Saturday, July 16 to Monday, July 18, 2022 (Peace Arch RV Park, Surrey, BC)

Well, today is the day Steve has been waiting for...the Boundary Bay Air Show! Not as big or famous as the Abbotsford Air Show which is the largest in Canada, and in 2014 named one of the top ten Air Shows in the world, but for Steve, ANY air show is good!

Unfortunately, the weather forecast is a little sketchy...cloud and some rain in the morning with breaks of sun expected in the afternoon. Luckily we had no downpours...just some sprinkles on the way to the show.

Chris, Angela and Isaac arrived just before 10:30. We loaded our chairs and backpacks into their car and then all piled in and we were on our way. The Boundary Bay Airport is a short 15 minute drive west of here and as we took the exit, we joined the steady stream of vehicles going in. They were very organized with the pay parking lot ($10 for the day), having lots of folks directing us to a parking spot. Oh...by the way, the parking lot was a big lumpy hay field that had recently been mowed.

We followed the crowds heading to the entrance...and found our perfect spot to set up our chairs. Once settled, Steve, Chris and Isaac went off to check out the static display, leaving Angela and I to chat. I'll turn this over to Steve now.

There was no info on any of the planes on static display but I know what some of them are...

Republic RC-3 Seabee

I think this was a Hellcat...

Rear view...

Known as a Harvard in Canada (North American T-6 Texan in USA) was a WWII trainer. My uncle John wasn't old enough to serve in WWII but trained on the RCAF Harvard in the 50's.

This tiny plane has a rear engine and not much sitting room...

Russian Yak...

RCMP Chopper...

There was a display of British and North American cars...

A British Bobby with his police car...

Planes that will be performing in the airshow...

Grumman F8F Bearcat carrier based WWII fighter

Northern Stars Aerobatic Teams Pitts Special...

Military vehicles on display...

Sopwith Camel...

When they got back, we each took turns going to the numerous food trucks to check out what was offered and getting our lunch.

The crowds continued to thicken on both sides of us...a great turnout!

Then Angela, Isaac and I went for a little wander...here is Isaac sitting in the helicopter that Steve took a photo of earlier... 

At the fire truck...

Then it was time to get back to our seats...the air show was about to start! Isaac is ready!

Back to Steve...

The show started off with Brent Handy of the Northern Stars Aerobatic Team in his Pitts Special. A veteran of the RCAF flying CF-18 Hornet Fighters and a former member of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds Demonstration Team

Later this Russian Yak taxied by in preparation for his show... 

Meanwhile this Gulf Stream business jet took off and did a few flybys...

Then the Russian Yak began his show...

Next up from Toronto, Ontario was an off duty airline pilot in his Giles 202..

A slow flyby by a lady from Washington State in her chopper...

Somebody forgot his hat and sunglasses...Isaac wants those cool glasses back Chris!😂

We saw Vicky Benzing a few years ago at the airshow in Qualicum. She's a very accomplished lady from California with a PHD in chemistry, as well as being an accomplished stunt pilot, skydiver, and air racer. She also holds an airline transport pilot rating, a commercial rating in helicopters, seaplanes and gliders. In 2015 she became the fastest women racer ever in the history of the Reno Air Races! 

Flying her Stearman...

She taxied by waving to the crowd...

Next up was Brad Wursten from Utah in his MXS-R. This pilot was a real hotshot snapping his plane violently in every direction possible! You would need to see it on video to really appreciate his talent...

The paint job on his plane was spectacular!

Yellow Thunder Team...brothers Brad and Drew Watson from Alberta taking off in their Harvards...

From Oregon's Erickson Aircraft Collection the Vought F4U Corsair Fighter taking off in the wake of the Harvard's smoke...

Also from the Erickson Collection the Grumman F8F carrier based fighter...

F8F Bearcat...

F4U Corsair...

The Bald Eagle behind the Corsair was chased away before the show started but continued to soar over the airfield during the entire show!

The F8F Bearcat chasing the F4U Corsair...

Apparently the Corsair and Bearcat were to land but decided to join up with the Harvards...

They did a flyby in honour of all veterans...

The Corsair...

...and Bearcat broke formation and landed...

Allowing Yellow Thunder to get on with their show...

The grand finale was the Northern Stars Aerobatic Team in their Pitts Special...

They are all veteran RCAF pilots...

They had announced a few times that the Boundary Bay Airport was the busiest airport in Canada which I found hard to believe, so I looked it up later on. It's the busiest airport by "aircraft movement", not by "passenger traffic", which is Toronto.

For a small air show it was pretty good, ending just before 4:00...and after packing up our stuff, we joined the stream of people walking back to their cars. Luckily, the walk wasn't as long as the walk in...a gate had been opened that went right to the parking lot!

Unfortunately, the exit out of the parking lot was not as organized as it had been coming in. There were no flaggers giving directions and it was basically a free-for-all as all the vehicles tried to exit. 

Once back at the trailer, Isaac wanted to go to the pool...he loves the water and will be taking swimming lessons next month. So Chris and Angela also put on their suits and we all went down to the pool. We watched for a bit, took pictures and then left them to have fun in the pool while we went back to get things prepared for dinner.

It really is a nice pool...

They weren't long and after relaxing for a bit, Steve fired up the barbeque and got the burgers on. Dinner time!

A fun day for all!

Sunday (July 17) was another cloudy cool day. Steve spent the day working on the over 500 pictures he/we took yesterday...yes, it took him all day! I did laundry and putz'd around. We did manage to get out walking...a couple of 'rounds' around the campground.

Monday (July 18) morning after our usual start to the day, Steve brought the car up to our site and started packing it...while I worked on the blog. We are heading over to "the Island" (Vancouver Island) tomorrow to spend (almost) 3 weeks...visiting family and friends...with the final week camping with our son, Rob, and his family. We will be joining them at Cluxewe Resort...a campground on northern Vancouver Island to go fishing. It's a very busy time of year for them with the "Pinks" running (Salmon). By the time we decided we'd like to join them, all of the cabins were reserved...but, we managed to get one of the last tent sites. Yes, we are going full circle...Rob offered his tent, so we are going to be tenting for a week! The things one does to spend a week with their grandkids...LOL!

So...stay tuned to see how we make out!