Air Show

[SchlongConery]

im not looking to enter dogfights ha ha. how long would it take to learn how to fly a plane? took me like a year to learn how to drive a car

It's not really that hard to learn to fly an airplane.

You can learn how to handle the controls enough to take-off, fly and land in a week or two over about 10-20 hours of ground and flight instruction.

Earning your pilot's license as a part-time recreational activity seems to take about a year and about 60 hours of flight time and 40 hours of ground school/self study.

Improving your skills and judgement as a pilot is a wonderful, never ending journey! I recently got checked out in a very interesting airplane and it was a challenge and a blast!

 

[SchlongConery]

I love the airshow, however I would say the biggest problem is the lack of interesting performers. It's pretty much the same thing year after year.
....
There's a few other planes but nothing to up the wow factor.

Then my friend you NEED to experience the Reno Air Races two weeks from now! Sept 13-17 http://airrace.org

There is NOTHING like it. The feeling of the incredible power of 4500 hp piston aircraft flying past at 500mph is somethng that cannot be recorded and replayed, it can only be experienced. But here is an example of what you will hear. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDpi2esvm4M

They have all the jet aerobatic teams, and they even have fighter jet races!

There are constant air show performances between races. Here is this year's line up of performers! http://airrace.org/event/events/performers/


I am leaving for Reno next Monday! See you there!

 

[SchlongConery]

Here are three, 45 minute episodes of last year's air races!

You can also search on Youtube for more Reno Air Race videos.

Episode 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JlCzCLCpFk

Episode 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9K3ioEcebA

 

[explorerzip]

You probably guess that I was just kidding. Anyway, there are computer games where one can engage in dogfights.

You can learn how to fly at a flight training school. It's fairly expensive.
https://www.bramptonflightcentre.com/

BTW: Flight training schools is where the 9/11 hijackers learned to fly but not land.

There are also civil aviation games too. You could sign up your kids to air cadets and they can learn how to fly gliders.

 

[SkyRider]

There are also civil aviation games too.

But, do they have dogfights? I want dogfights.

Anyway, we went to see the air show to-day. The weather was really uncooperative. Dark, cool (actually bit cold at times), cloudy, windy and topped off by a shower.

BTW: Saw Fuji on his soapbox lecturing the masses.

 

[explorerzip]

But, do they have dogfights? I want dogfights.

There are fighter jet games too you know.

 

[Boss Nass]

how hard is it to fly? pilot enthusiasts here

Everyone is different. Some find it easy, others never get the hang of it. To me it seemed like second nature, whizzed through in far less time than normal. Sadly, medical issues cropped up and they ended it.

 

[exploration]

I find the cne horrible for traffic, we should cancel the whole thing. So are hockey nights and baseball nights. Cancel those too. During the 150 celebrations. Too much noise, we should never celebrate our country's bday again.

Seriously our society is so darn vanilla these days. Yes the airshow is noisy but its not everyday Thousands and thousands of ppl enjoy it. Its a chance to see something most ppl dont get to see often if ever. And it keeps in a way, military expenditures relevant.

Plus i have fond memories of taking a date to the ex and after the air show / cne we got busy in my old mans car. Was a great day

 

[anotherwebguy]

Last time I went to the air show downtown Toronto, it was when the SR-71 Blackbird rocket spy plane made an appearance. It disappeared in a minute when it thrusted back home and out of view.

I also saw the F-15 Eagle which was pretty amazing. It went almost 90 degrees to demonstrate it's power to soar straight up. Then it demonstrated it's air brakes. Awesome plane.

I got a free viewing of several Blue Angels fighter-jets circling in tight formation near home in Etobicoke just above Lambton Golf Course. Awesome.

Wow, I also saw the Black Bird (how many years ago was that?), it was an incredible sight, the tongue of flame that came out of the engines when they lit it up to head home was as long as the entire aircraft.

I have great memories of past Toronto air shows - the Avro Vulcan was spectacular (I am dating my self lol!), as was the aerial "ballet" put on by a pair of Harrier's that soaked the audience with spray from the lake. The Nimrod and Snowbird accidents were indeed tragic.

Seems that there are few superstars these past years to make it worth the trip downtown, but I would hate to see it cancelled.

The Trenton and Hamilton airport airshows are great, because you can walk around the aircraft on static display, as well as see them fly. Shame they don't have a static viewing opportunity at the Island or Downsview airport to go along with the aerial display.

 

[Terminator2000]

stupid question but where do u guys go to watch the airshow? i know everyone is going to say the cne. but is that really the best viewing spot for it?

 

[Tiger]

stupid question but where do u guys go to watch the airshow? i know everyone is going to say the cne. but is that really the best viewing spot for it?

CNE and Ontario place have the best sightlines, also Marilyn Bell park
Plus most of the manouvres are planned right above that spot, some of the tumbling passes are done within 500-1000m of the grandstands

I got there late, so I couldn't find parking and Lakeshore was a mess. So I went to Liberty Village and watched from a parking lot there (always have camp chairs and beer in my car!) There are only three story buildings there so you can almost see the horizon

But, that being said, i was probably only 2km away from the action, just north of the Gardiner, and it was STILL too far for me to see the low passes. I will bike there next year.
#lessonlearnedagain

 

[GameBoy27]

stupid question but where do u guys go to watch the airshow? i know everyone is going to say the cne. but is that really the best viewing spot for it?

I've watched the show from center stage which is on the waterfront, just west of Ontario Place. Like Tiger said, the upside is you're in the middle of all the action. The downside is, unless you cycle there, the parking is a nightmare and you're always staring directly into the sun.

I prefer to cycle to the island and walk to the north end of Hanlan's Point and sit on the beach. Take some snacks and your favourite beverage and enjoy the show. You're a little further away but it still offers a good vantage point and some of the planes fly right overhead. And you're not staring into the sun.

 

[explorerzip]

stupid question but where do u guys go to watch the airshow? i know everyone is going to say the cne. but is that really the best viewing spot for it?

For a different experience, take a boat onto Lake Ontario while the air show is going on. You will have to keep clear and the cops will chase you out of a predefined area. But you get an unobstructed view and if you get lucky the planes come right over head.

 

[GameBoy27]

For a different experience, take a boat onto Lake Ontario while the air show is going on. You will have to keep clear and the cops will chase you out of a predefined area. But you get an unobstructed view and if you get lucky the planes come right over head.

I used to take my Sea-Doo out on the lake to watch the show. You were able to get surprisingly close and it was an amazing vantage point. But since the last crash, you can't get anywhere near the outer harbour. No longer worth it in my opinion. Hanlan's Point beach offers a better view than the water now.

 

[explorerzip]

I used to take my Sea-Doo out on the lake to watch the show. You were able to get surprisingly close and it was an amazing vantage point. But since the last crash, you can't get anywhere near the outer harbour. No longer worth it in my opinion. Hanlan's Point beach offers a better view than the water now.

Definitely not worthwhile with a Sea-Doo since you'd be bobbing around. But a bow-rider or cabin cruiser is nice since you can slow down a bit and have a drink.

 

[Hugh G. Rekshun]

I would like to see a flyby of an Airbus A380,that would be cool.

The Airbus A380 is huge. A couple of weeks ago I was on Airport Road near the Wendy's when an Emirates Airlines A380 came in low to land on the Pearson Airport runway on the other side of the road. I think it was about 4:15 or 4:20 in the afternoon, so I guess it was a little late arriving according to their schedule.
http://www.emirates.com/ca/english/...tes_a380/emirates_schedule/dubai-toronto.aspx

The Trenton and Hamilton airport airshows are great, because you can walk around the aircraft on static display, as well as see them fly.

I think it's been a year or two since Hamilton last had their airshow. I had seen B-17s, a B-29, DH Mosquito, replica FW-190 and ME-262 there.
I would agree with the others that the Toronto airshow now seems to have a lack of attractions compared to how it used to be.

No F35s?

Supposedly there will be one (or maybe two?) of them in London ON this coming weekend.
http://airshowlondon.com/performers/

 

[GameBoy27]

Definitely not worthwhile with a Sea-Doo since you'd be bobbing around. But a bow-rider or cabin cruiser is nice since you can slow down a bit and have a drink.

Actually, the Sea-Doos were a great way to watch the show. We'd pack a beverage and float around watching the show. We did that for years until the crashes, at which point you could no longer get anywhere close to a good vantage point. The Police marine unit patrols the water and will chase anyone who tries to enter the restricted area.

I was on the beach and there wasn't a boat for as far as the eye could see. In other words, no point in being in a boat if you want to watch the show.