edenvale classic aircraft foundation
Hangar F, Edenvale Aerodrome, 5195 Hwy 26 E., Stayner ON, L0M 1S0  705-818-2223

 

Classics' preparations pay off
by Peter Walpole

A safe and successful flight begins with planning and a pre-flight walk-around. The Gathering of the Classics began with almost a year of planning-followed by a pre-event work party. With eyes on the weather forecast, everything was put in place: memos sent out, advertising, invitations to guests, notices, safety barriers, port-a-potties… It's a lot of work! Saturday July 30 arrived to perfect weather-sunny, warm, almost cloudless. Everything was ready. The Collingwood Classic Aircraft Foundation was again hosting the Classics fly-in: classic, antique, and 'interesting' aircraft were invited to drop by Collingwood Airport (CNY3) to show to the public. And this they did.

"Turn to port and park"

Tiger with cousins

Time to head for home

By 09:00 the volunteers were in place and planes started to arrive. For the first hour and a half they arrived at a rate of over one a minute. By 13:30 a quick tally showed about 250 visiting planes: classics, ultralights, 'spamcans', 'copters.

A two-seat Bell 47 of MASH vintage was dwarfed by a Canadian Forces CH-146 Griffon, and a smart, black private helicopter. In front of the terminal vintage planes were squeezed into three rows. Low wings, high wings, biplanes-somehow the Tiger Moths and similar cousins clustered together.

Out alongside the closed grass runway sat beautiful flying delta wing 'kites'. An increasing number of modern planes (both classic designs and homebuilt) soon lined up. On the other side of the terminal vintage and classic cars congregated-getting lots of attention from 'boys' and their sons.

Visiting pilots and the volunteers were able to enjoy a bacon-on-a-bun lunch in the marquee. Outside the local RAA offered refreshments, while the airport's small coffee shop did a brisk business.

Just past noon those in the know worried that the Lancaster bomber might not arrive from Hamilton. Under the PA tent, the CCAF's General Richard Rohmer was preparing to say a few words and meet with veterans from his WWII flying days. His sharp fighter pilot's eyes caught the first glimpse of the black silhouette low on the horizon.

Where was the best location to get my photos of the Lanc? Out by the runway I'd already met famed aviation photographer (and COPA member) Eric Dumigan. So I positioned myself next to him and shot off a few dozen images of the bomber as it did two low passes (clean and dirty) down the runway. A sight to remember and shots to keep!

The departing Lancaster was a signal to some pilots that it was time to get lunch, to fuel up, and make a leisurely departure towards home. The aprons, parking fields, and runway became busy once again.

Pilots seemed to have taken to heart that the Collingwood Classics is a fly-in, a meet and greet the public, not an air show. Pilots were disciplined, ultra careful, and very willing to share their time and knowledge with the visitors. Planning had paid off-big time.