6/23/2008 - Quebec Airshow Celebrates the City’s 400th Anniversary [VIDEOS]
Billed as the "biggest airshow on the continent", Quebec's Jean-Lesage Airport rocked with weekend excitement beginning on June 13th. A Friday night show featured a sunset full-length performance of the Royal Air Force Red Arrows. Their kaleidoscope formation with red, white and blue smoke against a clear orange sky was spectacular.
SkyHawks parachute team displayed multiple members joined together floating to earth. Skip Stewart dazzled the crowds in his modified Pitts.
As darkness fell, two hot air balloons glowed, signaling the beginning of aerial fireworks produced by Dan Buchannan from his glider. After flying wing walker Teresa, Gene Saucy returned to the sky with his solo version of sparklers, flares and more fireworks. Blue Angels Fat Albert gave a fiery jet assist take-off as did Les Shockley in his Jet truck. The climax of the night show was the 50
th NORAD and Quebec 400th anniversary edition of the CF-18 Hornet screaming past the crowd with a blast from Rich Gibson's famous wall of fire. Then a giant fireworks display erupted. All that and it is only Friday with Saturday and Sunday shows yet to go.
Although Saturday weather began nicely, by afternoon, scattered showers dampened the show but the full schedule was completed. All four military jet teams performed, USN Blue Angels, USAF Thunderbirds, RAF Red Arrows and the Canadian Snowbirds.
Never seen before in Canada was the flight with a Rocketbelt. Rocket man Eric Scott soared high into the air with a Star Wars style demonstration. The Rocketbelt was devised by the United States military in 1961 but has since been used for performances and displays around the world. The super-powered generator is mounted on a fiberglass corset that is strapped to the pilot. Two rocket nozzles fire super-heated hydrogen peroxide steam to propel the pilot into flight. The belt is then maneuvered with basic controls, including a throttle.
In addition to the night show acts, one weekend highlight was the thrilling X-Team performance. Members included Skip Stewart, Gene Soucy, Les Shockley and Rich's Incredible Pyro. Soucy's Showcat and Stewart's Pitts seem to battle and charge Shockley's relentless Jet Truck. Each plane crosses the path of the other accented with a variety of pyrotechnics. A wall of fire ends the contest and the act.
Record crowds filled the grounds for all shows, even on Sunday which started with a rainstorm. Estimates for the weekend were over 160,000 in attendance. Although Sunday's schedule had weather delays, most of the acts went on. Aside from an amazing lineup of performers, the static displays selected reflected the best in Canadian military along with some interesting antique and civil aircraft. From the new CC-177 Globemaster III to the reliable Challenger 601-3A, Dash 8 Water Bomber it was all there. Even a B-52H graced the ramp along with the fighters.
Having an international airshow concurrently with scheduled air carrier traffic using only one runway is indeed challenging. But it worked famously. With meticulous planning and determination the people of Quebec did indeed have an Airshow that is worthy of a 400th Anniversary celebration. Happy Birthday Quebec! And many, many more. -Betty Meyer, See Photo Gallery.
FMI: ALAv Stories- Airshow Opens , Quebec Fans
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