior to the inaugural event.
The airshow, which takes off at noon at the Springbank Airport, will play host to the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona’s B-17G ‘Sentimental Journey’ and the B-25J’s ‘Maid in the Shade’ as part of the airbase’s summer tour. Static displays and cockpit tours are available daily through July 23.
Sarah van Gilst said the bombers became part of the show when organizers with the airbase reached out to Wings Over Springbank after the positive response the B-25J received while on display at the Airdrie Regional Air Show last year.
Van Gilst said the Springbank location offers more space for the aircraft, which has a wingspan of 21 metres and a nose-to-tail length of 16 metres.
Allied forces used B-17Gs and B-25J military aircrafts extensively during the Second World War.
With airplane technology progressing so quickly, what these vintage aircrafts were able to accomplish was often taken for granted. Unlike today, the planes were not simply replaced, they needed to be taken care of and maintained.
The Canadian Armed Forces Snowbirds and Skyhawks parachuting team will also return for the airshow, along with ‘Super Dave’ Mathieson.
Mathieson flies the world’s most advanced aerobatic aircraft, the MX2. The aircraft is designed to go plus or minus 16Gs and has a roll rate of 500 degrees per second. The plane is powered by a 380-horsepower motor, giving the aircraft a top speed of nearly 500 km/hour.
A number of civilian pilots will be performing as well. Brent Handy from Redline Aerobatics, as well as Bud and Ross Granley and Bruce Evans will all take part.
Wings Over Springbank runs July 18 to 19. To purchase tickets, visit wingsoverspringbank.com/buytickets.
