Membership
B.C.-built replica WW1 planes land in France for Vimy Ridge centennial
By Jack Hauen, CBC News
Volunteers with the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, B.C. built two replica Sopwith Pups — one of the earliest planes used in the First World War — to fly over Vimy Ridge this weekend to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the historic battle.
Now those planes, along with their Canadian pilots, have landed in France.
To read the full article, click here.
Note about why the Sopwith Pups did NOT fly at the Vimy Ridge event: The main problem why the two Pup replicas were not able to fly at the Vimy Ridge ceremony was that neither Transport Canada nor France were willing to give special dispensation to allow them to fly there before having accumulated the required 25 hours testing and clearance time. Hopefully the hours will be quickly flown off after their arrival back in Canada, and this will allow them to participate in the Vimy Flight appearances across Canada this coming Spring and Summer, before returning to Langley.
After they return from France, the plan is for the Vimy Flight to tour across Canada from the Maritimes to B. C., visiting air museums, etc. along the way, and to appear at the Battle of Britain Parade at Boundary Bay Airport on 17 Sep 17.
Photo Credit: Dominique L
Local Lens France newspaper item - 05 April 2017:
At Aerodrome Lens – Benifontaine, the fleets home for the Vimy Centenial flights:
Returning to base at Aerodrome Lens Benifontaine, France. Thank you to the 5 pilots: Allan Snowie, B Rent Handy, Larry Ricker, Peter Thornton, Dale Erhart:
Photo source: Air Canada
Additional photos available here: www.vimyflight.ca.