One of Toronto’s favourite CNE attractions brings civilian and military aircraft from around the world to the skies over Lake Ontario with the Labour Day holiday weekend airshow. The event starts with a media day as military planes land at Pearson on Thursday, August 31, continues with a Friday practice and then the show takes centre stage September 1-4 from noon until approximately 3pm. The original airshow started many years ago and took place over Pearson Airport in 1948 before moving to the waterfront in 1949 and in 1956 joined the roster of CNE attractions, which seems like a perfect fit. As Canada's longest-running airshow the CIAS has become the 3rd largest airshow in North America.
The media day event had two F-22 Raptor stealth tactical fighters from the United States, two Canadian Forces Snowbirds and a Canada 150 CF-18 fighter jet.
Two F-22 Raptor Demo team planes attended the media event
You can purchase special VIP tickets to the airshow and enjoy the show from a prime location or you can join the fans from the CNE heading to the bleachers alongside Lake Shore Boulevard. Or, like a lot of Torontonians, you can watch from your lakefront condo or catch a glimpse of the planes as they come into view between office towers. For photos I find that in addition to the CNE grounds you can get some good photos from Hanlans Point Beach beside the Island Airport, or along the lake further to the west of Exhibition Grounds.
Canada 150 colours on the CF-18
"During our 68 year tenure, the
Canadian International Air Show has hosted many ‘firsts’ including appearances by the now-retired Concorde, the first Canadian visit by the United States Air Force’s fifth-generation F-22 Raptor fighter jet and the RCAF’s F-86 Sabre in 1952 which, after two tries, broke the sound barrier, providing the crowd with its first opportunity to hear a sonic boom. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels appeared at the Canadian International Air Show for the first time in 1956. The beloved Canadian Forces Snowbirds made their Toronto debut in 1973. Long before Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield saw the world from space, he came to our historic show as the back up CF-18 pilot in the early 1980s. We are proud to be part of this Canadian tradition in continuing to inspire people to follow their dreams."
CF Snowbirds - Canada 150 Maple Leafs
Canada's premier aerobatic team flies the Canadian Forces twin seat CT-114 Tutor jet in shows across North America since their formation in 1967. In September this year they are performing at 9 locations in Canada and the United States in addition to many flyovers for special occasions - like the recent flyover of Halton Hills, Ontario in celebration of their winning the 'most patriotic town in Canada' and over Nathan Phillips Square as the Royal Canadian Air Force received new Colours.
The jets scream out from over the Toronto Islands or from north of the city and begin their performances, surprising the crowds as the noise comes after their appearance. This year will feature a number of planes and will include an American Heritage Flight where the old and new fly together. The planes scheduled to perform are: Canadian (North American) Harvards with a Beech 3NM Expeditor, Gord Price and the YAK-50, Mike Wiskus and the Lucas Oil Pitts Special, United States Heritage Flight featuring an F-22 Raptor and a P-51 Mustang, the Royal Canadian Air Cadet League with a Bellanca Scout Tow-Plane and a Schweizer 2-33 Glider, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and a CF-18 Hornet.
See more of the planes after the jump.
On September 1, 2017 Toronto Mayor John Tory proclaimed Royal Canadian Air Force Day and the RCAF was presented with new Colours. A military parade and a flyover by historical and current aircraft took place at Nathan Phillips Square.
"The City is honoured to host the Colours ceremony," said Mayor John Tory. "This is a wonderful opportunity for Torontonians to express the pride and gratitude we have for our air force, and to recognize the long history we have shared that dates back to the First World War. On behalf of our city, I offer congratulations to every member of the Royal Canadian Air Force on receiving your new Colours, and say thank you for your service and for bringing this significant and memorable event here for us to witness."
And here are some photos from the weekends airshow.
Snowbirds
Heritage Flight
Harvards
Saturday's schedule; Flying Starts 12:00PM
- CF-18 Hornet Demo
- Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team
- Mike Wiskus & Lucas Oil Pitts Special
- David Tommasini - Sikorsky Helicopter
- Gordon Price - YAK-50
- USAF F-22 Demo
- USAF F-22 & P-51 Mustang Heritage Flight
- Beech 3NM Expeditor
- Boeing B75N-1 "Stearman" Bi-Plane
- Royal Canadian Air Cadets
- CH-146 Griffon Demo
- Canadian Forces Snowbirds
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