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Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
YUTARO SASAKI: What it's like to fly in a plane from the Second World War
SLEMON PARK, P.E.I. – I've never been on a smaller-sized aircraft, let alone one that served in the Second World War. On June 26, The Guardian, along with other members of the media, had the opportunity to partake in activities related prior to this year's Air Show Atlantic hosted in Slemon Park, P.E.I., from June 28-29. As I arrived at the Summerside-Slemon Park Airport, I was taken by the display, history and aura these planes held when they were lined up horizontally away from each other, side to side on the airfield. Moments later, I briefly took photos of the biplanes that the Northern Stars Aerobatic Team would be using in this year's air show, and a staff member of the event pulled me aside to brief me about the activity I was about to take part in. 'You're going to be in the sky today in the Harvard Mark II,' he said. Oh boy. And that yellow plane stood out to me when I first walked into the field. The pilot of the plane later came up to me and introduced himself. 'Hey, my name is Liam. I'll be your Harvard pilot today,' he said. As I put on my jumpsuit that the staff gave me, one thing stood out to me as I gazed into the aircraft's Royal Air Force insignia on the Harvard Mark II airplanes from the Second World War. It is still crazy to think that back in the '40s, men around my age or younger were willingly putting on their suits to train and shoot down the enemy aircraft(s) when the action came each day of conflict. I put on my jumpsuit for the chase of adrenaline, not because I needed to answer some call from a country in conflict, fighting a war. What a relief that is. Moments later, I was guided to the Waterloo Warbirds Harvard Mark II aircraft and I took a big step up on the handle for someone not very tall. 'This plane is huge!' I thought. After the big reach, I got seated in what looked like a tiny tin can, which can be pretty worrisome for someone not used to having everything so close to them. Initially, I was apprehensive, but I was grateful I was not claustrophobic. Out of nowhere, what looked like a jet fighter suddenly flew past the Summerside airfield. Article contentI grabbed my camera, hoping to get a decent shot of the jet and waited as I dialled my settings to manually focus the lens so I could prepare the angle. A loud burring sound echoed through the atmosphere around the city. And there it was, an F-18 flying around Prince Edward Island. After I was seated and buckled into the Harvard Mk. II airplane, Pearson and I checked for audio before departure. 'Are you ready to have some fun?' he asked. 'Let's see what it can do,' I said. We were ready to go as Pearson tested his rudders and his control sticks. He cleared the flight plan with the Air Traffic Control, and now we were preparing to take off. The gauges caught my attention, and I prayed that nothing broke during a stunt. As I gazed at the side of the airfield, the plane was already up. A few hundred feet up in altitude later, Pearson turned the plane to the left, and I took digital single-lens pictures of harvesters around Miscouche, P.E.I., tending to their oyster leases. 'That was pretty awesome, but where the hell is the fun?' I controlled the stick, and now we were horizontally aligned again. 'Going to roll it now,' he said over the radio. The gravity force lifted strands of my hair as my stomach dropped. I thought I might throw up. If the microphone were live during the roll, the ATC would've heard me screaming into the air and nothing else. 'Are you OK?' Pearson asked. 'Yep. I'm OK, this is awesome,' I replied. And indeed it was; I got to glance above the Summerside Sunbank and I saw the Summerside Harbour from a vantage point very few people have. After a few stunts and rolls later, we finally landed at the airfield, and when I got a chance to interview Pearson, the pilot of the Waterloo Warbirds Harvard Mk. II aircraft, about its place in history. Pearson said the plane was originally designed as an advanced trainer in the Second World War. 'Typically, the training would have been on a smaller aircraft, like a biplane, fabric, wood, that kind of construction,' he said. Once the pilot acquired their wings, they were then introduced to the Harvard Mk. II aircraft for their advanced training. 'And it was the advanced trainer because it did have some more advanced systems, like the gear retraction,' Pearson said. After the pilot successfully trains with the airplane, he added that those pilots would fly in planes like the North American P-51 Mustang, Royal Air Force's Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, and others. 'These planes were very important airplanes during the war for that reason. It made a good trainer because it has similar handling characteristics in some ways to those aircraft that they were going to fly,' said Pearson. When pilots used to train in these Harvard airplanes, the student would sit in the front with the instructor seated in the rear, Pearson said. 'And the instructor would teach them from the back, whether it would be aerobatics like we did,' he said. The airplane is also classified as Mk. II. B, meaning that it was a Harvard that the air force could equip with rockets or bombs, Pearson added. 'And people could use it for target practice, bomb dropping, that sort of specialized training. But once they got onto the fighters, they didn't have two-seat fighters in a lot of instances,' he said. It's a privilege to fly the Harvard airplane, Pearson said. 'I'm very fortunate that I have an opportunity to display the airplane and share the experience with people,' he said. tLet us not forget about the past, Pearson added. 'The Second World War was almost 100 years ago now when pilots would come up on it. It's quite the honour and the privilege,' he said. The Waterloo Warbirds Harvard Mk. II aircraft spent the Air Show Atlantic on June 28-29 conducting a non-aerobatic routine for display purposes. Yutaro Sasaki is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government. He can be reached by email at ysasaki@ and followed on Twitter @PEyutarosasaki . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
The Province
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Province
CF-18 jets intercept plane violating restricted airspace above G7 site in Alberta
Published Jun 15, 2025 • 1 minute read An F-18 takes off during a practice run at the Aero Gatineau-Ottawa air show in Gatineau, Que., on Sept. 16, 2022. Photo by TONY CALDWELL / Postmedia Network KANANASKIS, Alta. — Canadian fighter jets were deployed to intercept a private, civilian plane that violated restricted airspace above Kananaskis, Alta., where G7 leaders are gathering for meetings. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors RCMP said in a news release that the fixed-wing Canadian aircraft entered the restricted area shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday, and NORAD's Canadian region deployed CF-18 Hornet fighter jets to intercept it. The release said that after multiple steps were taken to gain the pilot's attention, 'final warning measures' were used to contact the pilot and have them safely land under their own power. Const. Lauren Mowbray said those measures involved the jets firing warning flares, and the plane was met on the ground by the RCMP and their partners. The release didn't say where the plane originated or where it landed, noting the matter remains under investigation. RECOMMENDED VIDEO It said two notices to airmen of temporary air restrictions over Calgary and Kananaskis have been in place since Saturday morning and will continue until noon Tuesday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It is every pilot's responsibility to ensure that there are no restrictions in the airspace they intend to fly,' the release stated, noting that further information wouldn't be provided at this time. 'These incidents take away resources that could be utilized in police work and securing the summit site.' Mowbray did not have any information on whether the pilot is facing charges. Prime Minister Mark Carney is hosting G7 leaders from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Italy in Kananaskis, southwest of Calgary in the Rocky Mountains. Some leaders of non-member countries, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are also set to attend. Read More Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks National Sports NHL
Toronto Sun
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
CF-18 jets intercept plane violating restricted airspace above G7 site in Alberta
Published Jun 15, 2025 • 1 minute read An F-18 takes off during a practice run at the Aero Gatineau-Ottawa air show in Gatineau, Que., on Sept. 16, 2022. Photo by TONY CALDWELL / Postmedia Network KANANASKIS, Alta. — Canadian fighter jets were deployed to intercept a private, civilian plane that violated restricted airspace above Kananaskis, Alta., where G7 leaders are gathering for meetings. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account RCMP said in a news release that the fixed-wing Canadian aircraft entered the restricted area shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday, and NORAD's Canadian region deployed CF-18 Hornet fighter jets to intercept it. The release said that after multiple steps were taken to gain the pilot's attention, 'final warning measures' were used to contact the pilot and have them safely land under their own power. Const. Lauren Mowbray said those measures involved the jets firing warning flares, and the plane was met on the ground by the RCMP and their partners. The release didn't say where the plane originated or where it landed, noting the matter remains under investigation. RECOMMENDED VIDEO It said two notices to airmen of temporary air restrictions over Calgary and Kananaskis have been in place since Saturday morning and will continue until noon Tuesday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It is every pilot's responsibility to ensure that there are no restrictions in the airspace they intend to fly,' the release stated, noting that further information wouldn't be provided at this time. 'These incidents take away resources that could be utilized in police work and securing the summit site.' Mowbray did not have any information on whether the pilot is facing charges. Prime Minister Mark Carney is hosting G7 leaders from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Italy in Kananaskis, southwest of Calgary in the Rocky Mountains. Some leaders of non-member countries, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are also set to attend. Read More Sports Toronto & GTA Canada Relationships Sunshine Girls
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
What It's Really Like Inside The Cockpit Of An F-22 Raptor Fighter Jet
Nearly 30 years since its first test flight in 1997, the Lockheed Martin-Boeing F-22 Raptor still looks like it came from the future. Sporting both a curved body and hard-edged angles as well as that signature golden canopy, the F-22 is an iconic design that's instantly recognizable. But while there are plenty of amazing images of that radar-absorbent exterior, its interior has been kept pretty tightly under wraps. Much of the technology inside the F-22 remains classified, so while the U.S. Air Force is very happy to show it off at air shows, it generally avoids ever showing anyone the inside of the cockpit. Still, some information about the controls and displays of the Raptor have been released, and various pilots have talked about the experience of flying one. The F-22's technological edge comes as much from its advanced avionics as its stealth silhouette, empowering pilots in a way that fourth-generation fighters like the F-18 (which seem to be easy to lose) never could. That makes life in the cockpit very different for these pilots than their peers. Read more: These Cars Are Going To Age Terribly If you were to get near the interior of an F-22, you'd first have to raise the canopy. It's a bit more bulbous than the sleek designs of other aircraft, but as with the various other curves along the F-22's frame, this is meant to deflect radar. In other words, even the cockpit is a part of the Raptor's stealthiness. Once in the seat, you might first notice what you don't see -- dials. The F-22 has an all-glass cockpit, meaning that instead of a traditional instrumentation panel with lots of dials, the pilot is greeted by an array of computer screens made of glass. These are liquid crystal displays, visible even in direct sunlight (useful, since fighter pilots tend to like the sun directly at their backs). There are six such displays in total, including a larger central display for identification and target acquisition. To interact with all that, the pilots don't even have to take their hands off the controls. That's because the F-22 uses a hands-on throttle-and-stick system, which puts the computer inputs directly on, well, the throttle and control stick. This way, the pilot can interact with the complex systems while simultaneously flying the plane. With all that information literally at their fingertips, the pilot can personally process all the information they need; in other words, these fifth-generation fighters have no need for a backseat passenger, called the weapons systems officer on older planes. Actually sitting in that cockpit can be pretty intense. The plane can withstand anywhere from 9 gravities to minus 3 gravities, so the pilot will be wearing a G suit to help compensate. Over that, the pilot will have a flotation vest in case of a watery landing (read: crash), a harness with survival gear, and, of course, a helmet with communication equipment and oxygen. That said, one of the F-22's party tricks is that it is capable of supercruise -- staying at supersonic speeds for extended periods without afterburner. That makes for a smooth, comfortable experience above the speed of sound, unlike in most other fighter jets. It's good to be an F-22 pilot. That's especially true since, with all that information available to them on all those displays, F-22 pilots are empowered to make judgement calls on what to do in a given situation, not just the flight leads. Flying a Raptor is an awesome responsibility, but the plane gives you the power to make use of it. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Virginia honors Virginia Beach firefighter who lost his life to cancer
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — For years, firefighter Matthew Gallina was exposed to the toxins from fires, both small and large, that put him at risk for a host of rare and deadly cancers. First responders from across the region rushed to the Mayfair Mews Apartment complex in Virginia Beach on April 6, 2012, when a fighter jet slammed into the buildings. The fire was dubbed the Good Friday miracle; no one died. 'Good Friday Miracle': F-18 jet crash into Virginia Beach apartment turns 10 Since Gallina was part of the arson squad, he wasn't assigned to the scene but had to dig through the scene after the incident. 'So if there is an arson, investigation, then my Matt would go out and dig through that scene, and there's a multitude of cancer causing agents,' Gallina's wife Michelle Gallina said. Michelle also said her husband shared space with gear that was contaminated at Mayflower Mews. 'He did not go to the Good Friday plane crash,' Michelle said. 'His, the gear from the Good Friday plane crash was stored at his station, so that's, that's one part of, of the situation was, all of the turnout gear, the equipment that came back to his station for decon, but, you know, there is there's information that, the turnout gear itself, has cancer causing, material.' In June of 2023, Gallina, who had no symptoms, tested for a wide variety of cancers. The test came back positive for stage four esophageal cancer — Gallina died just 14 months later. Funeral services were held at Norfolk's Harbor Park. 10 On Your Side's Regina Mobley asked Michelle what her reaction would be if one of her three children wanted to be a firefighter. 'That's a hard question. And, I don't know,' Michelle said. 'I'm hoping that, you know, the camaraderie of the fire department is is so amazing, and it's, it brings you in. The support that I've gotten from the fire department, from the union, from friends and family, has been overwhelming. On Saturday, Virginia will honor Matt Gallina and 11 other first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the commonwealth. The event takes place at noon at the Richmond International Raceway Complex. If you can't make it to Richmond, the event will be streamed live at the link here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
