Dozens of vintage military aircraft, military vehicles, guest speakers and more are planned for Military Heritage Day June 21 at Chatham Municipal Airport.
Organizers Tim Gillies and Chris Timmerman said the day will be a fun one for military enthusiasts.
“It’s turning into one of the largest shows in Ontario,” Gillies said, stressing this is not an air show, as the planes will be on display on the ground.
However, “stuff’s going to fly,” he added.
With at least 33 warbirds coming for the day, there will be a lot to see. From jets to biplanes and many things in between, visitors will have a chance to get up close to these planes.
Confirmed at the time of writing this is a T-33 Silver Star jet coming from London.
Other aircraft include a P-51 Mustang, Supermarine Spitfire, F4U Corsair – Second World War fighters – a Westland Lysander multipurpose aircraft, numerous Harvard and Trojan trainer aircraft, a couple of de Havilland Tiger Moth biplanes, a Hawker Sea Fury and more.
All will fly in and out of the airport.
Grounded but on display will be an ME-109 and a Mitsubishi Zero, mainstay fighter aircraft of the German and Japanese military during the Second World War. Both aircraft are in stages of refurbishment.
Although there is no airshow, the organizers said there will be aircraft taking off and landing over the course of the day. Some of the attending groups will offer flights to the general public as well.
Timmerman said there will be numerous guest speakers during the day, including Dave Hadfield, brother of astronaut Chris Hadfield and owner of the Lysander.
Retired CF-18 pilot Dave Wickware will also speak, as will history professor Michael Brechtold who will discuss the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands.
A Ferret scout car leads the ground vehicle display, along with jeeps, trucks and more.
Various museums will have displays on site as well.
Tickets for the day are $10 for adults; $5 for those aged 12-18; and free for children under 12, cadets in uniform and all military veterans.
Proceeds from the day will be shared by the Chatham-Kent Hospice and the Blenheim Military Museum.
Gates open at 10 a.m. Opening ceremonies take place at 10:30 a.m.
Parking is nearby, with a shuttle bus that will take visitors to and from the airport.
Organizers encourage bringing your own lawn chair, but not food or drink, as those will be sold on site.
“It is going to be exciting. I’m really hoping the crowds do come out for it,” Timmerman said.
If the event is a hit, he added they will consider running one every couple of years or so.
Timmerman said the success of the day is dependent on Mother Nature.
“The only thing that could hold us up is the weather,” he said.
Rain day for the event is June 22.
