A WEEKEND TO REMEMBER:
FIRST EAA CANADIAN FLY-IN
THE INAUGURAL Wings Over Gatineau/Canadian EAA Convention
and Fly-In in Gatineau, Quebec, drew nearly 15,000 EAA
members, flying enthusiasts, and local residents, as well as scores
of airplanes. The event, held on September 17-19, was part EAA fly-in, part air show, and part commemoration of the 70th anniversary
of the Battle of Britain.
The Vintage Wings of Canada museum sponsored the Victoria
Cross air show on Saturday, followed by the Battle of Britain
dinner. Featured guest speaker was Rob Erdos, chief test pilot for
the National Research Council of Canada and someone who has
flown all the key British and German fighters used in the battle: the
Hurricane, Spitfire, and Me 109. Not surprisingly, the Spitfire is his
choice as “the best of the best.”
The gathering concluded at nearby Rockcliffe Airport for the
Battle of Britain re-enactment and the solemn ceremony honoring
Canadian World War II veterans. The finale was the historic fly-
by of the Lancaster bomber, with the Hurricane and the P- 40
Tomahawk on its port side, the Corsair and the P- 51 Mustang on
its starboard.
EAA MEMBER HOPES TO START CHAPTER
IN INDIA
AT AN EAA CHAPTER LEADERS
ACADEMY in September, a
quick scan of the seating
markers showed chapter
members from Illinois,
Texas, California…and
India. Veena Pillai, EAA
1014639, is in the United
States to complete her
advanced flight training and
also wants to start an EAA
chapter in India.
She began flying in
college when she joined the
Indian National Cadet Corps No. 2 Bengal Air Squadron, from
which she received a Defence Ministry of India scholarship to
begin her initial flight training. With the support of her family,
she moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and has completed
private and commercial certificates as well as instrument, multi-engine, and advanced ground instructor ratings.
“No one in my family is involved in aviation, but my mother has
been very supportive because she says that if you are interested and
believe in it, anything is possible,” Veena said. Her mother, Sarojini,
attended all the chapter leaders sessions with Veena, as well as
AirVenture 2010. Veena is finishing her certificated flight instructor
training and eventually wants to fly for an airline in India, where
she says there is a pilot shortage.
Veena Pallai and her mother, Sarojini, at the fall
EAA Chapter Leaders Academy.
The view on final approach to the inaugural Wings Over Gatineau/Canadian EAA
Convention and Fly-In. Nearly 15,000 people attended.
Among the many warbirds on display was the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s majestic
Lancaster bomber.
EAA’S 1911 BLERIOT XI TO FLY SOON
AT THIS WRITING, EAA’S REPRODUCTION of a 1911 Type XI Bleriot
aircraft is almost ready to make its first flight—in plenty of time to
commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first official airmail flight
in the United States.
The EAA Bleriot project has been underway for the past four
years and includes an original three-cylinder Anzani engine, dated
1910, acquired from a French museum. “The plan is to get a first
flight in the airplane yet this fall,” said Sean Elliott, EAA director of
flight operations.
EAA’s Type XI Bleriot
reproduction was
recently painted in
a scheme derived
from Earle Ovington’s
famous Queen
Airplane Company’s
Bleriot monoplane
of 1911, which made
the first airmail flight
from Grand Estates to
Mineola, New York.
The conditions have to be perfect for the first flight, said John
Hopkins, EAA manager of aircraft maintenance. “We’ll wait for
a really nice day to fly it, probably from Pioneer Airport,” he said.
Meanwhile the airplane will be on display in the AirVenture Museum.
The 100th anniversary of the first airmail flight will be
commemorated during AirVenture 2011, at which is planned a major
gathering of historic airmail aircraft.
