Doomsday is coming to London, Ont.
Known for attracting a stellar lineup of military aircraft, this year’s Airshow London SkyDrive will include rare fly-bys of the U.S. Air Force E-4B airborne command post – nicknamed the “Doomsday plane.”
A modified Boeing 747 designed to carry the U.S. president and other decision-makers in a national emergency, the aircraft is equipped to stay aloft for up to a week with aerial refuelling.
Gerry Vanderhoek, Airshow London’s director of flight operations, believes this is the E-4B’s first time in Canada. While the aircraft will not be landing in London, it is scheduled to perform fly-bys on Sunday, Sept. 15.
The E-4B is just one of the major attractions Vanderhoek and his team have lined up for Airshow London 2024, running from Sept. 13-15.
“We are celebrating two big anniversaries this year,” he told Skies. “The RCAF’s 100th anniversary is bringing us the (Royal Air Force) Red Arrows; it’s their first time here in London. They’ll be accompanied by their Airbus A400M supply aircraft. The RCAF centennial is also bringing us the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team – it’s their first time in London, too.”
The other milestone on the calendar this year is the 50th anniversary of the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon.
“We’ll have two Falcons flying in the show, and there will be 16 of them nestled together in what we’re calling the ‘Falcon’s Nest,’ in the static display.”
High-flying acts over London will also include U.S. Coast Guard Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk and Airbus MH-65 Dolphin helicopters performing a search-and-rescue demonstration, as well as a refuelling demo with a C-17 Globemaster III and a KC-135 airtanker.
A Lockheed C-5 Galaxy and a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress will be huge draws on the static line, predicted Vanderhoek.
Local flavour will be injected by the Jet Aircraft Museum’s CT-133 “Red Knight;” a Spitfire, Mustang and Sea Fury from the Timmermans Legends of Flight collection in Chatham; London’s hometown aerobatics legend, Pete McLeod; and a Hawker Hunter aircraft belonging to the local International Test Pilots School.
“We also have 12 F-15s coming to the show. We could have had an ‘Eagle’s Nest,’ too,” joked Vanderhoek.
Also flying in Airshow London will be well-loved Canadian acts such as the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and the CF-18 Demo Team, with more RCAF acts to be confirmed in the coming days. Vanderhoek promised spectators will see “some spectacular formation fly-bys in honour of the RCAF’s 100th. Stay tuned!”
A unique experience
For the past three years, Airshow London has been ranked by readers of USA Today as North America’s best airshow. It’s a major accomplishment for the Canadian event, one Vanderhoek attributes partly to the show’s innovative SkyDrive format.
“Back in 2020, with all the pandemic restrictions, we had an amazing lineup and we were trying to figure out how to make it work,” he recalled. “I used to love sitting at the end of the runway watching planes. We dug in and got creative, designing a tailgating experience. We ended up marking off 20×20 parking spots to appease public health and ensure public safety. We gave each spot its own porta potty, and food was delivered by licence plate.”
Vanderhoek admits he expected the airshow to return to its traditional pedestrian format following the pandemic; but four years later, the SkyDrive is still going strong.
“We are 95 percent sold out with three weeks to go,” he said. “Fans love it! They can drive in with a carload of people for one price and have their own spot. They can bring their own food. We have trolleys to take them to the static area.”
The cost per car depends on the location of the parking spot. Prices range from $50 further back to $250 for the front row, which is just 400 feet from arriving and departing aircraft.
“If you have a group of cars coming together, you can book a grouping of vehicles all together.”
Vanderhoek added the show’s new Captain’s Club offers a traditional viewing experience, with guests seated in a VIP-type chalet. While those tickets are limited, he said they are not selling as fast as the parking spots.
“I think SkyDrive is a really unique experience. The airport layout suits it very well. A bonus is that thunderstorms only send people to their cars, instead of causing a mass exodus from the airfield, as in the past.”
Typically, Airshow London attracts between 50,000 to 70,000 people. Last year, attendees represented 22 countries; among them were guests from 27 U.S. states.
At the time of writing at the end of August, tickets were sold out for the Saturday show. Limited tickets were still available for Friday’s twilight performance and the Sunday show.
Vanderhoek is proud of the airshow’s success as Canada’s largest military air display. He is also passionate about using the event to inspire young people to consider aviation careers. On Thursday, Sept. 12, students from Fanshawe College and Western University will attend a special Red Arrows briefing and practice. On Friday morning, 5,000 Grade 6 students will descend on the airport to explore the aircraft and talk with crews.
“I love our airport here in London, and of course our airshow,” said Vanderhoek. “It’s something we don’t get to see every day. We’re always trying to keep airplanes apart day-to-day, but during an airshow weekend we try to bring them together.”
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Look forward every year to the best Airshow. Time to get together with my children, grandchildren and even my great grandson. The static display is I think one of the best in all of North America. Can’t wait to get there