After a thrilling night of planes and pyrotechnics at the Abbotsford International Airshow’s first-ever twilight show last night, the performances begin again in the daylight.
Today and Sunday, gates to the airshow open at 9 a.m. and close at 6 p.m..
The airshow, which has been named one of the 10 best in North America, once again features a full range of performances, static displays and jet- and prop-fuelled fun.
Returning favourites include the CF-18 Hornet along with the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. The show is also welcoming new acts and performances, including a demonstration by one of only two flyable Mosquito airplanes in the world.
AIA president Jim Reith has been involved in airshows for 15 years and was a pilot in the late 1980s and early ’90s. He still gets excited to see the public descend on Abbotsford International Airport for one of the biggest events of the year.
“For me, it’s a labour of love,” he said. “As an air force pilot I was actively involved here. I flew here with the Snowbirds in ’79 and before that I flew here with the Voodoos in ’77, so it’s cool to come back on the organizational side, set it up and be involved in recruiting the different performers.
“It’s very gratifying.”
Part of that gratification comes from seeing months of planning pay off.
Organizing the airshow is a huge task, one that involves upwards of 1,000 volunteers, several committees and, of course, thousands of audience members.
“It’s like any kind of show, whether it’s a broadway musical or an airshow,” he said. “You’re bringing all the elements together and all the people together, and then it’s great when you see the crowd walk away with a smile on their faces having just witnessed something that was really special.”
For more information, visit abbotsfordairshow.com.
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