2011
Air Shows |
WINGS & WHEELS
HERITAGE FESTIVAL May 28-29, 2011
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Location: Downsview
Park,Toronto, at the Canadian Air and Space Museum |
Admission: Adult
$17 |
Parking: Free |
Value: Good |
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This was our third visit to the Wings & Wheels
Heritage Festival in Downsview (Toronto). The event is held jointly
on the grounds of the Downsview Park and Toronto Aero Space Museum
aka The Canadian Air & Space Museum.
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This
year the event was hampered by inclement weather during the weekend.
Rain, and chilly temperatures to dark clouds to a bit sun shine,
now and then. On Friday it rained early on the morning for media
day, with grey overcast skies it was difficult to take good images.
The weather also forced some cancellations or late arrivals of some
of the aircraft. |
The
event is quite small in scale, but all the museum staff and volunteers
are friendly and helpful.The event is not truly an air show, per
say, as there are no in the air displays over the runway, it is
more of a fly-in and park the aircraft for static display. |
The
highlight of the event was the F-86 Golden Hawk, flown in by Dan
Dempsey from Vintage Wings of Canada, and the Canadian Forces CF-188B
Hornet, better known as CF-18B. Not to be confused with the CF-18A,
which is a one seater. The aircraft came from the 425 Tactical
Fighter Squadron, CFB Bagotville, Quebec. This is the only place
in Greater Toronto Area, (GTA) to see the CF-18 up close. |
There
were several older cars from 1950's to 1970's on display, both
inside the hangar as well outside the parking lot. It was quite
noticeable this year that there were less aircraft and vehicles
on display. Perhaps due to the weather? |
Over
all Wings & Wheels is a good value and a must see for any
aviation enthusiast in the Greater Toronto Area, just do not
expect to see any aircraft performing in the air. Not counting
the pay for a ride in the Harvard. |
Some
of the participants on static display were:
- CF-18 Hornet
- CH-146 Griffon
- F-86 Sabre "Golden Hawk"
- Harvard trainer
- Snowbird Tutor jet
- Avro Arrow (full size replica)
- de Haviland Grumman CP-121 Tracker
- MD 520 Helicopter
- Bell 222B Helicopter
- BobardierGlobal Express XRS
- with several small civilian fly-ins.
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Rating:
7.0 out of 10
Sept 20, 2011 update! The Museum is now closed
due to Landlord issues. What a SHAME!!!
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Report and images by Laszlo Nyary
for AIRSHOWSREVIEW LLC. |
© 2011
AIRSHOWSREVIEW LLC. All Rights Reserved. |
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