The skies are busier and more interesting over the local region over the past 24 hours, and it will get increasingly more compelling in the 24 hours ahead. Amazing aero machinery is winging in for the latest edition of the Vanderhoof Airshow.
A day-long feast of planes, helicopters and earthbound vehicles are being assembled for Saturday's show. Director of air operations Glenn Pearce had to shout to be heard, Thursday afternoon, with all the exotic engines coming in for a landing or taxiing down the Vanderhoof runway.
"I think it's worth coming just to see the P51 Mustang that's sitting here right now. This plane has 700 hours of actual combat time, which is 600 more than was ever expected of a P51," Pearce said. "We have two Harvards from Alberta that just came in today. We have the T28 on its way, and you can hear the Yaks in the background."
It won't just be the performers flying their planes into the Vanderhoof atmosphere for the Saturday skylark. Part of the special mystique of an airshow is seeing who flies in as audience members.
"We are expecting quite a few fly-ins," Pearce said. "We call them transients, but it's a positive term in our industry - people flying in from all over the province and Alberta. Local folks drive in by car, but a lot of people drive in by private plane. Who likes interesting planes more than other pilots?"
Some of the features of the event are local. Pearce said NT Air was parking one of their Beechcraft 1900s on the tarmac so people could see this commuter twin-prop up close. They also have motorcycle stunt riders Jeff Fehr and Luke Wheeler opening up the show, from the Rockstar Energy Drink freestyle tour.
"We built a little mountain near the spectator area and they'll be doing those amazing tricks there to open the show," said Pearce. "And both of them are local - Vanderhoof boys."
About 15 air acts will work their stunts and demos from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., all for the cost of $5 (free for those under 16). The 5 p.m. barbecue is $35. The evening dance is $15.
