Location: Windsor International Airport, Ontario, Canada
This was the 3rd annual Windsor air show in recent times, and it is one of the biggest held annually in Ontario.
Group photo of the CF-18 Demo Team, the SkyHawks and the Snowbirds at WIAS. For more images from the show visit us here.
The Windsor International Air Show (WIAS) has a great potential to become one of Canada's premier air shows, if the weather cooperates! This year once again it was hampered by rain and cloudy weather to a large extent, which is of course, out of the hands of the organizers. Regardless, on the weekend the show did go on. It was more than just thunder from the weather that made thunderous noise, it was from the jet aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force, from the USAF, USN and from the US Marines.
On Saturday several performances were cut short or were cancelled outright including the OPP Motorcycle demo, due to rain. Still, thousands toured the US KC-135 fuel tankers and US transport aircraft in the static area, and cheered Astronaut and Space Station Commander Chris Hadfield in Hawk One. Sunday too started out with a bit of rain, but it cleared up by opening, and by far it was the best day to attend WIAS.
The Canadian Icons, the Snowbirds, with the help of the Canadian Forces Skyhawks Parachute Team and the CF-18 Demo Team, dazzled the spectators in the sky with their precise maneuverings and flying skills. Additionally, several WWII and warbirds from the collection of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and the Vintage Wings of Canada performed. They were supplemented by four Harvards from the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association, and a couple of civilian flyers, including Pete McLeod of Red Bull fame.
Compared to the 2010 show, there were less static aircraft. This was due mostly to the date of the show: 9/11! Many American cities and air bases remembered this tragic event's 10th anniversary by staging an air show themselves. Accordingly, this made less aircraft available to perform at WIAS and there were no top tier US performers.
To add additional interest there were performances by FLASH FIRE II a jet truck, and the CBC television comedian Rick Mercer from the Rick Mercer Report was present for a taping of his show. There were antique vehicles again a bit less due to the rain than last year. Click here to see additional images of Rick Mercer at the show.
The attendance was about the same as last year, approximately 43,000. We at AirShowsReview wish to thank all the people who have welcomed us, and who organized the air show. Our gratitude goes out to all of you and especially to Keith and Theresa Baxter. We will be back next year!
Some of the participants were:
Snowbirds
CF-18 Demo Team
Canadian Forces Skyhawks Parachute Team
F-86 Sabre Hawk One
P-51D Mustang
Harvard
Lancaster
Pete McLeod
Air Cadets
MH-53
T-45C
KC-135
C-130
F/A-18
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
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