Abbotsford Airshow

[#juan]

The Abbotsford Airshow started in 1962 as a promotion, mostly by the Abbotsford Flying Club. The show has grown over the years into one of the largest airshows around. The attendance in 1989 was approximately 350,000 for the three days. There have been military cut-backs and the average attendance over the last few years has been 150,000 to 200,000 for the three day event. It might have done a bit better this year. I've been an airplane nut all my life and I've missed the show only a couple times since it started. The following link shows a few of the aircraft that we saw this year:
https://www.abbotsfordairshow.com/participating-aircraft.html

I have also been to airshows in Payne Field Washington, Reno Nevada, and Oshkosh Wisconson,Paris France, and Farnborough England.

 

[petros]

Cool. I used to go yearly when I lived on the wet coast and went 3 summers ago.

Airshows are great fun but I saw a crash at Moose Jaw a couple years ago. Not a good scene.

 

[#juan]

Air crashes also happen when there is no airshow. In the 47 years since Abbotsford started, there has been only one crash and one fatality. A young man from Washington State was showing off his little homebuilt Mini Mustang when something broke and he crashed into the runway, killing himself and destroying the airplane.

 

[petros]

Of course they do but not many "non airshow" crashes involve bi-planes with jet engines in simulated dog fights with hungover pilots in full public view. I'm not condeming airshows or stunt pilots. I'm going to the Canada Remembers airshow in Saskatoon right soon.

I'd hate to see another show lose it's insurance because of alcohol.

 

[#juan]

Of course they do but not many "non airshow" crashes involve bi-planes with jet engines in simulated dog fights with hungover pilots in full public view. I'm not condeming airshows or stunt pilots. I'm going to the Canada Remembers airshow in Saskatoon right soon.

I'd hate to see another show lose it's insurance because of alcohol.

I have to agree there. I thought the jet-powered byplane was bizarre when it performed in Abbotsford. Alcohol does not belong around airplanes. I thought the jet-powered byplane was about on par with the 300 mph jet powered truck in terms of safety. Either could have over-stressed something and lost control and killed or injured a lot of people.

 

[talloola]

I have been to the comox valley air show a few times, and had a good time.
Was only at the Abbotsford show once, and it was because we had a hamburger
stand set up to raise money for our ball team, around l988/89 Our profit was huge, which helped
our team gather funds for the following season, that's about all I remember about
it, was too busy to watch the show.;-)

 

[gerryh]

I was at the Abbotsford air show when the phantom blew up just after it started it's climb after doing a low level pass in front of the tarmac..... that was wild.

 

[#juan]

I was at the Abbotsford air show when the phantom blew up just after it started it's climb after doing a low level pass in front of the tarmac..... that was wild.

It wasn't a Phantom. It was a CF-101 Voodoo. Vodoos had a lousy record but most of the time the pilots ejected safely.

CF101Voodoo

 

[gerryh]

It wasn't a Phantom. It was a CF-101 Voodoo. Vodoos had a lousy record but most of the time the pilots ejected safely.

CF101Voodoo

You're right, my mistake..... it was awhile ago, but I do remember the pilot ejecting safely.

 

[karrie]

I haven't been to an airshow since I was a little kid, but, living where I do, on the army base flight path, I get to see some neat stuff flying over my house.

The Lancaster Bomber flying over this summer was my most notable. The whole house shook, and it felt like it was grazing the roof tops... it's so big that it seems like it's flying really low. All conversation stopped, since we couldn't hear ourselves think let alone talk. Truly impressive, and chilling at the same time. I couldn't help but comment on how scary it would have been to hear that fly over in a war zone.

 

[#juan]

You're right, my mistake..... it was awhile ago, but I do remember the pilot ejecting safely.

Hey, I should have called this an Abbotsford crash even though most of the pieces landed in Washington state.

 

[#juan]

I have a hundred and seventy photos that I have to edit yet. I will post some of the better ones. Below is a great photo of a CF-18, A Tutor trainer, and an F-86 (Hawk one)in the skies over Abbotsford:

 

[taxslave]

I have to agree there. I thought the jet-powered byplane was bizarre when it performed in Abbotsford. Alcohol does not belong around airplanes. I thought the jet-powered byplane was about on par with the 300 mph jet powered truck in terms of safety. Either could have over-stressed something and lost control and killed or injured a lot of people.

There is nothing wrong with alcohol so long as it is in the gas tank, not the pilot. Been to both Abbotsford and Comox many times. Lots of fun.

 

[talloola]

two impressive jets flew over us while we were golfing, the other day, not CF 18s,
but I wonder what they were. They were as big as CF 18s though, but different
looking. They didn't circle round and land, as usual, just cruised over, side by side,
maybe they were on their way to Edmonton.
Our golf course joins together with the military base, and airport.

 

[petros]

I have to agree there. I thought the jet-powered byplane was bizarre when it performed in Abbotsford. Alcohol does not belong around airplanes. I thought the jet-powered byplane was about on par with the 300 mph jet powered truck in terms of safety. Either could have over-stressed something and lost control and killed or injured a lot of people.

I'll have to dig up my video of the crash.

It was an amazing plane, STO of something like 30m.

 

[petros]

two impressive jets flew over us while we were golfing, the other day, not CF 18s,
but I wonder what they were. They were as big as CF 18s though, but different
looking. They didn't circle round and land, as usual, just cruised over, side by side,
maybe they were on their way to Edmonton.
Our golf course joins together with the military base, and airport.

NATO flies these in Canada.

 

[#juan]

two impressive jets flew over us while we were golfing, the other day, not CF 18s,
but I wonder what they were. They were as big as CF 18s though, but different
looking. They didn't circle round and land, as usual, just cruised over, side by side,
maybe they were on their way to Edmonton.
Our golf course joins together with the military base, and airport.

During the airshow two F-15s from Alaska arrived at Abbotsford and due to performer scheduling they were sent away for a half hour or so. When they came back they gave us a brief but welcome show and landed to become part of the static display. These are what I think you saw:

 

[VanIsle]

Juan:
I heard a news report today that stated that the Snowbirds would be flying above the city here on Wed. Aug. 12. Should be interesting. I watched them once from my window in Comox as they practiced over the ocean.
Talloola you will probably get a chance to see them also.

 

[talloola]

During the airshow two F-15s from Alaska arrived at Abbotsford and due to performer scheduling they were sent away for a half hour or so. When they came back they gave us a brief but welcome show and landed to become part of the static display. These are what I think you saw:

That's probably what I saw, guess they are u.s. planes.
Didn't connect the dots, forgot about the air show.

 

[talloola]

Juan:
I heard a news report today that stated that the Snowbirds would be flying above the city here on Wed. Aug. 12. Should be interesting. I watched them once from my window in Comox as they practiced over the ocean.
Talloola you will probably get a chance to see them also.

We have the snowbirds here every spring, they practice for days, then they
put on a show over the marina for everyone to watch, before they head out.
They zoom all over, above us while we are golfing, and actually lately I have
been a little uneasy about it, because of the two crashes in the last couple of
years.