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Canadian International Air Show 2009: Blue Angels

By Marc Lostracco

Every September, Torontonians are enthralled by the sounds and sights of jet aircraft overhead during the Canadian International Air Show. Hamish Grant will be documenting some of the airborne events for Torontoist over the next few days.
Here, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron arrives today at Pearson International Airport ahead of the show this weekend, with seven Boeing F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets and the large C-130T Hercules transport plane, known as “Fat Albert.” The Blue Angels, established in 1946, have been flying the Hornet for twenty-three years, and during this year’s season, they will fly sixty-nine air shows in the United States.
The F/A-18 Hornet has a top speed of Mach 1.7 (almost 2,000 km/h), a combat radius of more than five hundred nautical miles, and each aircraft costs about $20 million. The C-130 is one of the most versatile transport aircrafts, serving the militaries of fifty countries worldwide. “Fat Albert,” though supporting the Navy squadron, is actually operated by the U.S. Marine Corps.
All photos by Hamish Grant/Torontoist.

Comments

  • http://undefined McKingford

    Every September, Torontonians are enthralled by the sounds and sights of jet aircraft overhead
    Uh, no. Some Torontonians are enthralled. And some others are highly annoyed.

  • http://undefined brianyyz

    Glad to see the Torontoist has bought into the propaganda. Huzzah!

  • http://www.torontoist.com David Topping

    “Enthrall” also means “to enslave, bring into bondage” and “To ‘enslave’ mentally or morally.” Stop jet persecution!

  • http://www.bitpicture.com Marc Lostracco

    Propaganda? It’s photos of bad-ass airplanes, not a comment on contemporary armed conflict. C’est ça.

  • http://undefined dowlingm

    Fat Albert (or just Albert) is used more generally to describe Hercs, rather than just the one supporting the Angels.
    As for those who are annoyed rather than enthralled – we don’t get to vote on Tamil protests, cyclist protests, Labour Day rallies, (National) Day parades in various districts etc.etc.etc. and they all annoy somebody.
    My beef with the Air Show is that they don’t have a static display :)

  • http://www.twitter.com/vicdezen Vic De Zen

    If you’re at the air show, you’re enthralled. If you’re anywhere in the general vicinity of the CNE you’re extremely annoyed. In any event it is a great show!

  • wesshepherd

    Sorry, but if you’re in the city, it’s not just jets that provide intrusive noise. You may want to re-think your choice of location.
    I hear there are many thousands of acres of land up north where you won’t hear anything at all, ever.
    Some people just can’t seem to get much fun out of anything!