CF-18 pilot ‘luckiest guy’ – Brantford Expositor

Preparations are in full swing for the takeoff of the revamped Community Charity Airshow on Aug. 30 at the Brantford Municipal Airport.

In a transition year, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton has stepped in to run the show with help from the Rotary Club of Brantford, which last November announced that it was stepping away from organizing the annual event. The club took over sponsorship of the show from the Brant United Way in 2009.

The transition of the show's organization to the museum from Rotary has been seamless, the event's co-chairs Sherry Kerr, Rotary president, and Dave Rohrer, president and CEO of the museum, said at a media reception on Thursday morning at the museum, where they highlighted details of the fundraising event.

This year's show will features several museum aircraft, including the Avro Lancaster - making Brantford its only airshow appearance of the 2017 season. Other highlights include the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and a demonstration of a CF-18 decorated in a striking paint scheme based on the official Canada 150 logo.

"It's a great relationship from the start," said Kerr.

"They are able to provide us with some great aircraft for people to view on the tarmac. And getting the legendary Lancaster bomber is a big plus," she said.

Rohrer said the museum is "thrilled to be part of this great community event that raises funds for local children.

"We have participated in the Brantford shows for many years and have seen the enthusiasm from the crowds. To be able to help continue that magic is an honour for us, and we hope to make the community proud.

"The show is a real gem."

Also at Thursday's announcement was RCAF Capt. Matthew "Glib" Kutryk, who will fly the Canada 150 CF-18 in shows across the country, including in Brantford.

"I feel like the luckiest guy in the air force to be able to fly this plane," Kutryk said in an interview.

"My goal has always been to fly a CF-18. To get to fly the Canada 150 CF-18 is a great high. It's the prettiest bird in the fleet."

He explained that the Canada 150 logo forms foundation of the overall design. The stylized maple leaf has 13 points shaped as diamonds, the celebratory gem. Four points represent Confederation's original provinces - Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia - and the other nine are for the six other provinces and three territories.

The rest of the design plays off the logo.

The logo was designed in 2014 by Ariana Cuvin, then a global business and digital arts student at the University of Waterloo. The CF-18's paint job was designed by Jim Belliveau of 4 Wing Cold Lake.

"Seeing this incredible jet in person has made me even more motivated to share it with Canadians," Kutryk said when the painted aircraft was unveiled in April.

"I hope that this jet will inspire all Canadians to chase their dreams as I did, because that is what Canada is all about."

Kutryk explained Thursday that paint job means that. when the pilot flips the plane over in midflight, spectators suddenly will see an explosion of red and white.

"This is a unique paint job," Kutryk said. "We will never see one that good again."

The name "Glib" is not a nickname, It is Kutryk's call sign when he flies. It's a tradition in the RCAF going back to the First World War. Once a pilot flies a first mission, the call sign sticks with that person for the rest of the career.

Kutryk's said he flew several times with the ISIS Mission in Iraq and Syria.

He will fly in 25 shows across Canada this year, for a total 55 performances because some events have multiple flights.

On the other side of the museum's display space, a mechanics were working on various parts of the Lancaster, ensuring it will be ready for the Brantford show.

The show's format remains the same as in past years. On Aug. 29 there will be a fundraising dinner with the pilots present. The show runs on Aug. 30.

The event is free with a request for a voluntary donation at the entrance.

Parking costs $20.

MMarion@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/EXPMarion

Brantford Expositor 2017

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CF-18 pilot 'luckiest guy' - Brantford Expositor