Northern Skies Air Show

Pin It

We did end up missing Papa's family reunion in Saskatchewan this weekend due to vacation scheduling challenges, but on Friday, we got a tease for our very important consolation prize.

As soon as I heard the familiar rumble, I ran outside barefoot (because I CAN do that when it is not sub-Arctic temperatures), with my sunglasses on and face looking upwards. 

I yelled for the girls to come outside and sit on the grass. 

Confused but compliant, they did, and were treated to a preview of the Northern Skies airshow! 

I think my neighbour, Jaime, and I were much more excited than the kids, seeing as we are of the Top Gun era, and both of our husbands are in aviation, and we grew up with airshows in our back yard.

Yellowknife is about the size of Miramichi, so it is nice to have the busy airport sounds overhead all the time.  I missed it. 

But, the Snowbirds?!  Yeah, baby!! 

The girls FINALLY understood why I was so excited about the airshow this weekend. 

They kept thinking that Snowbirds were ptarmigan. 

Somehow, I can't imagine a ptarmigan getting up to any significant speed. 

While the Snowbirds were thrilling when buzzing our neighbourhood, the girls did find other things to keep them busy during the long rehearsal. 

Like a dirt wheel.  Second only to the puddle wheel. 

Jaime and I kept our eyes on the sky. 

Huh?  What's up mom?  Why do you and Jaime keep yelling and jumping up and down, because I think it's noisy and weird.

I didn't have my camera on hand later in the afternoon when the CF-18 roared through (nor was I going to miss the teaser), but Jaime and I whooped and hollered and had a grand ol' time. 

Top Gun has united a generation of women forever.

The very next day, on Saturday, the family went to the airport for the show.

Eli loves airshows as much as I do.

We had a pretty sweet set up at the airshow with our umbrella, chairs, and picnic lunch. 

The CF-18 Hornet started off the show!  Yeah, baby!

Up-freakin'-side down!! 

And, LOUD, baby!!  I loved the soundtrack they had for the airshow, it was wonderful.  But the Hornet's roar?  Unlike anything else!

Now, you put a Bon Jovi concert together with an airshow overhead, and I think my head would explode.  That would be the ultimate entertainment experience.

Check out how the air is compressing over the Hornet's cockpit.

Bernoulli's principle in action. 

The Hornet was specially painted with these beautiful snowflakes... 13 for the 13 provinces and territories. 

Now, that is just showing off.

Upside down with the landing gear out.  Love it! 

Miss A loved the pita and noise blockers we brought along.  The CF-18 is LOUD! 

Loud and fast.  Just the way I like an airshow. 

The CF-18 taxied right past us, and you can see the polar bear detail on the fin, and the snowflakes on the plane. 

Paco waved at the girls.  They thought that was awesome. 

Here's a vintage plane that treated us to a demonstration, but I didn't get a picture because Miss G had to use the washroom, and the line up was loooong. 

Miss G was also happy that Daddy brought along noise blockers for her.  We were sitting next to some military folks Eli knows, and they were very impressed with our preparedness. 

The water bombers also did a demonstration for the show. 

Eli grabbed my camera to snapped pictures of Super Dave in his stunt plane while I was in the endless potty line. 

Super Dave freaks me out, but what a show! 

The girls were amazed at the stalled plane, and controlled fall Super Dave does with the smoke trailing. 

The Griffin helicopters did a really amazing low show. 

At times, the rotating blades almost seemed to touch the ground! 

It is unbelievable what this helicopter can do. 

Miss A waving at the helicopter. 

This is potty break Number Deux.  This time, I grabbed my camera!  Look up! 

It's the Sky Hawks!! 

I think they were among the girls' favourites. 

I loved watching the formations, and the breaks. 

This parachutist must have spun around almost 20 times before coming in to land! 

Miss G was very impressed with the "rainbow" spiral! 

That's got to be liberating.  And, nauseating! 

All safe landings! 

The girls really loved the Canada flag parachutes. 

It looked beautiful with the blue sky.

This was a crazy formation. 

Check out the parachutist in the centre holding on the other two, while they have their legs locked together. 

And, BREAK! 

See you on the ground! 

Miss A was very focused on trying cotton candy for the first time.  She's not sure she liked it. 

Miss G was very sure she loved her lollipop!! 

And, Miss G practiced the art of relaxation. 

The Aurora did a demonstration for the crowd too. 

Eli has been a navigator on Auroras on previous postings, and can appreciate the nauseating lulling back and forth and in circles necessary to hunt submarines and the like. 

See that panel open?  Eli says that is where the torpedoes are kept.

Eli "helped" Miss A with her lollipop a bit, when she needed a break from the sugar.

And, Miss G perfected the art of relaxation. 

There's the water bomber we saw earlier!  Oh, no.  Wait.  That's a twin otter.  Oh well, they are both yellow.

And then, we had a break of anticipation as the closing act prepared itself... 

THE SNOWBIRDS!! 

It seems like forever since I've seen a show as good as this one!! 

I think it's because I miss the Miramichi Air Shows of days-gone-past. 

The Halifax Airshow just isn't the same... the crowds were larger, and the threat of rain was always there... 

But, Yellowknife was a lot like the airshows of my childhood, with a small enthusiastic crowd and clear blue skies.  I guess it just depends on where you grew up.

I love the Snowbirds. 

And, after this weekend, the girls are HUGE fans, too. 

Their stunts are truly unbelievable, and they make me nervous. 

But the beauty and grace of the demonstrations are breathtaking! 

Up, up, up... 

And, over! 

One of these things is not the same... 

This plane weaved around the other four planes...  I almost had a cow. 

It was amazing. 

They are just SO close together! 

Wow. 

Whoa. 

I popped on my wide angle lens for this one. 

The four-Snowbird heart, just under the Midnight Sun.  It was awesome!

Do you see the planes exiting at the bottom of the heart?   

Miss A was impressed, but the lollipop was still a pretty important priority! 

The girls did very very well for being outside in the sun for nearly five hours straight. 

This one is taken with the wide angle, too, because I didn't have a chance to switch to my large zoom lens in time, but THIS is a special formation designed this year for the Northern tour. 

It's an inukshuk!! 

The girls LOVED it! 

And, this, THIS is my favourite. 

It's the classic nine in a line finale exit, and I got the beautiful Northern sun in behind it.

It may be among my favourite pictures I've ever taken.

So, when the airshow comes to your town, do the Canadian thing and GO!