2019 Airshow London – Ontario, Canada

This was the fourth year for the Airshow London since its rebirth in 2016. Although the participant numbers were smaller than in previous years, with cancellations due to last minute operational commitments or maintenance issues, the organizers still presented an outstanding show with some great flying performances and an interesting static line-up.

The flying schedule included three air force demonstration teams, the RCAF Snowbirds (CFB Moose Jaw), the RCAF CF-18 Demonstration Team, supported by 3 Wing (CFB Bagotville) and 4 Wing (CFB Cold Lake) and the USAF A-10 Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team from the 355th Fighter Wing (Davis-Monthan AFB).

Other scheduled performers included the Canadian Forces SkyHawks parachute team, a pair of RCAF CT-155 Hawks flown by two former CF-18 Demo Team Pilots, an F-35C from VFA-125 in NAS Lemoore, Jet Aircraft Museum’s (JAM, London) CT-133 Silver Star (RCAF Red Knight colour scheme), Red Star Aero Services’ T-33AN Silver Star (CAF 414 Sqn Black Knights colour scheme), Jerry Conley’s DH-115 Vampire, and civilian aerobatic acts Mike Tryggvason in his Giles 202 and Pete McLeod in his Red Bull Extra 300.

Static displays from the USAF included numerous fighters, tankers, and trainers, plus a B-52H not seen at a London air show for a very long time, as well as one aircraft from the US Marines and one from the US Coast Guard. Canadian static participation included a RCAF CT-156 Harvard II, KF Defence Programs contracted Bell 412CF helicopter, C-90B King Air and Grob G120A trainer, a Canadian Coast Guard Bell 429 helicopter, and aircraft from the Fanshawe School of Aviation Technology and the International Test Pilots School, both based in London, ON. As an aside, despite a very decent static line-up it was disappointing to see a reduction in RCAF participation this year. In past years the show has included one or more of either a CC-130 Hercules (H and/or J models), CT-142 “Gonzo”, CH-146 Griffon, CC-115 Buffalo or a fly-by from a CC-177 Globemaster III or CC-150 Polaris. This year was much leaner.

On Friday the gates were scheduled to open to the public at 4:00 PM for the “Friday Night Hour of Power”, with flying scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM. Unfortunately, due to the threat of severe thunderstorms the organizers made the tough decision to cancel the Friday evening show. It was certainly the correct thing to do to help ensure public safety.

On Saturday and Sunday gates opened to the public at 9:00 AM, with the flying scheduled to begin at 12:00 PM.

Flying highlights of the show included an impressive display by the Air Combat Command A-10 Demonstration Team “Warthog” showcasing the aircraft’s combat maneuvering capabilities along with several simulated attack passes.

The RCAF Demonstration CF-18 Hornet (2019 theme: Ad Astra / #WEARENATO) once again teamed up with the JAM CT-133 “Red Knight” (see also Airshow London 2018 report for info) for the RCAF Heritage Flight.

A three-ship formation of former RCAF aircraft types that included two ex-RCAF/CAF CT-133s (JAM – Red Knight and Red Star T-33AN – Black Knights) along with Jerry Conley’s DH-115 Vampire provided a unique RCAF Commemorative Flypast.

The Red Star T-33AN (N133CN) is an ex-CAF CT-133 (133052). The “Black Knights” colour scheme that it wears is a reproduction of the original colour scheme previously worn in 1999 by CT-133 (133119) from 414 (Combat Support) Sqn, 19 Wing (Comox, BC). The aircraft had been specially painted for the 75th anniversary of the CAF/RCAF in 1999.

There were at least 55 aircraft (military, warbirds, and civilian), by my count, at the air show on both the static and hot ramp (consider placing a link to the 2019 Participants list here). See the table below for a complete list of participating aircraft.