2010
Air Shows |
Canadian International Air Show
at the CNE, Toronto 2010
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Location: South of the Canadian National Exhibition grounds on the waterfront west of Ontario Place. |
Admission: Included
with the CNE admission, but can be viewed for free from the lake
front shore line parks, in the "spectator" area.
VIP tickets available on line in advance, in a reserved section
where performing pilots can be met. |
Parking: At
the CNE or directly at the lakeshore parks $25.00. While public transport
(TTC) is available to the CNE, none exists to the free areas. 1/2
to 1 mile walk from and to public transit each way. Due to construction
along Lake Shore Boulevard in Toronto to replace the
structures over the Gardiner Expressway be prepared for additional
delays. |
| Value: Excellent
if watched from the "Free Area", Very
Good if included in the CNE admission, as long
as one doesn't have to pay for parking. |
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The
air-box corridor for the air show, is on the waterfront. While it
is safe for the spectators for viewing but far from ideal for photographing
the air show performers. Even if one has a zoom or telephoto
lens in the 400mm and up range. Factor in the fact that shooting
into the sun and add water reflection all day will play havoc with
your images. Back light compensation is a must! The best way to photograph
is from a boat parked near the safety zone, with the sun behind one's
back but even then one will need a larger lens. |
The VIP section provides a good viewpoint
of the show with adequate facilities. If viewing
from inside the CNE grounds, or from Ontario Place, there are
lot of variety for food and non alcoholic beverages, and sanitation
facilities are ample. In the "free" section along the
shoreline, do not expect to find much for food, refreshments
or even more necessary sanitary facilities.
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The
air show's existence is in jeopardy. A few people complain every
year that the jets make too much noise, and the City, with their
bright leaders at the helm, just may pull the plug on this event
too. Toronto, the world class city wannabe, will lose another
attraction like it did with the Canadian Grand Prix, Formula One,
when it refused to allow to move from Mosport to Toronto due to
potential noise and traffic problems. After the Grand Prix moved
to Montreal, a decade later it finally allowed the now defunct
Molson Indy Race to take place.
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The 61st annual air show in Toronto
did not have the best of start this year. Apart from the no show
performers, such as the Sea King helicopter, due to high winds creating
6ft+ swells on Lake Ontario on Saturday, the HMCS Fredericton cancelled
her presence too. Thus the much hyped by CIAS (via newsletters on
the internet) Navy demonstration, that would have been the high light
of the show, got torpedoed with the rest of the air show for Saturday!
|
I
was fortunate to be on HMCS Fredericton for
Sunday's air show which started with the CF-18B two seater streaking
across the sky filled with dark grey clouds piloted by Forrest Rock.
Followed by Rob Holland who always dazzles the crowds. The CP-140
Aurora made several passes as the HMCS Fredericton cruised
along the show line, firing several rounds off to greet the crowds.
Then an inspection boarding team was lowered in their Zodiac boat
from the frigate, and rapidly departed towards the shore to demonstrate
their capabilities. Meanwhile the frigate kept on cruising, making
several turns and upon recovery of the inspection team in their Zodiac,
the frigate moved further away from the shore to a safe zone where
she could fire two quick salvos with her main gun. This was a blast
so to speak to hear and to see the impact of the shells on the
water. As we were returning the F-16 Viper East was streaking across
the still dark sky over Toronto, followed by the Heritage flight
that flew over the frigate just as we were docking. The Snowbirds
closed the show with some blue in the sky. Over all for me it was
great experience, but for most of the people on the shore it was
not the best to sum it up
"Was a mixed day…. clouds,
windy, sunshine, no wind" at least it didn't rain! |
|
For
Monday's show the weather once again was not cooperating much. It
wasn't as cool as on Sunday, but it was more overcast and the day
started off with rain. The rain was on and off at the beginning
of the air show, but then it stopped. The sky changed from dark grey,
to light grey with the occasional blue patch trying to
break through. The F-16 Viper East making a tremendous amount
of noise over downtown started the show. What many attendees were
possibly not aware of that the CT-114 Tutor in the Heritage Flight
was piloted by the Commander of the Snowbirds, Lt.-Col. Maryse Carmichael,
in celebration of the Centennial of Licensed Women Pilots. |
Over
all, the CNE – CIAS due to the weather and partial cancellation
was rather disappointing. I hope the
CIAS will survive the political turbulence, and if it does it will
continue to improve. |
Some of the participants were:
- The Snowbirds
- F-16 East Demo Team
- CF-18B Hornet 2 seater
- Canadian Harvard Aero Team
- CP-140 Aurora
- Goodyear FG-1D Corsair
- Golden Centennaire CT-114 Tutor
- CT-177 Globemaster III
- Mike Wiskus
- Rob Holland
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Rating:
7 out of 10 |
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