Golden Centennaires
Golden Centennaires | |
---|---|
Active | 1967 |
Country | Canada |
Branch | Canadian Forces |
Role | Aerobatic flight demonstration team |
Size | Eight aircraft |
Garrison/HQ | CFB Portage La Prairie |
Colors | Gold, Dark Blue |
Aircraft flown | |
Trainer | CT-114 Tutor |
The Golden Centennaires were a Canadian air force aerobatic flying team that performed in 1967, the Canadian Centennial year. The team was created to celebrate the Canadian Centennial.
The eight-plane formation team (which also featured six-plane formations alternating with two solo aircraft), used the CT-114 Tutor. The aircraft sported a blue and gold paint scheme.
The Golden Centennaires performed 103 shows in Canada [1], including the opening and closing ceremonies of Expo 67 in Montreal, seven shows in the United States, and two shows in the Bahamas.[2] The team was disbanded after the last show of the season, but the aircraft were used a few years later to form the Snowbirds, Canada's current national team.
Accompanying the Golden Centennaires were an Avro 504, a CF-104 Starfighter and a CF-101 Voodoo. All of these aircraft performed at the Centennial airshows.
References
- Dempsey, Daniel V. A Tradition of Excellence: Canada's Airshow Team Heritage. Victoria, BC: High Flight Enterprises, 2002. ISBN 0-9687817-0-5.