Ride along in a vintage plane from the Second World War as it loops around Parliament

OTTAWA — The 1943 Douglas C-47 Skytrain, or Dakota, transport plane was part of one of Canada’s biggest ever military missions, dropping troops into Normandy on D-Day.

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Media were invited on Sept. 16 to ride aboard as it flew past Parliament Hill.

The C-47’s pilot Bill Craig is a member of Canadian Warplane Heritage, an organization that takes the public on C-47 flights out of Hamilton to Niagara falls and back. They also fly other vintage planes out of Hamilton, including a Lancaster Heavy Bomber that adds a little jaunt across Lake Ontario, around the CN tower and then back to Hamilton.

Asked whether that meant flying over “Lake America,” Craig laughed and said a firm “No.”

Craig has been flying since 1966 and is a former commercial airline pilot who joined Canadian Warplane Heritage upon his retirement.

The media flight was arranged to help promote the Aero Gatineau-Ottawa airshow running at the Gatineau airport from September 18-20.

The airshow boasts a huge collection of both performing and static planes, jets and helicopters, and an appearance by Canada’s Snowbird acrobatic team.

After this season the Snowbirds will pause operations.

“We understand the reasons for this difficult decision, and remain committed to our partnership with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and to showcasing its evolving fleet and capabilities in the years ahead. We also remain dedicated to supporting the Canadian Forces’ objectives in recruiting and community engagement,” said John Bennett, Director General of AERO Gatineau-Ottawa.

“AERO Gatineau-Ottawa is privileged to host one of the Snowbirds’ final public Canadian airshow performances before they pause operations,” Bennett said. “Though bittersweet, we will mark the occasion with a celebration befitting this iconic team.”

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