Abbotsford airshow 2025 - static display
ABBOTSFORD INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW - AUGUST 9th 2025
I am not really an airshow photographer and while fast jets are of course very cool, after three long focal length lenses have broken, I have not replaced them and I am not able to get out to the airport for arrivals or departures which is often the best opportunity for good shots. The show is famous - or infamous?! - for not the greatest conditions for photography during the show itself. Apart from being hot and heat hazed, you are right into the sun and the crowds are so heavy it's hard to get a good spot. For me, the hi-light of the show is always the static display as my interest is the warbirds and older general aviation.
In this blogpost are my photos of this which is heavily influenced by local tenants advertising their trade. Quality photos are impossible with the crowds of people, so they have to be included and I actually quite like the ambiance it adds and in years to come it will be interesting to see the fashions of today. I will start with a few non show visitors at Cascade Aerospace.
There are numerous visiting light aircraft that park on the north side of the airport including this C172 C-GICT with the 100 Mile House Flying Club
C-GFBP ~ 1986 Canadair CL-215T ~ de Havilland Aircraft of Canada ~ former Province of Ontario C-GOFM then Aero-Flite as N264V, now been converted to a turbine in line with the CL-415. Not part of the airshow, parked at the Shell Aerocentre for several years now
98-1355 ~ 1998 Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules ~ US Air Force ~ with Air Education & Training Command part of 62nd Airlift Squadron of Little Rock AR. Not part of the show, in at Cascade Aerospace for work
130366 ~ 1974 Lockheed CC-130H Hercules ~ Royal Canadian Air Force ~ not part of the airshow, said to have been retired this past summer and parked at Cascade Aerospace where old frames have been scrapped. Formerly with 424 Transport & Rescue Squadron of 8 Wing at CFB Trenton ON, spent it's first ten years with the UAE Air Force with serial 1211
11-5732 ~ 2011 Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules ~ US Air Force ~ with Air Mobility Command part of 317th Airlift Squadron of Dyess AFB TX. Not part of the show, in at Cascade Aerospace for work
130338 ~ 1991 Lockheed KC-130H Hercules ~ Royal Canadian Air Force ~ with 435 Transport & Rescue Squadron out of Winnipeg MB. Not part of the show, in at Cascade Aerospace for work, I am not sure if this is still a tanker / transport version
52-9329 ~ 1952 Lockheed T-33A-1-LO Shooting Star ~ Ace Maker ~ been seen previous years in a tent or hidden away and the identity has remained a mystery until now where I believe it has been finally confirmed. Formerly with 118th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of Connecticut ANG and stored at Maguire AFB NJ upon retirement. Painted as a Canadair CT-133 of the RCAF Red Knights
90-0244 ~ 1990 McDonnell Douglas F-15E-49-MC Eagle ~ US Air Force ~ with 391st Fighter Squadron of Mountain Home AFB ID
91-0333 ~ 1991 McDonnell Douglas F-15E-52-MC Eagle ~ US Air Force ~ with 391st Fighter Squadron of Mountain Home AFB ID
C-FTRY ~ 1975 Cessna 182P Skylane ~ The Air Cadet League Of Canada, British Columbia Provincial Committee ~ this glider tug is a staple at local airshows recruiting cadets into the forces, registered HQ is Boundary Bay, but main base of operations is Comox with sub bases here and Pitt Meadows
N4579K ~ 1948 Ryan Navion ~ privately owned local ~ painted in faux RCAF paint, a type they never operated
C-FXGX ~ 1968 Schweizer SGS 2-33A ~ The Air Cadet League Of Canada, British Columbia Provincial Committee ~ also a staple at local airshows accompanying the C182 tug
N4328K ~ 1948 Ryan Navion ~ private owner from Everett WA ~ wearing a faux US Army livery, which AFAIK this particular aircraft never wore being a lifelong civilian frame
CF-WVV ~ 1942 Grumman G-44 Widgeon ~ private owner from Chilliwack BC ~ was originally delivered to the US Navy with BuNo 32939
CF-DRU ~ 1946 Piper J3C-65 Cub ~ Canadian Museum Of Flight Association of Langley BC ~ a new addition in the last 5 years and the first time I have seen it at a local show, it opened the flying display with their Canuck below
CF-HOU ~ 1955 Fleet 80 Canuck ~ Canadian Museum Of Flight Association of Langley BC ~ now the 8th season on the circuit after restoration, it opened the show with their Cub above
Non flying replica Sopwith F.1 Pup built in 1985 painted as RAF D6289 ~ Canadian Museum Of Flight Association of Langley BC ~ it is only brought out to special events
C-FIFQ ~ 1955 de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver I ~ Harbour Air ~ second Magni-X E-Beaver conversion, the first frame C-FJOS put on a spirited flying display at the show
C-FFMZ ~ 2017 Sopwith Pup (replica) ~ Canadian Museum Of Flight Association of Langley BC ~ built for the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge painted as RAF N6181 named "Happy", sadly it has a Continental O320 piston instead of the original Le Rhône rotary
C-GCHW ~ 2025 Bell 505 JetRanger X ~ Chinook Helicopters ~ locally based, probably the largest helicopter flying school in BC looking to recruit aspiring pilots
C-FSGN ~ 2007 Diamond DA42 Twin Star ~ Chinook Helicopters ~ local flying school looking to recruit aspiring pilots, they have branched out into fixed wing training too and have three in the fleet
C-GCHU ~ 2005 Cessna 172S ~ Chinook Helicopters ~ local flying school looking to recruit aspiring pilots, they have branched out into fixed wing training too and they have eleven in the fleet
C-FJAQ ~ 1977 Yakovlev Yak-18T ~ private owner from Victoria BC ~ fully acrobatic USSR era touring aircraft with an Ivchenko AI14 radial and is the basis for the Chinese Nanchang CJ6
C-FETR ~ 1952 Bell 47G-2 ~ Chinook Helicopters ~ locally based flying school, the mainstay of their fleet remains this classic with seven in the fleet, it has been modified from a D-1 variant
C-GMPC ~ 1949 Globe GC-1B Swift ~ locally based owned by Jim Reith painted to reflect his military background flying Voodoo's and the Snowbirds, he moved on to an airline career and was the airshow president between 2013-2022 and continues as the operations director
C-GDOR ~ 1974 Bellanca 17-30A Super Viking ~ English Bay Brokers of Boundary Bay BC ~ a regular at the airshow, at first glance could be mistaken for a PA28 or Bonanza
N786LA ~ 2024 Cirrus SF50-G2+ Vision Jet ~ Kenmore Crew Leasing ~ seems to live in Boundary Bay, the owner has connections with Kenmore Air and Boeing
C-GXLS ~ 2007 Diamond DA40 Diamond Star XLS ~ PTC Aviation from Boundary Bay ~ this is their sole aircraft and is registered in Edmonton
C-FHEE ~ 1977 Scottish Aviation 125 Bulldog ~ Reimair Consulting from Victoria BC ~ though painted in authentic RAF livery, this aircraft actually served with the Royal Jordanian Air Force
C-GXZY ~ 1964 Piper PA-28R-200 Arrow ~ private owner from Langley BC ~ the 200hp PA28 is named the Arrow instead of the Cherokee and is designated the R
C-FDVS ~ 1964 Cessna 172E ~ privately owned local ~ the E model of 1964 got a new instrument panel with centrally mounted avionics and circuit breakers instead of fuses
CF-GAU ~ 1951 Fleet 80 Canuck ~ privately owned local ~ serial production was only between 1946-7 when Fleet went out of business with a number being completed from components in the next ten years
C-FAEK ~ 1969 Cessna 150K ~ privately owned from Langley BC ~ recently repainted from a bare metal and orange scheme, the K model has a few interior mods, the main external visual clue are optional downward cambered wingtips, some models were called the Commuter where this is standard
C-IGER ~ 1998 Murphy Renegade ~ privately owned from Delta Airpark BC ~ painted to represent WW1 ace Baron von Richthofen complete with a machine gun which seems to be a play on the owners surname! Note ultralights on the Canadian register carry C-I prefixes
C-GVWO ~ 1972 Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six ~ 1404106 BC locally based ~ a stretched PA28 with 300hp and a useful load, but seems to have fallen out of favor these days
Fleet 80 Canuck skeleton I have been unable to identify so far
C-FGCJ ~ 1989 Nanchang CJ-6A ~ Thin Air Adventures local ~ painted in PLAAF marks, reg was cancelled back in February and remains de-registered. This is a Chinese license built version of the Russian Yakovlev Yak18. CJ = Chu Jiao = basic trainer aircraft
C-FCRJ ~ 2012 Van's RV-8 ~ privately owned from Vernon BC ~ basically an updated RV-4 with a tandem bubble cockpit, power is often a 200hp IO-390
C-FUZM ~ 1966 Champion 7ECA Citabria ~ privately owned local ~ Citabria is airbatic backwards...
C-GOFY ~ 1949 Cessna 170A ~ privately owned from Langley BC ~ Disney character Goofy the dog is on the tail
C-GSEW ~ 1980 Piel CP280 Emeraude ~ privately owned from Delta Airpark BC ~ rare French aircraft for this side named after designer Claude Piel, Emeraude of course being Emerald
C-GOSQ ~ 1981 Cessna 172P Skyhawk ~ Coastal Pacific Aviation ~ large locally based flying school, new CCAG stickers applies reflect new ownership by the China Changan Auto Group
C-GVNG ~ 2021 Zenith STOL CH 750 ~ privately owned from Langley BC ~ Canadian light aircraft family, the CH designates designer Chris Heintz
C-FZXC ~ 2018 Zenith CH 750-CR ~ Recreational Aircraft Association Canada - Chapter 85 Vancouver ~ based at Delta Airpark BC in their formal colors, they have a club house at the park
C-FYXP ~ 1998 Thorpe T18WB ~ privately owned from Victoria BC ~ a regular at all the local shows, an early homebuilt sports aircraft from 1963 now very much eclipsed by the more successful Van's
CF-IKC ~ 1953 Cessna 170B ~ privately owned local
C-GWTV ~ 1997 Murphy Rebel ~ privately owned from Langley BC ~ another Canadian manufacturer from Chilliwack here in BC
C-FEVC ~ 2002 Cub Crafters PA-18-150 Carbon Cub ~ privately owned from Powell River BC ~ new build kit versions of the WW2 era classic
N298FB ~ 2024 Quest Kodiak 100 Srs III ~ anonymously registered but is based at Pitt Meadows BC ~ now owned by Daher, the type is making inroads to the bush market
C-FHGD ~ 2007 Van's RV-7 ~ privately owned from Victoria BC ~ named "Aunty Gravity" the owner presumably has RCAF connections
C-GTDD ~ 2017 Glasair Super 2 RG ~ privately owned from Pitt Meadows BC
CF-UMM ~ 1941 Piper J3C-65 Cub ~ privately owned local ~ genuine WW2 vintage
CF-EKU ~ 1947 Cessna 140 ~ privately owned from Chilliwack BC ~ start of a massive legacy
C-GVXJ ~ 2010 Diamond DA-42-L360 Twin Star ~ Coastal Pacific Aviation ~ largest local flying school, the DA42 seems to be the replacement for the venerable PA30. Famous for it's diesel engines, the L360 designates the 100LL powered IO360 version
C-GCTT ~ 1990 Zenair STOL CH 701 ~ privately owned local
C-FTKL ~ 1969 Nanchang CJ-6A ~ privately owned from Victoria BC ~ license built Yak18 along with it's Zhuzhou Huosai engine which is a license built Ivchenko AI20
CF-ZRV ~ Acro Sport II ~ privately owned from Calgary Springbank AB ~ a kit plane from the 70's still available to buy despite Acro going out of business in 2014, the II designated the two seat model
C-GFBT ~ 2007 Van's RV-7A ~ privately owned local
C-GGMA ~ 2014 Cessna 172N Skyhawk ~ Abbotsford Flying Club ~ half the fleet, they also have a PA28
C-GWSS ~ 1986 Bede BD-5B ~ privately owned local ~ well known in the area, power is usually either a Rotax or an auto engine from Subaru or Honda, I believe this one has a VW
C-FYZT ~ 1996 Bell CH-146 (412CF) Griffon ~ Allied Wings of Portage La Prairie / Southport MB ~ civilian contractor operating for the RCAF, was formerly serial 146451
C-FCPG ~ 2012 Harmon Rocket II ~ privately owned from Langley BC ~ named "Last 1", this is a higher performance version of the Van's RV-4 with a razorback rear fuselage, clipped wings, a 300hp IO540 and this one retractable gear
C-GCPC ~ 2002 Harmon Rocket II ~ privately owned from Langley BC ~ as above, but this one has fixed gear
EI-RJO ~ 1999 Avro RJ-85 ~ Cityjet of Dublin Ireland ~ not part of the show of course, bought by Conair for spares and parked outside their hangar in the same spot since it arrived in February 2020 when retired. Originally delivered to Mesaba Airlines as N527XJ operating for Northwest Airlink until sold to Cityjet in Jan 2007 with the name "Inis Mor"
295515 ~ 2022 Airbus CC-295 (C295-MPA) Kingfisher ~ Royal Canadian Air Force ~ with 442 Transport & Rescue Squadron at CFB Comox BC replacing the venerable Buffalo
170479 ~ 2024 Boeing P-8A (737-800A) Poseidon ~ US Navy ~ with VP-30 at Towers Field Jacksonville NAS FL coded LL-479, we normally get them from nearby Whidbey Island WA
177703 ~ 2008 Boeing CC-177 (C-17A) Globemaster III ~ Royal Canadian Air Force ~ with 429 Transport Squadron at 8 Wing CFB Trenton ON
N4063K ~ 2006 Butlers Special ~ MKT Acrobatics of London ON ~ a modified home built version of the Grumman G164 AgCat flown by husband Mike and wife wing walker Sam Tryggvason, interestingly registered to the same company as the Cirrus SF50 posted above
02-1104 ~ 2002 Boeing C-17A Globemaster III ~ US Air Force ~ with 97th Air Mobility Wing of Altus AFB OK assigned to 19th Air Force - Airborne Education & Training Command and performed a joint demo with the KC46 at the show
02-1464 ~ 2002 Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules ~ US Air Force ~ with 146th Air Wing - California Air Guard at Channel Islands ANGS of Oxnard CA
N2114L ~ 1944 Lockheed P-38L Lightning ~ Erickson Aircraft Collection of Madras OR ~ "Tangerine" is a regular performer in the west, a genuine WW2 veteran with serial 44-27083 and later became a civilian survey machine. Flew again in 1999 initially with the Tillamook Air Museum
N260DC ~ 1956 de Havilland Canada DHC-1B-2-S5 Super Chipmunk ~ Ghostwriter Airshows of Junction City KY ~ flown by Nathan Hammond, one of four highly modified Chippie's with a GO435 and acrobatic modifications. The B-2 variant itself is a factory aerobatic mod for the RCAF this originally flew for with serials 18042 then 12042 before coming into civilian hands in 1976
N1713P ~ 1960 WSK Mielec Lim-5 Fresco C ~ Red Star Aero Services of St Elmo AL ~ Polish license built version of the Mikoyan Gurevich delivered to the Polish AF with serial 1713, so it never wore the USSR marks it now has. It put on a great show and it sounded even greater!
188935 ~ 1988 McDonnell Douglas CF-188B Hornet ~ Royal Canadian Air Force ~ with 410 Squadron of Cold Lake AB, the B is the two seat trainer version
60-0359 ~ 1960 Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker ~ US Air Force ~ with 434th Air Refueling Wing assigned to Air Force Reserve Command at ARB Grissom IN
C-GEEL ~ 2019 Extra EA/300 SC ~ privately owned from Boundary Bay BC ~ the German design from Walter Extra was the pioneer in this format of carbon fiber high performance monoplanes
168271 ~ 2022 Boeing EA-18G Growler ~ US Navy ~ with VAQ-142 "The Gray Wolves" of NAS Whidbey Island WA coded AJ-503, a carrier based electronic warfare version of the two seat Super Hornet F model replacing the EA-6 Prowler
N8195H ~ 1945 North American B-25J-25-NC Mitchell ~ Erickson Aircraft Collection of Madras OR ~ named "Heavenly Body" 44-30748 was delivered too late for active service, the type was made famous by the Doolittle Raids
65-12868 ~ 1965 Bell UH-1H Iroquois ~ US Army ~ a long time exhibit at the National Vietnam War Museum in Orlando FL, it was bought at auction back in 2016 and arrived in nearby Aldergrove BC the following year. I believe this is the first public appearance since, as a static exhibit on a trailer
* * * *
This covers all the aircraft on static display and a few in the hot pit that displayed, there were others in the flying display that I did not photograph due to excessive heat haze or too many obstacles. As well as the RCAF Snowbirds, they were as follows:
99-0166 ~ Boeing C-17A Globemaster III ~ US Air Force - 62nd AW / 446th AW of McChord AFB WA
N1337A ~ Chance Vought F4U-7 Corsair ~ Erickson Aircraft Collection of Madras OR
N192WW ~ Shorts SC-7 Skyvan 3-200 ~ Win Win Aviation of Wake Forest NC
N540SG ~ Zivko Edge 540 ~ Melissa Burns of Talkeetna AK
N151AF ~ North American P-51D Mustang ~Heritage Flight Museum of Burlington WA
N551D ~ North American P-51D Mustang ~ Erickson Aircraft Collection of Madras OR
17-5260 ~ Lockheed Martin F-35A-4 Lightning II ~ US Air Force 34th FS of Hill AFB UT
18-5453 ~ Lockheed Martin F-35A-4 Lightning II ~ US Air Force 34th FS of Hill AFB UT
188113 ~ McDonnell Douglas CF-188B Hornet ~ RCAF - 410 Squadron of CFB Cold Lake AB
188053 ~ McDonnell Douglas CF-188B Hornet ~ RCAF - 410 Squadron of CFB Cold Lake AB
166896 ~ Boeing EA-18G Growler ~ US Navy - VAQ-209 of NAS Whidbey Island WA
169124 ~ Boeing EA-18G Growler ~ US Navy - VAQ-129 of NAS Whidbey Island WA
Other resident tenants, flying schools, FBO visitors and visiting GA:
CF-WRC ~ Cessna 177 Cardinal ~ privately owned of Victoria BC
C-GANG ~ Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six ~ 1033720 BC of Kelowna BC
C-GHEV ~ Cessna 172I ~ Airshare Partners In Flight of Boundary Bay BC
C-GICT ~ Cessna 172K ~ 100 Mile House Flying Club of 100 Mile House BC
C-GMYZ ~ Cirrus SR22T ~ privately owned of Rocky Mountain House AB
C-GPVX ~ Cessna 172M ~ privately owned of Langley BC
C-GDRG ~ Cessna 170B ~ privately owned of Gillies Bay BC
C-GXPD ~ Mooney M20E Super 21 ~ privately owned of Calgary Springbank AB
N85VC ~ Cessna 510 Citation Mustang ~ Elevon Aviation of San Francisco CA
C-GEXH ~ Cessna 172M ~ privately owned of Delta Airpark BC
C-FFME ~ Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee ~ privately owned from Langley BC (for sale dereg 11.27.23)
C-FFYZ ~ Bombardier Dash 8Q-402AT ~ Conair Group (Tanker 550)
C-GSPY ~ Cessna 172P ~ Coastal Pacific Aviation
C-GSPQ ~ Cessna 172P ~ Coastal Pacific Aviation
C-GSPD ~ Cessna 172P ~ Coastal Pacific Aviation
C-GIMD ~ Cessna 172M ~ Coastal Pacific Aviation
C-GIXQ ~ Cessna 172M ~ Coastal Pacific Aviation
C-GZSH ~ Cessna A185F Skywagon ~ Conair Group
C-GFDV ~ Bell 212 ~ Campbell Helicopters
* * * *
Thanks for reading!!
Comments
Post a Comment