Fly Day

Archive for September, 2011

So far, Fly Day 2011 is still a go. The forecast is not calling for rain during the day. However, wind and cloud heights are still factors. Please check back at 0730 tomorrow morning for another update or call (613) 523-2142 Extension 400. Please also note that the weather may limit the number of flights possible, and, as a result, wait times could be longer than anticipated.

Follow us on Twitter at ottawaflyday or, if you’re not on Twitter, you can still receive Fly Day updates via SMS by texting follow ottawaflyday to 21212 in Canada.

We will be providing weather and wait time estimates by Twitter and text message.  For more info on Fly Day, click on the ABOUT tab above.

Hope to see you there!

Throughout 2011, pilots from Vintage Wings of Canada have been touring Canada in tribute to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). The last stop on their “Yellow Wings” tour will be Fly Day at the Ottawa Flying Club

The BCATP, commonly known as “The Plan”, was a stunning achievement in aircrew training that involved small and medium-sized communities in every province across Canada (includingOttawa) and trained hundreds of thousands of aircrew from Canada, the Commonwealth and the United States.

Fittingly, the 2011 “Yellow Wings” tour has visited many of those communities to pay tribute their contributions to the war effort. It is the mission of Vintage Wings to “to celebrate Canada’s aviation heritage and inspire Canadians with powerful stories of the heroes, aircraft and events that make up this great legacy.”  And this year’s tour has accomplished that. The Ottawa airport was home to 2 Flying Service Training School during the war and, as such, Fly Day and the Ottawa Flying Club are thrilled to welcome the Vintage Wings’ pilots and aircraft on October 1^st and hope that Fly Day participants will have the opportunity learn about and be inspired this important legacy of Canadian heritage.

For more information on the BCATP, please visit the Yellow Wings website or view an informative webinar.

The 53nd Annual Fly Day is only one week away. Next Saturday,  October 1st, the Ottawa Flying Club and the Ottawa Rotary Club are hosting the annual Fly Day charity event. At Fly Day, people from the Ottawa area can take 20-minute sightseeing flights over the city. The cost is $35 per person, and the flights are provided by Ottawa Flying Club and other local pilots. Fly Day is a wonderful opportunity to see the nation’s capital from the air and is a popular event for families, with proceeds benefiting the Ottawa Rotary Home, long known for offering short-term respite care to families who have children with disabilities.  To imagine the National Capital Region from the seat of a small plane and learn about Fly Day and the Rotary Home, please watch the videos in earlier posts.  See you next Saturday!

(please note that Fly Day is a weather-dependent activity. No rain date is scheduled)

On Saturday, September 17, 2011, Vintage Wings of Canada is holding Wings Over Gatineau En Vol, a salute to Warbirds and Wingmen. Gates will open at 10:00 a.m with the flying demonstrations commencing at 11:00 a.m. The dynamic performance of the Canadian Forces’ Snowbirds is scheduled for approximately 3:15 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults (tax incl.), children under 13 FREE!

Wings over Gatineau will also include the second annual convention and fly-in for members of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), hosted by EAA Chapter 245 based in Carp. Over 200 recreational aircraft are anticipated to visit the Executive Gatineau-Ottawa Airport over the course of the three-day event from 16 -18 Sept 2011.

The lineup for this year’s show is promising to be something pretty special – especially if you happen to be a fan of warbirds, the purr of a Merlin on a fall day, the snarl of big Pratt & Whitney radials and the ever awe-inspiring Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds…

More information at http://envol.vintagewings.ca/