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The 2014 Demonstration Hornet, shown here, commemorated the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 90th birthday. This year, the Hornet’s paint scheme – to be unveiled in the coming weeks – will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Corporal Amber Stuparyk Photo
For some, the lengthening of the winter days and the promise of spring means cottage weather is just around the corner.
For others, it means that airshow season is coming!
The CF-18 Demonstration Team has released its schedule for 2015. The team will appear at shows across North America beginning on May 1: from Texas to British Columbia to Prince Edward Island and many more points in between.
The team will thrill audiences with daring displays that will showcase the skill, professionalism and teamwork inherent in the women and men of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the Canadian Armed Forces. In many locations, the team will share the spotlight with the Snowbirds air demonstration team for twice the RCAF thrills.
Visit the CF-18 Demo Team website to find out where the team will be appearing. And check out their Facebook page to keep up to date with the latest news.
Every year, the CF-18 Hornet Demo Jet is painted in a special design commemorating a special event or aspect of the Canadian Armed Forces. This year’s paint scheme, honchoed as usual by the talented Jim Belliveau, a veteran design director from 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alta., will be unveiled in the coming weeks. The design will commemorate the Battle of Britain, which took place 75 years ago from August to October.
During the engagement, British, Canadian and other Allied fighter pilots, supported by ground crews, pushed back the Luftwaffe who were attempting to take control of the skies over the English Channel and southeastern England so that Hitler’s forces could invade. Against huge odds, more than 2,300 allied airmen, operating under the banner of the Royal Air Force, were victorious. As a result of this first conflict won entirely in the air, Hitler dropped his plans to invade England. The Battle of Britain changed the course of the Second World War and aviation history.
This year’s demo Hornet pilot is Captain Denis “Cheech” Beaulieu, who is a member of 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron located at 3 Wing Bagotville, Que.
“This job gives me the opportunity to celebrate aviation with audiences all over, while flying the Hornet in way that few pilots get to fly,” he said.
But Captain Beaulieu can’t do it alone. He will be supported by a highly capable crew of RCAF personnel from 3 Wing and 4 Wing who are hand-picked for their superior performance and dedication to excellence. Without the hard work of each and every team member, the CF-18 Demo Hornet would never get off the ground.
“Best of all, I get to do this all with a team of highly talented professionals who work together to put on a great show,” said Captain Beaulieu.
