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Abbotsford International Airshow
1997

August 8-10

Thumbnails for my 1997 pictures are at the bottom of the page.

The 1997 airshow was the best in Abbotsford in many years. A new format for the flying events was introduced with different time slots being grouped by theme. Flying events lasted for nearly seven hours each day, with the final two and a half hours being dedicated completely to jet traffic. There was an obvious increase in military participation in the flying show compared to recent years. The airshow also included three impressive firsts.

The full scale Avro Arrow replica used in the filming of the CBC Avro Arrow movie was rolled out in front of the crowd on Friday and remained on static for the remainder of the airshow. It looked amazingly realistic, even close up. The model was shipped to Abbotsford and assembled at Abbotsford Airport by volunteers.


Photo taken by my uncle, Lee Conway, who helped assemble the Arrow

Avro Arrow replica thumbnails page

On Friday, a U-2 arrived and did a brief flying demonstration before landing. It also remained on static display for the weekend.

On Saturday, a B-2 Spirit performed at Abbotsford for the first time. It did three passes before departing.


B-2 flying over Mt. Baker

1997 also marked the first time the German Air Force has participated in the Abbotsford Airshow. Two German Tornadoes were present and one flew during the show.


Panavia Tornado flyby

Other highlights included the Snowbirds, the William Tell Team who won the William Tell 96 competition at Tyndall AFB (CF-18 x 4 demo), the Northern Lights, a B-17, Wayne Handley, and Patty Wagstaff.


William Tell team breaking for landing

Flying Events

Military Demonstrations
Snowbirds (CAF) B-2 Spirit (USAF)
U-2 Dragon Lady (USAF) CF-18 Hornet x 4 (CAF)
CF-18(4)/C-130-refuel (CAF) CF-18 Hornet (CAF)
A-10 Thunderbolt (USAF) B-1B Lancer (ANG)
Tornado (Germany) F-16 Fighting Falcon x 2 (ANG)
F-15E Eagle x 2 (USAF) T-33 Silver Star (CAF)

Canadian military aircraft thumbnails page

United States military aircraft thumbnails page

Civilian Demonstrations

Northern Lights (Extra 300 x 5) 747 (Canadian Airlines)
DC-10 (Canadian Airlines) Airbus A-340 (Air Canada)
Raven (Wayne Handley) Extra 300 (Patty Wagstaff)
DC-6 (Conair Firefighting Demo) MiG-15 Fagot
Fouga Magister (Bud Granley) Yak-60 (Bud Granley)
Mohr Barnstorming (John Mohr) Shockwave Jet Truck
B.C. Parachute Team Tundra Helicopters (car drop)
Harvard Dogfight & bailout (T-6x2) Harvard Mk.2 (John Mrzack)
Christen Eagle (Donn Richardson) Pitts Special (Guido Lapore)
2/3 scale Spitfire Swiftbirds (Swift x 4)
Hughes TH-55 (George LeLoup) General Aviation Aircraft
Warbirds: B-17 Superfortress, T-28 Trojan, SA-16 Albatross, Yak-11, Chipmunk

Civilian aircraft thumbnails page

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