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Calgary, AB, Canada - July 2011


My favourite shot from any fly-in or air show I've been to. Everyone forgets the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to make sure everything flows smoothly. (Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

This year's colourbird was dedicated to military families. It was nice to see them recognized for the sacrifices they endure. (Trevor McTavish)

Thomas T. returned in his gorgeous Beech Staggerwing again. You can tell that he's really enjoying flying the "ultimate" antique airplane. (Trevor McTavish)

Scott D. and his son arrived in the family's beautiful blue and yellow Stearman. I think the smiles mean they had a good flight. (Trevor McTavish)

Special guests this year were the Vintage Wings' Yellow Wings tour. Of course, when you have three airplanes (Stearman, Cornell and Harvard), a load of volunteers and all sorts of goodies to sell, you need a support vehicle. I'll hand it to Vintage Wings, they really keep a polished and professional public image. (Trevor McTavish)

Oh man, how many hours did I spend as a kid polishing the belly of our airplane? The only difference between a Twin Navion and a Stearman? We had twice the engines. (Trevor McTavish)

I look at Scott D. and his son in this picture and see me (and my brothers) and my father, and the hours we spent working on the airplane when we were kids. Its in the greasy hands, the skinned knuckles and the bonked heads that we pass our passion for aviation on to the next generation. (Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

And speaking of passing our passion on, Rob B. has done so to his daughter, Michelle, who's studying to become an AME. (Trevor McTavish)

And as the opening photo shows, Michelle was one of the hardest working people on the flight line. (Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

The most exciting airplane on display today was a Mk.4 Harvard. No, Harvards aren't rare or particularly unique, but this one belongs to a local family that has four of them. They've been parked for about a decade and today's barbeque was the first public outing since they started getting them flying again. (Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

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(Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

This year's Vintage Wings tour was the Yellow Wings Tour, commemorating the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and educating Canadians on their country's greatest contribution to the Second World War. (Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

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(Trevor McTavish)

WestJetter Herb S., who took his primary flying instruction in the closing days of World War 2 in a Cornell. (Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

With the arrival of a T-28, the line up was complete - and all the ramp space used up. (Trevor McTavish)

WestJetter Tommy T. (Trevor McTavish)

The youngsters really enjoyed the day... (Trevor McTavish)

...most were all smiles... (Trevor McTavish)

...but some got tuckered out. (Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

(Trevor McTavish)

What's that sitting on the glare shield? It's a WestJet stuffy. (Trevor McTavish)

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