Special Photo Report : RCAF CF-18 Demo stopover CWH Museum - Hamilton, ON

'Canada 150' CF-18 Demo stopover at CWH Museum

On May 24-25, the 2017 "Canada 150" RCAF CF-18 Demonstration Hornet made a stopover at the Canadian Warplane Heritage (CWH) Museum. Ron Cembrowski explains why and provides us with a closer look of the new "Canada 150" paintjob.

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWH), located at the Hamilton International Airport in Mount Hope, Ontario, is largely a flying museum that includes numerous static display aircraft. The museum was founded in 1972 and is a non-profit organization. Its mandate is to acquire, document, preserve, and maintain a complete collection of aircraft that were flown by Canadians and the Canadian military from the beginning of World War II to present.

This year the CWH has become involved with the Brantford Air Show.

The Brantford Air Show is held annually at the Brantford Airport, Ontario, on the Wednesday before the September Labour Day Long Weekend. The show has undergone an organizational change with the event ownership and production transitioning from the Rotary Club of Brantford to the CWH Museum. The 2017 air show is being co-chaired by the Rotary Club President and the CWH President and CEO.

The air show, which remains at the Brantford Airport, is now called the "Community Charity Air Show". This event raises funds for local children. The show date for 2017 is Wednesday, August 30. Admission to the show is free, with a fee for on-site parking and cash donations accepted upon entry.

In support of the "Community Charity Air Show", the "Canada 150" CF-18 Demonstration Hornet was invited to make a promotional stopover at the CWH Museum. The Hornet, piloted by Captain Matthew "Glib" Kutryk, arrived on Wednesday, May 24. Captain Kutryk is the official RCAF 2017 CF-18 Demonstration Team pilot. The aircraft, in its special red and white "Canada 150" colours, was available for public viewing from the aircraft arrival time of 3:00 pm to museum closing at 5:00 pm. Regular museum admission rates applied.

A formal media preview, which included local dignitaries as well as organizers of Brantford's "Community Charity Air Show", was arranged for Thursday, May 25 from 9:00 am - 10:00 am. The photos in this report are of the aircraft arrival on Wednesday, May 24.

Due to airport ramp repairs just north of the museum apron, the CF-18 was not allowed to taxi into the museum area because of jet blast concerns. The aircraft was shut down at the main airport ramp and towed into the museum, directly into the hangar.

“Canada 150” CF-18 Demonstration Hornet (188734)

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) unveiled the 2017 CF-18 Demonstration jet on April 4, 2017, at 4 Wing, CFB Cold Lake, Alberta. The main colours are red and white, Canada’s traditional colours, in celebration of the Nation's sesquicentennial; the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. The colour scheme incorporates the official logo of "Canada 150".

The official "Canada 150" logo was created by University of Waterloo, Ontario, student Ariana Cuvin who beat 300 other submissions in a design contest to create a logo for Canada's 150th anniversary. Her winning design was selected by the federal Department of Canadian Heritage in 2015.

The "Canada 150" logo is a stylized maple leaf, Canada's iconic symbol, built using an expanding diamond pattern. Diamonds were chosen because the gems are closely associated with special celebrations. The base of the leaf is made up of four diamonds that represent the four original provinces that formed Confederation in 1867: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Additional diamonds extend out from the base to create nine more points, growing to a total of 13 gems, symbolizing Canada’s 10 provinces and 3 territories.

The 2017 CF-18 Demonstration Hornet's scheme, was a collaborative effort between Ariana Cuvin, whose "Canada 150" logo is placed throughout the design and Jim Belliveau, who has a 20 plus year career in designing and painting jet aircraft colour schemes.

On the left wing, the time span of confederation is shown with the year of confederation, 1867, and the 150th anniversary year, 2017. The right wing bears the official name of the celebration; “Canada 150”.

Artist’s concept of the design of the 2017 CF-18 Demonstration Hornet, which pays tribute to Canada’s 150th anniversary. IMAGE: RCAF

Painting the 2017 Demonstration aircraft was a team effort between 3 Wing, CFB Bagotville, Quebec, which provided the jet and technicians to bring the design concept to life, and 4 Wing, CFB Cold Lake, which provided hangar space and support throughout the painting.

This is a particularly storied aircraft. In March of 2011, while assigned to operational duty and wearing the standard low-vis grey livery, it was the first Hornet to cross into Libya during Operation Mobile; the Canadian Forces contribution to the NATO led military intervention in Libya.

The 2017 CF-18 Demonstration pilot is Captain Matthew Kutryk. Captain Kutryk was born in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in August 2006 and, in 2008, began military flight training at the Southport Aerospace Centre, in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, and later at 15 Wing, CFB Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

In 2010, he was selected to the Fast Jet, Advanced Flying Training path, and moved to Sheppard Air Force Base at Wichita Falls, Texas, for training. He graduated in May 2012, receiving his RCAF pilot’s wings.

President & CEO of the CWH Museum Mr. David Rohrer & CF-18 Demo Pilot Captain Matthew Kutryk

A few photos of the Avro "Mynarski Memorial" Lancaster Mk. X (VeRA, KB726) are also included. The Lancaster was still undergoing its spring maintenance and was being prepared for painting.

Each year the museum's Lancaster is given special, temporary, commemorative markings on the port (left) side of the aircraft. The usual "Mynarski Memorial" aircraft markings from RCAF 419 "Moose" Squadron (squadron code "VR-A", aircraft serial number "KB726") remain on the starboard (right) side.

This year the museum's Lancaster will wear the markings of Canada's first production Lancaster Mk. X, serial "KB700", built by Victory Aircraft Limited at Malton, Ontario. As the aircraft was nearing completion, ceremonies at Victory Aircraft were being planned. The Lancaster was given some simple nose art; a falling red bomb over painted by a yellow arrow and the aircraft's new name, the "Ruhr Express". Lancaster KB700 rolled off the production line, at Victory Aircraft, on August 1, 1943.

The 2017 "Community Charity Air Show" at Brantford will feature the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, the CF-18 Demonstration Hornet as well as a number of the CWH aircraft including the Avro Lancaster, wearing the "Ruhr Express" markings. The Brantford show will be its only scheduled air show appearance for 2017.

The Lancaster, wearing the temporary "Ruhr Express" markings, made its first official appearance at the CWH Museum Flyfest held over the Father's Day weekend, June 17 & 18, 2017. A few photos from the Flyfest weekend have also been included in this report.