Air Show Review - WINGS & WHEELS ST. THOMAS, ONTARIO

Location: St. Thomas Municipal Airport, Ontario
http://airshowsreview.com/2009_Wings&Wheels_St_Thomas.htm

Admission: Adult $15
Parking: Free and $10 by the main entrance
Value: Excellent

What a show, no wonder it had a record attendance for a relatively unknown show! The Wings & Wheels in St. Thomas, just south of London, Ontario, had an excellent show. It was well organized, helpful staff, excellent selection of aircraft performing and static. The concessions were not over priced. For example, most events I’ve attended, charge $3.00 for a bottle of water, only a $1.00 here! Same with food, the selections were not over priced. Sanitary facilities were plenty and well dispersed. One could go for a ride either on a helicopter or the Harvard.

The number of aircraft both performing and static would put just about any other major air show in North America to shame! There were so many American Air Force and Navy aircraft in attendance it felt like the American’s invaded St. Thomas! After all, the airport is a relatively small one with one major runway operating and that is a relatively short one too, yet it was able to handle just about all the aircraft including the C-17 all the way from Alaska! In fact, not all the aircraft could be parked at the airport. Most of the flying demonstrators were staged from the London airport, due to the number of static planes on display.

Everyone was glad to see that Snowbirds, the Centennial Tutor and the refurbished classic RCAF Goldenhawk F-86 Sabre were present and were able to dazzle the crowds. Although the Snowbirds flew a shorter routine than at Rochester, just a couple of weeks ago, that was a bit of a let down. As for the American planes the US Air Force must had all their spare aircraft up here. I never seen so many A-10 flying in formation in an air show, and on display. The Lancaster bomber from Hamilton escorted by a P-51D Mustang also made a surprise fly-by. All thes performances contributed to make The Wings & Wheels in St. Thomas, a very memorable event.

The show annoucing needs some improvements: i.e., especially communicating the direct location of incoming aircraft, and having someone who can speak fluently in English would be helpful. Apart from the announcing only the weather was a disappointment, but that was beyond persons' control. Saturday it rained all morning, but some of the show went on after 2 pm when it stopped raining. On Sunday the weather cooperated it was mostly sunny.

Over al,l Wings & Wheels in St. Thomas is an excellent value. A must see for any aviation enthusiast in the Southern Ontario Region and surrounding American States. It is really, worth attending this show! We'llill be there next year!

The list of the warbirds participating were simply amazing:

(2) CF-18 Hornet
CT-115 Tutor Snowbirds
F-86 Sabre Goldenhawk
CT-114 Tutor Centennial
(4) Harvard
(4) F-15C Eagle
(6) F-16 Viper
(7) A-10 Thunderbolt II
E-2C Hawkeye
C-17 Globemaster III
KC-135R Stratotanker
(4) T-6A Texan II
(3) T-34C Mentor
(2) T-39C Sabreliner
T-44A Pegasus
CT-142 Dash 8
C-130H2 Hercules
HC-130P Hercules
HH-65C Dolphin helicopter
CF-188 Griffon helicopter
and many others.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Next one will be at Binghampton then Geneseo both in NY.

Laszlo Nyary
www.airshowsreview.com
www.designbylaszlo.com

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