It’s not every day that a CF-188 Hornet shares the sky with an Avro Lancaster bomber, but that was just one of the many spectacular sights witnessed at the 2024 Manitoba Airshow this past August.
Over 19,000 spectators arrived in Southport, Man., over the August long weekend to enjoy the Manitoba Airshow, the first airshow hosted at Southport in six years.
This year’s event was special for many reasons, including that it coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
To acknowledge the success of this year’s event, the Manitoba Airshow hosted an outdoor celebration beside a newly restored
Beechcraft Model 18 Expeditor aircraft, mounted alongside Southport’s main drag.
With staff, volunteers, and sponsors in attendance, Manitoba Airshow director, Colby Orchard, announced the financial success of the 2024 airshow allowed the organization to make charitable contributions of $145,000 to four military charities, in celebration of RCAF 100, along with two local volunteer groups, who supported the show. The recipients included:
| Charitable organization | Donation Amount |
| Soldier On | $35,000.00 |
| Military Family Resource Centre | $35,000.00 |
| RCAF Foundation | $35,000.00 |
| Air Cadet League of Manitoba | $35,000.00 |
| Trinity United Church | $2,500.00 |
| Child & Family Services of Central Manitoba Foundation Inc. | $2,500.00 |
Cheques were presented to the charities in attendance. The Manitoba Airshow is excited about the success of the 2024 show and looks forward to the next opportunity to host this great community event.
This press release was prepared and distributed by the Southport Aerospace Centre Inc.
