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The Avro Lancaster – belonging to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ont. – last year embarked on a seven-week tour of the United Kingdom with the only other airworthy bomber of its kind in the world, a Lancaster belonging to Britain’s Royal Air Force. Eric Dumigan Photo
Vintage Wings of Canada (VWC) and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) are joining forces in Canada’s Capital, Ottawa-Gatineau, and Hamilton this summer to offer an unprecedented opportunity to experience formation flying aboard iconic Second World War aircraft, including the North American P-51D Mustang, the Curtiss P-40N Kittyhawk and the legendary Avro Lancaster.
This is the same Lancaster – belonging to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ont. – which last year embarked on a seven-week tour of the United Kingdom with the only other airworthy bomber of its kind in the world, a Lancaster belonging to Britain’s Royal Air Force. The Mustang and Kittyhawk fighters are operated by Vintage Wings of Canada, a charitable organization based in Gatineau, Que.
“To fly in formation in this type of combat aircraft is the only way to experience what it might have been like for those aviation heroes who served Canada during the Second World War,” said Mike Potter, founder of Vintage Wings of Canada. “There is no more compelling way to live history than to be part of it like this.”
“Flying in a formation that includes a Lancaster is thrilling, memorable and emotional,” said Sqn Ldr (Ret.) David G. Rohrer, president and CEO of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. “It evokes the memories of the members of Bomber Command who were lost during World War II.”
SUMMER 2015 FORMATION FLIGHT SCHEDULE
As part of this exciting new partnership, three formation flights a day – at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. – will be offered at the following dates and locations:
From Vintage Wings of Canada in Ottawa-Gatineau
Address: 1699 Arthur Fecteau St., Gatineau, Que., at the Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport – 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa
June 6 and 7
June 26, 27, 28, 29 and July 1
September 19 and 20
From the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ont.
Address: 9280 Airport Rd. in Mount Hope, Ont., at the Hamilton International Airport
June 19, 20, and 21
August 15 and 16
BOOKING A FLIGHT
Persons who wish to ride in one of these aircraft must be members of either Vintage Wings of Canada or the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Memberships can be purchased online by visiting either the organization’s website.
The price for this unique experience is $3,000 plus tax, not including membership to VWC or CWHM. There are a total of six seats available per formation flight – four seats in the Lancaster, and one in each of the two accompanying fighters. In the event of rain, flights will be rescheduled the same weekend if possible.
Proceeds from the formation flights will go to the ongoing maintenance of the aircraft, as well as to the various educational programs of the two partner organizations.
For more information or to book a flight, visit either vintagewings.ca or warplane.com. You can also book a flight by calling 819-669-9603 (Vintage Wings of Canada in Ottawa-Gatineau) or 905-679-4183, ext. 236 (Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ont.)
