Day 194: Airshow!

The 2010 Brantford Rotary Charity Airshow was held on a Wednesday, which I find odd. The gates opened at 11:00, at which time you could tour/view most of the planes that would participate in the Big Show that commenced at 3:30.
I really wanted to attend this event. I had never been to an airshow before, but can you see the problem here?
Middle of the day, middle of the week. Which means I have no car.
After researching bus schedules, I discovered that the bus does not actually go all the way to the Brantford Airport. I was determined to attend this event, which would mean taking one bus to the bus terminal, transferring to another bus and then walking the remaining 2K or so to the airport.
The children were less than enthusiastic about my plan.
In fact you might say that I dragged them, kicking and screaming onto the bus. Not really. Pouting and complaining is more like it.
When we got to the bus terminal, oh glorious day! Ethan pointed out a poster that proclaimed "Free shuttle bus  to and from the Airshow!" And so we were spared the 2k walk.

Don't they look happy?

Yes, those are my sunglasses that the Beef  is sporting. 
 

Christa was mad that I took this picture. She calls it 'obscene.' I call it 'historical.'

Tail gunner. Utah friends, this is what I picture when Hugh Sloan is telling his stories of flying with the RAF.

We watched all these big beauties take off and fly right in front of us. It was fantastic!

This is the Canadian Forces Skyhawk Parachute team. 

They jumped in several groups of 3 guys, hanging on to each other in formations. Very cool.

The plane that the Skyhawks jumped from.

Here is Deven, helping out at the hotdog stand :) He sold a lot of hotdogs.

Photo courtesy: snowbirds.forces.gc.ca

The most amazing part of the show was the grand finale.

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds, 431 Air Demonstration Squadron. Wow. 

They are Canada's version of the Blue Angels.  I didn't take any pictures because I was busy staring, slack-jawed into the sky. It really was incredible, awesome and inspiring. Jet engines screaming, flying in tight formation - at times they are only four feet apart.  They moved, nine separate planes, as though they were one. It may have been one of the coolest things I have ever seen.

Of course I embarrassed my children when I sang along to Kenny Loggins 'Danger Zone' or screamed "Holy crap pull up!" when they zoomed dangerously close to the ground, and cheered when they drew a 'support our troops' ribbon with smoke. So very cool.

Here is a video to make up for the lack of photos :)