Vicki L MorrisonThe much anticipated details of Armed Forces Day 2015 Comox Air Show were revealed late last week to an audience of local sponsors and business leaders eager to learn more about the upcoming August 15 event.
This year’s theme ‘Saluting the Community We Serve,’ centres on the hundredth anniversary celebrations within the community of Courtenay, but also recognizes all communities supporting 19 Wing.
“We value the community partnerships that have been established since our existence here as an air station. From the moment workers moved into the valley to start laying fresh pavement on the runways, the RCAF has relied upon the services of the community to sustain our existence,” said Colonel Tom Dunne, Wing Commander, 19 Wing.
He disclosed finer details of the air show, including the main military and civilian acts scheduled to perform and plans to secure an array of vintage and US military aircraft for the ground static displays.
“We shop here, we worship and attend church here and our children go to school here. So to say thank you to this community on Saturday, August 15 we will open our doors and showcase to all the communities we call home – from Comox to Cumberland, Bowser to Campbell River and beyond – just what the 19 Wing Comox Defence Team can and do for you,” said Dunne.
Dunne announced the highly acclaimed Canadian Forces Snowbirds are slated to perform. Joining the Snowbirds will be the CF-18 Demonstration Team whose theme is focused on the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Rounding out the big three in terms of Canadian military talent are, new to the show, the Skyhawks Parachute Team.
A 19 Wing air show would not be complete without the participation of its own RCAF aircraft, the 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron CP-140 Aurora and 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron CC-115 Buffalo and CH-149 Cormorant.
Military performances will be complimented by a variety of unique civilian aerial performers. Currently, Dan Buchanan and Manfred Radius are earmarked for a second consecutive show. Brent Handy, Anna Serbinenko and Gene Soucy with wing-walker Teresa Stokes are among the others pencilled in.
A new twist to engage the public audience has been added in the form of a poster contest open to valley residences and the military community, in three age categories. Deadline for submission is February 28. Complete contest details can be found at (www.cg.cfpsa.ca).
The 2015 event will build upon the 2013 model of engaging community sponsorship as a platform for businesses to entertain customers and clients while promoting their products and services to broader audiences.
“The air show draws the largest number of attendees for a single day event in the Comox Valley,” explained Susan Lewis, sponsorship and marketing director, as she delivered her detailed summary of the five respective levels of sponsorship opportunities available to the business community.
General admission prices will remain the same as 2013, adults $20, youth $10, and vets and cadets in uniform $5. Box seating and executive club tickets options will be made available.
Services to the Comox Valley Airport will remain the same, with regular passenger flights taking precedence during the show schedule. While the airport terminal will be closed all day Saturday, August 15, transportation of passengers to and from a satellite terminal inside 19 Wing will be provided.
Watch for continuous updates and more information about the 2015 AFD and Air Show on their Facebook page. Follow the Comox Airshow on Twitter. A dedicated Comox Airshow website will be live later in January.
