It was August 1983 at the Abbotsford International Airshow in beautiful Abbotsford British Columbia where it all began for me. Just a young boy at the time my Dad brought me into a new world that I had never experienced before…..the airshow!
The airshow announcer “Bob Singleton” told everyone that a special guest aircraft was getting ready for takeoff and that they should put the coffee on for the crew, as the aircraft wouldn’t be long getting to the show! The aircraft was the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird departing from Beale AFB California and would make a few flybys and then continue on with its unknown mission. I can remember the sight and sound of this amazing black alien looking jet as it roared by making my entire body tremble with its deep incredible sound. From this point on I have been so fascinated by the Blackbird, wanting to know every fact (most were secret at the time) and collect as many pictures as I could.
The SR-71 wasn’t the only aircraft that caught my eye, it was the last year of the CF-101 Voodoo, the Hawk Squadron from Comox was known for their timely full afterburner arrivals just as the opening ceremonies began, drowning out the speaker. It was awesome stuff, loud and low over the crowd. This was also the year of the first airshow demonstration flight of the “New” CF-18 Hornet – yes that dates me just a little bit..
Here is just a taste of what it was like to see an SR-71 at an airshow, this great video from the year of Expo 86 in Vancouver BC.
Video by: whiteranger84
