Skies Magazine

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's Firefly restoration is making great strides, with more testing underway since the first run-up on May 10.

Canadian fighter pilot James Francis Stocky Edwards has died at the age of 100. He was Canada’s highest-scoring ace of WWII’s Western Desert Campaign, was an Order of Canada recipient, and a Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame inductee. In 2009, he was named one of the 100 most influential Canadians in aviation. Our condolences go out to his family and friends. Skies photographer Heath Moffatt had the opportunity to photograph Stocky in 2018 with the Vintage Wings of Canada Spitfire Mk IX which is wearing the markings and serial number of Y2-K, a 442 Squadron Spitfire in Comox, British Columbia. We’re sharing those photos here.

Planning to attend this year's Canadian Business Aviation Association convention in Toronto? Here's what you can expect: https://skiesmag.com//what-expect-cbaa-2022-convention-ex/ #canadianaviation #aviation #avgeek #skiesmag

Have you seen the new issue of Skies Magazine? Here's a preview of what's inside. Find the magazine here: https://www.skiesmag.com/issues/

Congratulations to last week’s photo contest winner, Garret Rodgers! Here’s our next round of finalists; to vote, just like your favourite by Monday, Oct. 5.

Pilot Carter Mann flies his 1973 Cessna Skymaster 337 over stunning fall foliage. Yellow Drum Productions - Aviation Photography by Mike Luedey

Photographers! There are only two days left to enter our annual photo contest! Here’s a recent submission by Mike Luedey of a 1937 Waco AQC-6 from the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, B.C. Head to photocontest.skiesmag.com to enter your photos, and to vote on other entries. The contest is open through October 2!

The October/November issue of Skies is now online! This issue features Airshow London SkyDrive 2020, Van's Aircraft RVs, a Waterloo Warbirds formation clinic, Chorus Aviation, Spidertracks, and more. Read it here: https://www.skiesmag.com/issues/

Meet the Royal Canadian Air Force's new fixed-wing SAR aircraft, the CC-295 Kingfisher. An event was held at 19 Wing Comox on Sept. 25 to mark the arrival of the first aircraft of the future FWSAR fleet. This particular aircraft will remain at 19 Wing while the RCAF completes aircrew training, followed by operational testing. Photographer Derek Heyes was on base to capture these shots of the new Kingfisher!

From Sept. 4-6, the 8th annual Casey Aero Camping fly-in took place near Casey, Que., on a cold-war era abandoned airstrip located in Haute-Mauricie. This year, over 100 aircraft from all over Quebec and Ontario flew in for the event. Clian Genier was there on location to snap some great photos. Check the story out here: https://bit.ly/2FnphmH

This past weekend, Airshow London successfully entertained thousands at Canadas first and only hugely successful drive-in airshow with all four United States Air Force tac demo teams, plus the Air Force Thunderbirds a first for any airshow in the world! One notable absence was, of course, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, who cancelled their 2020 airshow season after the passing of Capt Jennifer Casey in Kamloops, B.C., while the team was conducting #OperationInspiration. While the Snowbirds were unable to make it to London this weekend, all of the U.S. demo teams did something pretty special by showcasing the Snowbirds decal in a prominent position on their fighter aircraft to honour Capt Caseys memory.

Congratulations to last weeks photo contest winner, Simon Blakesley! Heres our next round of photos; to vote, just like your favourite by Monday, Sept. 14. You can see our weekly winners in our Skies Daily email. Sign up for it here: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkiesDaily

Congratulations to last week’s photo contest winner, Cameron Barfoot! Here’s our next round of photos; to vote, just like your favourite by Monday, Sept. 28. Photographers, don’t forget to also enter our annual photo contest, now open at photocontest.skiesmag.com!

Congrats to Top Aces on welcoming its new mobile support unit based in Cold Lake, Alta! The 53-foot pack-up trailer will serve Top Aces' deployed operations teams across North America.

Only one day left until Airshow London kicks off with its incredible lineup of acts set to entertain this weekend! This years roster features SIX U.S. demo teams, including the famed Air Force Thunderbirds. Heres an awesome video from the team highlighting both its history and recent performances. The Thunderbirds will be joined by the F-16 Viper Demo Team, U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team, A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team, F-22 Raptor Demo Team, C-17 West Coast Demo Team and many more. If you were lucky enough to secure a ticket to the highly-anticipated event, we hope you enjoy!

The 2020 edition of RCAF Today is now online for your reading pleasure! This issue covers a wide-spectrum of Royal Canadian Air Force related topics, including a chat with LGen Al Meinzinger, RCAF commander, on how the RCAF is coping with the pandemic, a breakdown of the three aircraft vying to be Canadas future fighter, the Future Aircrew Training program, and much more. Heres a photo preview of what to expect. Read the full issue here: https://bit.ly/2Zsahui

This shot of the Air Force Thunderbirds performing a knife edge pass from Andrew Dougall is a recent submission to the Military category in our 2020 Photo Contest. The deadline for submissions is approaching, so be sure to see all the entries and submit your own photos at photocontest.skiesmag.com/

Continuing the hype train for the incredible line-up of performers at the upcoming Airshow London this weekend, heres an in-cockpit look of what its like to fly onboard with the F-16 Viper Demo Team! The F-16 Viper team is one of SIX U.S. demo teams slated to entertain airshow attendees this Saturday and Sunday, and theyll be joined by the likes of the Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team, F-22 Raptor Demo Team, C-17 West Coast Demo Team and A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team. Be sure to catch the action in the skies above London this weekend!

On Sept. 19, famed airshow performer, Gord Price Air Shows, organized a private show at Owen Sound Billy Bishop Airport, dubbed the Ramp Rats Reunion. Price, along with his daughter Stephanie, invited aviation photographers, enthusiasts and social media influencers to watch as he performed in his Yakovlev YAK-50 prototype. Price was accompanied by Dave Hewitt, who flew his Rumbling Radials Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor, and Marco Rusconi, who flew his 1952 Harvard Mk.4 in a brilliant low-level aerobatic routine. Photographer Eric Dumigan was there to catch some of the action! Full story here: https://bit.ly/3mLaWkP

Congratulations to last week’s photo contest winner, Karly Barker! Here’s our next round of photos; to vote, just like your favourite by Monday, Sept. 21. Photographers, don’t forget to also enter our annual photo contest, now open at photocontest.skiesmag.com!

Who else cant wait for Airshow London and its incredible line up of performers that includes SIX U.S. demo teams?! While the weekend cant get here quick enough, heres a teaser from the U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team showcasing what you can expect to see in the skies above London come Saturday. The F-35A Lightning II Demo Team will be joined by the A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team, F-22 Raptor Demo Team, F-16 Viper Demo Team, C-17 West Coast Demo Team, Air Force Thunderbirds and many more!

Step inside the cockpit with the F-22 Raptor Demo Team and get an onboard look as the team showcases each manoeuvre of the F-22 demonstration! The F-22 Demo Team is one of SIX U.S. Demo Teams slated to perform at Airshow London next week, along with the A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team, U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team, F-16 Viper Demo Team, C-17 West Coast Demo Team and the Air Force Thunderbirds. Next Saturday cant get here soon enough!

Were a week out from Airshow London and theyve got a packed roster primed and ready to perform, including a whopping SIX U.S. demo teams an unheard of amount. Here, weve got a video from the A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how these teams do what they do, and why they do it. Featured teams in this clip are the A10 Demo Team, F-22 Raptor Demo Team, F-16 Viper Demo Team and U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team all four will be performing next week along with the Air Force Thunderbirds, C-17 West Coast Demo Team and a number of other great acts. We cant wait to see what each team has in store for next weekend!

We’d like to thank everyone who has entered our annual photo contest so far, including Karly Barker, who submitted this stunning shot of a Cargojet Boeing 767 under the Moncton sun. See all of the entries and submit your own photos at photocontest.skiesmag.com. The deadline is October 2, so be sure to get your entries in soon!

Photographers, round up you best shots because our annual photo contest is now open at photocontest.skiesmag.com/! This incredible shot from Simon Blakesley Photography was our big winner last year, good luck to everyone.

Our September desktop calendars are now online! This month features a great shot of a CC-130H Hercules from Nicholas Chute. Head here to download it: skiesmag.com/calendars.

A great capture of a 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron CC-130H Hercules taking off from the St. Thomas Airport during a training mission. Nicholas Chute Photo

Incredible scenes caught by Matthis Arrivet as a fleet of Scurit civile Canadair CL-415s combated a fire in Vitrolles, France, earlier this week. Thanks for sharing, Matthis! Do you have a favourite shot of the CL-415 in action? If so, please feel free to share it with us in the comments!

The operational pause on the Royal Canadian Air Forces fleet of CT-114 Tutors has officially been lifted, allowing the Canadian Forces Snowbirds to fly their aircraft home to 15 Wing Moose Jaw from Kamloops, B.C. The team has also officially cancelled the remainder of its 2020 season. For all you Snowbirds fans, post your favourite photo of the team in the comments in a showcase of support. Details on the Tutors return to the air here:

The time has finally arrived! Microsofts Flight Simulator 2020 released today and includes a wide-range of aircraft to virtually fly, including commercial airliners like the Airbus A320neo to smaller props like the Aviat Pitts Special S2S. A pair of Canadian airports are also featured -- British Columbias Stewart Airport and Ontarios Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.

Aug. 16 marked the 90th anniversary of the end of His Majestys Airship R-100s transatlantic journey, as it completed its flight from Canada back to Cardington, England. While it was here, the massive airship saw nearly a million and a half Canadians look skywards to catch a glimpse of the behemoth as it made its way across Quebec and into Ontario. Weve got an excellent article from writer Ken Swartz chronicling the R-100s visit that you can read here: https://bit.ly/3ayqkuZ

For #ThrowbackThursday, were highlighting our feature on Whistler-based Blackcomb Helicopters! Lloyd Horgan has put together another great write-up on the company that you can see on our Instagram and Facebook stories, full of excellent photography from Heath Moffatt Photography. To check out the feature article on Blackcomb, head here: https://bit.ly/3aoI4Zz

Montreal-based Icarus Aerospace recently unveiled its new aircraft, the TAV Tactical Air Vehicle. The TAV is a highly customizable, twin-turboprop aircraft capable of performing a variety of missions and is the first in a family of "specialized aircraft," according to Icarus. See details here:

At the end of July, Royal Canadian Air Force CF-188 Hornets, along with U.S. Air Force F-16s, conducted NORAD training operations over the skies of Toronto with a KC-135 refuelling tanker as part of Operation Noble Eagle. Here are some incredible air-to-air shots of the operation courtesy of Canadian NORAD Region Public Affairs, including a shot of a Hornet in the midst of refuelling above Toronto! Find details of the exercise here: https://bit.ly/33KbYGw

In 1970, it was just Barry Lapointe and his dog. Today, KF Aerospace employs 1,100 people and is the largest independent, privately-owned commercial MRO facility in Canada. Read their story here:

Our August calendar is now online! You can find it at skiesmag.com/calendars. This great shot by Heath Moffatt is also the lead photo for our feature on floatplane flying in the August-September issue of Skies, read the magazine here: https://bit.ly/3i50mlp

During the pandemic, Canada has seen a number of exotic aircraft visit our airports, giving spotters a chance to photograph some gorgeous, foreign planes. This shot of a Xiamen Airlines Dreamliner from Montreal.planes is a great example of a photo that spotters may not have been able to get otherwise. To see more, check out our Facebook or Instagram stories, then be sure to look through the PlaneSpotting section in our upcoming issue of Skies!

There are plenty of questions surrounding the disappearance of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart. In this interview with Richard Gillespie of The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery, he uncovers some of the groups findings as they try to unearth some of the mystery themselves.

Over the weekend, members of Royal Canadian Air Force 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron flew CF-188 Hornets over the Comox, B.C., area to train their air-to-air refuelling skills with a CC-130H Hercules from 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron. One of the Hornets had its tail painted to honour the 75th anniversary of 409 Nighthawk Squadron. Hazers Flightline was there to catch the action and grabbed some great photos. Thanks for sharing Derek!

For #ThrowbackThursday, were revisiting the time when Skies test pilot Rob Erdos was invited to take a Canadian Coast Guard Bell 429 for a spin. Weve got a phenomenal feature on the flight test, put together by Lloyd Horgan, that you can see on our Instagram story, featuring stunning photography from Heath Moffatt. To read the original article that appeared in Skies, head here: https://bit.ly/3950BtC

Finding beauty amidst devastation was the goal of Andy Lutens #TheyWillFlyAgain project, which documented grounded airliners across two weeks and six airports. We used some of his photos in our Covid-19 special issue, now paywall-free at https://bit.ly/Aviation_Covid19.

Airshow London announced that they will be hosting a socially safe, drive-in airshow on Sept. 12-13! The show will feature an aerial display from some great acts, including the Air Force Thunderbirds. For details, head here: