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Slightly beneath a century in the past, Canada’s army management appeared to Calgary for related causes that industrial airline executives have chosen it as their headquarters: its blue skies.
“Alberta’s contribution was very vital due to the climate,” says Bob Wade, a former member of Canada’s aerobatic crew and retired air drive pilot who now works on the Air Drive Museum of Alberta.
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The Canadian militia established within the early Thirties the Currie Barracks, nonetheless generally known as such, turning into a facility housing a number of corps and the Royal Canadian Air Drive (RCAF).
Air-force exercise within the space peaked throughout World Conflict II when a triangular air strip was constructed to coach Commonwealth pilots. “Right here in Calgary, we get extra days of sunshine than in most locations, and it was deemed to be the most effective space through which to try this coaching,” Wade mentioned.
Whereas Calgary’s function in Canada’s air drive has sharply dwindled for numerous causes for the reason that Fifties, that historical past is a component and parcel with the RCAF’s early footprint in Canada — one which shall be highlighted over the approaching months because the air drive celebrates its a hundredth anniversary.
These celebrations will start Monday at Calgary’s Air Drive Museum in Currie Barracks — an space acquainted to most Calgarians that, regardless of its distinctive structure, makes its historical past with the RCAF recognized via historic artifacts planted across the neighbourhood.
Beginning at 10:30 a.m. Monday, the museum will rejoice the opening of the RCAF Centenary exhibition within the Founders’ Gallery — an exhibit that can rejoice “human expertise in Canadian army aviation over the previous century,” which is able to embrace interactive components, and mix private narrative and materials tradition, in accordance with the Air Drive Museum Society of Alberta.
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Afterward Monday at 1:50 p.m., Mayor Jyoti Gondek and Col. Andrew Abbott will increase the RCAF flag shortly after a flyover by an RCAF Gonzo, a closely modified De Havilland Sprint 8 plane primarily based out of Winnipeg that the RCAF makes use of for coaching. (De Havilland is at the moment constructing a significant campus simply exterior of Calgary that’s anticipated to price tons of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars}.)
Dan Rossi, chief coaching pilot at RCAF who shall be flying the aircraft over Calgary, mentioned Calgarians ought to look upwards at precisely 2:01 p.m. on Monday. Nevertheless, attributable to authorized limits on how low he can fly, the aircraft received’t be bigger than one’s thumb pointed on the sky, he mentioned.
“It’s not going to be all that thrilling,” Rossi mentioned jokingly. Rossi will fly in from Winnipeg on Monday, dropping his altitude to 1,000 ft when he reaches Drugs Hat and can maintain that peak alongside Freeway 3 till he reaches Crowsnest Move.
“I’m simply glad to do it … I serve this nation to attempt to give one thing again as a result of I’m pleased with it,” he mentioned.
Whereas Calgary’s direct involvement with the army has shrunk for the reason that Second World Conflict, the town has landed a number of contracts that make it a contributor to Canada’s nationwide defence efforts.
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Most lately, Calgary-based Arcfield Canada Corp. was awarded a $211.6-million contract from Canada’s Division of Nationwide Defence. The contract will permit the corporate to proceed offering upkeep for Canada’s ageing CF-18 fighter fleet.
Final January the federal authorities ended a long-standing debate over find out how to section out its CF-18s when it introduced it’s shopping for 88 Lockheed Martin F35 jets for $19 billion.
Canada’s CF-18s shall be about 50 years previous after they’re totally phased out in 2032.
The brand new F35s shall be primarily based out of Chilly Lake, Alta. — one among Canada’s largest fighter jet bases.
Monday’s celebrations received’t be the final commemorating the RCAF’s centennial: The museum has 5 extra occasions deliberate over the following yr, Wade mentioned, together with one at Calgary Stampede and the Little Britches Rodeo in Excessive River.
The Stampede celebration will embrace a flyover through the parade whereas an previous decommissioned RCAF aircraft shall be towed via the procession, Wade mentioned.
mscace@postmedia.com
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