Abbotsford Airshow Offers a Sweet & Sour Performance

I love airshows and yet I haven’t seen one in years. I think I was 9 years old the last time I had a chance to see the Snowbirds. The whole family was in Quebec City and we waited for 2 hours before they finally show up. When you are a kid, 2 hours seem like a month! So now, being grown up and all, I did not even know what to expect but I decided to take a road trip to Abbotsford for the well known Abbotsford Airshow. It was the 45th edition so everything was in place for a lovely afternoon.

I have to admit, between the current Canadian & US AirForce planes and their historic equivalents laying on the ground, the air show was definitely the most interesting part. And yes, the snowbirds were there, I was thrilled like the last time I saw them. Seriously, they are great. They made a heart in the sky with exhaust smoke on a Celine Dion’s song. So nice. To tell you the truth, I am rarely patriotic about Canada but the sequence where they made a pass with the Diamond Formation was absolutely spectacular. The picture was quite nice too:

I have some more. You can find all my pictures of the Abbotsford Airshow on my Picasa account.

That was for the sweet part. Concurrently during the same event though, armed army officers are walking around their army vehicles and dozens of information booths to recruit new Canadian forces personnel. They were giving away inflatable sticks that kids were beating each another with. I understand the concept of sponsors for that kind of events and the connection between the planes and the Canadian army. But, it is absolutely necessary to teach kids how to use guns during these events? Is it just me who finds it odd? Check it out, I took some pictures that are quite revealing:

The Abbotsford Airshow is a family event and I have serious reserve with regards to the relevance of having that many Canadian forces information booths, with guns that kids can try. And oh, I almost forgot, every 15 minutes, you could hear the sound of a real machine gun. Very entertaining. That deserves an adhack. 

Yeah, I know. It has nothing to do with search. But this topic is important enough to mention. Comments are welcome. 

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Comments

1. I love airshows. I’ve been in England last year and i’ve seen one spectaculous airshow where at least 30 planes were in air same time and evacuating colored smoke. It was unbelievable.

   Posted by Evaluari imobiliare on 03/26 at 05:04 AM

2. We have just had the 4 day Bournemouth Air Festival, allegedly the biggest FREE Air show in the world.  Shame the weather wasn’t great and the Vulcan was unable to make it due to a problem with its undercarriage, but hopefully this will become an annual event.  We did have the Red Arrows for three days and the incredibly loud Eurofighter Typhoon

   Posted by Adventure Art Travel on 09/01 at 11:02 AM

3. Great photos ! When we were in Ottawa we saw a glimpse of the Snowbirds. They are truly amazing!

   I also l-o-v-e the photos of cute kid with one eye closed. I can just see him 12 years from now graduating from high school! So sweet!

   Posted by Sweet SMS on 09/25 at 08:46 AM

4. Concurrently during the same event though, armed army officers are walking around their army vehicles and dozens of information booths to recruit new Canadian forces personnel.

   Posted by Display Booths on 10/23 at 03:10 AM

5. Live in the San Francisco area, and the Blue Angels did a show here recently. They did a Saturday show, though, so I couldn’t go because I had to work. Heard from colleagues that I missed one heck of a show!!

   Posted by water damage restoration on 11/23 at 11:26 PM

6. I live in the San Diego area have been to the Miramar Airshow a couple of times. These shows are great and do show the dedications these pilots put forth towards their trade.

   Posted by Strongest Brands on 01/15 at 11:30 PM

7. My dad said he took me and my brother when I was 2 to an airshow. Can you believe that..how mad I was. Never remembered a thing!

   Posted by hdtv antenna on 01/23 at 06:17 PM