Taperwing Coming home

Today at the Ottawa International Airport, work started very early to dismantle the Taperwing WACO inside the arrival terminal.

The Taperwing has been on display for over four months to help raise awareness about Vintage Wings and showcase the growing partnership between our two organizations.

The display brought much attention during her tenure and provided an interesting conversation piece to thousands of travellers passing through on a daily basis. While it maybe hard to pinpoint exactly how many people were actually inspired to come out and see us in Gatineau, a safe bet is that a handful of the spectators at our September air show came because of the display.

Many thanks are extended to Paul Benoit, CEO, and the team at the Ottawa Airport for lending us support throughout the process of set up and take down. We could not have done it without you. We appreciate you let us loiter in your terminal for so long.

Kudos to Oscar and his eager, energetic team for the hard work both in June and again in October.

So what is in store for the WACO now that she has no home? She will return home this time in a truck where she will remain dismantled until finding a new home. The WACO is on the market and somewhere out there in the world of aviation enthusiasts, there's a buyer. perhaps we can intrigue Hilary Swank, star of Amelia, will snatch her up as a movie souvenir!

The Forgotten Victoria Cross

Reprinted from Vintage News. By Carl A. Christie

During the First World War, there were three Canadian-born Royal Flying Corps recipients of the Victoria Cross. All three of them survived the actions for which they were awarded the Commonwealth's highest military honour. Two of them, through their exploits and the further exploitation of their fame, are remembered in Canada today - William George Barker and William Avery “Billy” Bishop. During the Second World War, four other Canadian airmen - Robert Hampton Gray, VC, RCNVNR; Andrew Charles Mynarski, VC, RCAF; Ian Willoughby Bazalgette, VC, DFC, RAF; and, David Ernest Hornell, VC, RCAF were awarded the Victoria Cross. Not one of them survived the actions for which they were cited, but thanks in large part to organizations like the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, the Canadian Naval Air Group, Vintage Wings of Canada and the Canadian Aviation Historical Society, they are remembered today...

Read this story and more at Vintage News, www.vintagewings.ca.

Governor General Recognizes Heroic Acts and Exceptional Service at the Scouts Canada National Awards Ceremony

-Alan Griffin on one of his many visits to Vintage Wings this summer, enjoys his beloved Hurricane during an engine start-up.

OTTAWA, Oct. 16 /CNW/ - His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, joined Steve Kent, Chief Commissioner and Chair of the Board of Governors for Scouts Canada, in acknowledging recipients of the 2010 National Awards at a ceremony held in the Senate Chamber on Parliament Hill. The Governor General, in his capacity as Patron Scout of Scouts Canada, will present awards to two recipients during the event. Fourteen other extraordinary Scouting members, who received Scouts Canada's highest awards in the past few years, will also be acknowledged during the same ceremony. Each of the awards carries an incredible story of courage, heroism, personal achievement and outstanding service [see attached factsheet for details].

Also in attendance at the special ceremony were His Majesty King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, Honourary President of the World Scout Foundation, Her Majesty Queen Silvia, the Honourable Senator Donald H. Oliver, Speaker Pro Tempore, the Honourable Senator Consiglio Di Nino and Janet Yale, Executive Commissioner and CEO of Scouts Canada. The event was held in conjunction with the 60th World Baden-Powell Fellowship Event and included attendance of Scouting supporters from around the world.

The National Awards recipients include: three (3) youth members who exemplify outstanding courage in the face of personal difficulties; three (3) youth members and three (3) adults who are being recognized for acts of gallantry and meritorious conduct; and, seven (7) adult members of Scouting who have given outstanding service to Scouting at the provincial, national and international levels of the movement.

"Whether standing up to knife-wielding bullies, demonstrating quick thinking that saves a young brother's life, creating calm in the midst of a crisis or working tirelessly to serve your community - these are the workings of everyday heroes that we want to stop and recognize," explained Steve Kent, Chief Commissioner and Chair of the Board of Governors for Scouts Canada. "I'm proud of all the recipients of this year's National Awards, but more than anything I'm proud that Scouts Canada continues to play a vital role in promoting each person's ability to make a difference in their community."

Among the 2010 Recipients of Scouts Canada's National Awards Ceremony was Mr. Alan Griffin, Nepean, ON.

Alan has given dedicated service of the most exceptional character to Scouting over many, many years since his youth. As a role model, he has inspired countless youth, leaders and volunteers. Of particular note is Alan's significant role as Curator in the on-going development and renewal of the Canadian Museum of Scouting at the National Office.

Partnering with like-minded corporations help make dreams come true!

Vintage Wings and the Ottawa International Airport have partnered together many times this season from displaying our Taperwing Waco on the Arrival Terminal floor to participating in the Annual Plane Pull event in September, there have been many unique and creative ways to showcase our interests in aviation and to support other charities. That is why the Ottawa Airport Authority found it fitting to make a donation in our name as a way of saying thank you for use of our hangar to host their October Corporate Board of Directors' meeting.

A $500 donation to Dreams Take Flight, Ottawa Chapter was made in our name. Monies aided to this worthy charity help send a child with disabilities to an all expense paid trip to Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

Dreams Take Flight is a national volunteer charitable organization, just like VW. They are dedicated to providing a trip of a lifetime to physically, mentally or socially challenged children. With the aid of Air Canada and other national and local businesses, money is raised to make the dreams a reality for children in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and Halifax.

Vintage Wings is honoured and touched by this generous gesture of kindness. We are pleased to have a strong bond with other organizations focussed on the betterment of others. In our cases, it is the love of aviation that allows us to encourage and inspire others.

What are your dreams? Perhaps we can help them take flight!

Check our our Sponsored Ride Program to find a thrill of a lifetime waiting for you.

Round Two Warbird U

It's coming to be that time of year again. Vintage Wings is parking the planes for the season and going back to school for a second year of Warbird U.

- From the Files of Vintage News by Dave O'Malley

The Vintage Wings of Canada Warbird University series of Technical Ground Schools will put the puff back in your jodhpurs, the jingle in your spurs and the jut back in your chin. Designed specifically for Vintage Wings warbird pilots (the most god-like pilots on the aviator pantheon), these courses are mandatory if they wish to fly our aircraft. You will learn what they must learn - technical systems, operation techniques, performance parameters, flying characteristics (both benign and deadly) and historical context combined with anecdotal stories from highly experienced test and warbird pilots...

Read more about what the 2011 technical ground schools have to offer at Vintage News. Click on Warbird U Season Two

65th Anniversary of VJ-Day and Victory in the Second World War

-Photo by Pierre Lapprand

From Veterans Affairs Canada Website

The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), joined fellow Canadians at a commemorative event marking the 65th anniversary of Victory in the Far East (VJ-Day) and the official end of the Second World War. Due to torrential rain on August 15th, the ceremony was moved from the National War Memorial to the Government Conference Centre.http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=department/minister-corner/photos/025#a01

Smiths Falls Welcome Centre re-opens

Vintage Wings took part this past Saturday, 2 Oct in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new welcome centre and training facility at the Russ Beach Airport located in Smiths Falls/ Montague. Pilots John Aitken and Blake Reid flew the Harvard and Tiger Moth in for the occasion as many local residents and politicians came out to celebrate the grand re-opening of the building. The newly constructed facility was made possible solely by volunteer resources and efforts following a devastating fire in the previous structure.

Rob Fleck, Chief Operations Officer, presented Claude Brett, Flying Club President, and the members of the board with a commemorative British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) mounted plaque as a gesture of appreciation for the long-standing partnership that Vintage Wings shares with the airport. The plaque also helps to acknowledge the 2011 flying mission for our Yellow Birds as the Harvard and Tiger Moth tour the country along with the Fleet Finch and Cornell at various past BCATP aerodromes. It is from the enthusiasm and assistance of interested flying clubs such as Smiths Falls that will make this cross-Canada tour possible next summer.



- Photo credit: Claude Brunette. Rob (left), Phil Caiger-Watson, Master of Ceremonies, and Claude Brett with the BCATP mounted plaque

Gatineau en vol in spectacular array of colours.

There is never any shortage of images of a really great show and to see the world through many different lenses gives us a whole new perspective on what our fans and spectators see. it is always a pleasure when these great artists of aviation photographers and photojournalists share their masterpieces for all to see and enjoy.
Here is another selection of wonderful images from the 18 Sept air show.

Many thanks to Gus Corujo:http://www.gusair.com/html/vwc-open.html. And many thanks to all those who kindly shared their work with us. Happy to keep posting your links, images and stories so keep them coming.

Making Headlines in China

Reprinted from the People's Daily Online, 26 Sept 2010

Canadian Astronaut and New Commander of the International Space Station Chris Hadfield is pictured on the tarmac of the Executive Gatineau-Ottawa Airport during the Vintage Wings of Canada Air Show in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, Sept. 18, 2010. The fifth annual event paid tribute to three recipients of Canada's Victoria Cross medals during World Wars One and Two.
Read more online at: www.englishpeople.com