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Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:03 pm

I can confirm that when the Corsair was still at CWH the Canso was still yellow. I too wonder if all three ever flew together...even if the Canso was yellow.

Jim

Sat Dec 16, 2006 12:36 pm

Jim, August et al--

To my knowledge the CWH VC Flight never actually happened...one of the final HIASs to feature the Corsair ('97, maybe) they had all three on the move at once, but my only pic showing all three has one in the air and the other two on the ground. Correct also about the colour scheme of the Canso; she was still in Quebec Government waterbomber yellow and blue at the time the FG-1D went stateside.

But now, depending of course on what livery Mr Potter's F4U wears, given that there has already been cooperation between these two collections, perhaps now (a decade later!) we'll finally see the three VC aircraft flying together...Roll on 2007.

S.

Sat Dec 16, 2006 12:51 pm

They certainly did fly together, at the 1996 show - the Canso was indeed still in its firebomber colours at that time.

Since I moved to the US earlier this year, my photos have gone into storage, so I can't post a scan unfortunately.

That was a great show, with most of the CWH fleet in the air. I went back the following year (1997) and was sadly disappointed at the lack of CWH aircraft flying. Overall, it was a pale shadow of the previous year's show. I believe that the Hamilton show died altogether not many years after that.

Sat Dec 16, 2006 1:24 pm

Hi Mike--

Just got out the relevant binder of pix; the day I was there, at least, for HIAS '96, the Lanc and Corsair flew together but the Canso didn't join them. I have one pic showing the Canso taxiing nearby, the Corsair taxiing way off in the distance, and the Lancaster airborne in a turn. Would very much enjoy seeing a photo of all three flying together, if that happened on the other day of the show...

You're right, too, about HIAS '96 being an excellent event, and '97 being terribly "flat" in comparison. HIAS '96 was for nearly a decade the only event at which I saw a B-2. Correct also about the demise of the shows not too long afterward. The 2001 show was the final edition. Melancholy to think about, as there was so much on the horizon at that time; in particular, Waterloo-based collector/pilot Carey Moore, a hugely enthusiastic individual, had just joined the CWH board and brought along his newly-acquired Sea Fury to the show...Carey had grand plans somewhat in the vein of what we're now seeing with Mr Potter in the Ottawa area, but of course at HIAS '01 Carey (and the Fury) had only three weeks to live... :( HIAS died right after 9/11, but not because of that, rather for financial reasons plus the increasing busyness of Mt.Hope airport.

I think if there is ever a rebirth for HIAS, it would happen as a waterfront show like Toronto's, with spectators occupying the recently revived waterfront parklands on Lake Ontario. (And Hamilton's showline would face north--out of the sun--rather than south; so decent photos would actually be possible here!)

S.

Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:50 am

Image

Image

Image

Found some more photos from my days of working on this Corsair.
8)

Sun Dec 31, 2006 1:23 am

Mike,

will this press release be put on the VWoC website? The current press release on their page is from May 2006.

Sun Dec 31, 2006 11:36 am

There is a new website in the works. It is in the hands of a graphic artist right now. I have seen the samples and it will be impressive. I am sure it will include the press releases. In the mean time if there is anything you would like to know, or any material about VWC you would like to see let me know and I will post it on my VWC page at...
www.aerialvisuals/VWoC.html

Mike
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