The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will mark Canada Day with what’s projected to be among the largest military fly-pasts in Canadian history.
Dozens of aircraft are set to fly over the capital in what the military has called a “parade in the sky,” lasting about 20 minutes on July 1. The celebration coincides with the RCAF’s 100th anniversary.
“I think a lot of Canadians don’t realize how many aircraft we have in the RCAF and all the different roles that they do,” said Capt Luke Larson, a CH-149 Cormorant pilot, in an interview with CTV News.
“To see them all operating at the same time should be pretty neat to see where we have come in 100 years.”
The flypast will feature more than 45 aircraft, including one from every RCAF fleet, and several historic and “future” planes and helicopters.
“One hundred years is a pretty big deal for any air force in the world, and we’re really proud to do this,” Maj Matthew Strong, 1 Canadian Air Division senior public affairs officer, told CTV Ottawa.
At around 1 p.m. local time, the aircraft will fly past three Ottawa locations, starting just south of the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum and continuing west over Parliament Hill before the formal Canada Day ceremony at LeBreton Flats Park.
An aerial demonstration by the Canadian Forces Snowbirds is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Parliament Hill.
The participating aircraft reportedly include the CT-156 Harvard II, the CC-177 Globemaster, CC-330 Husky, CF-188 Hornets; CH-148 Cyclone, CH-147 Chinook, CH-149 Cormorant and CH-146 Griffon helicopters, among several others.
An Avro Lancaster Mk. X and a North American B-25 Mitchell bomber from Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, and Fleet Finch Mk. II light biplane trainer, are among the historic aircraft set to take part.
