If you are in Toronto for the Labour Day weekend, a must-see destination would be the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE 2017). The annual community event features something for everyone – entertaining aerial acrobatics and ice skating show, an enthralling air show, exciting animal shows including a working farm with activities for kids, celebrity chef demonstrations, concerts and international performances, and much more! Of course there is food, fun rides and shopping too.

An exhilarating experience for people of all ages, the Air Show is a major crowd-puller and a highlight of the grand exhibition. The Canadian International Air Show (CIAS) takes place over Lake Ontario and is best viewed at the southwest waterfront grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) and other locations across the CNE grounds.

I recall getting to the show centre early enough to find a place to sit and watch the aviation display. It being my first time at an air show I did not know what to expect. No amount of watching on television prepares one for the awe-inspiring feat up close. Most people had turned up wearing hats or carrying umbrellas as the day was forecast to bring some scattered showers. As the first announcement was made, the grey clouds lifted and the sun shone brightly on a clear sky, plain and white like a canvas waiting to be painted on.

And then vroom…something zipped past in a blur, it was the first aircraft heralding what was to come. Shortly, the distant but unmistakable roar of powerful engines could be heard gripping the crowd in the first thrilling moment as we trained our eyes skyward. The noisy birds followed, zooming past in a formation, their red forms in stark contrast against a white vault of sky.

No sooner did we recover from the wondrous sight than the next bevy of beauties rumbled in and flew past in a straight line, their yellow silhouettes with blue lettering as if etched on the cloudless sky.

Canada’s icons of the air, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds demonstrated a spectacular feat of formation, discipline, and skill of the pilots.

The ruggedly constructed BOEING B75N-1 “STEARMAN” BI-PLANE aircrafts glided low almost touching the trees trailing white clouds of smoke above Canadian flags fluttering in the wind.  Used as training aircrafts since the 1930’s and due to its tough exterior and useful tandem cockpit, the Stearman has outlasted many aircrafts (Source: cias.org).

Soaring up they maneuvered into a rainbow-like formation, drawn in wisps of white smoke with a yellow tail at one end. Magnificent!

The best was saved for the last. The aircrafts launched themselves into yet another splendid formation, each one branching out of a single column and spreading out across  dramatic clouds taking on vivid hues. It was indeed jaw-dropping!

Then it was all over – the thunderous roar amongst the clouds, spectacular display of jets and aircrafts, high-speed and agility, formation aerobatics, mesmerizing patterns across an ever-changing  sky,  history coming to life, a sense of pride and patriotism, and the rush of adrenaline in my veins! My experience of watching the Air Show, short and sweet, but worth every second.

The 2017 Canadian International Air Show will be showcased on September 2nd, 3rd, & 4th. Watch out for some special displays in honour of Canada 150!