By Mike Davenport, EAA 89102, Vancouver, British Columbia
Not every air show can be an Oshkosh or an Abbotsford, but once in a while you come across a small-town show that equals the giants in both presentation and quality.
The city of Chilliwack, 100 kilometers east of Vancouver, has been the site of a free air show for the past 29 years, perhaps one of the last in Canada. The Chilliwack Flight Fest is hosted by both Magnum Management, the airport operator, and Firkus Aircraft Inc. Ray Firkus clears out his shop to also hold a hangar dance on the night before the show.
Concerns about the persistent wildfire smoke at show time proved unfounded as visibility remained good throughout the day. The gates opened at 11 a.m. on Sunday morning, and by then the line of enthusiasts was around the corner and far down the street. Admission was by donation encouraged by cheerful volunteers.
The 2026 show included a variety of performers and aircraft including Kevin Maher from Oliver, British Columbia, with his Stearman (for more detail on Kevin and his Stearman, check the January blog story). Others included Kyle Fowler and his Long-EZ as well as Richard Mrazek and Ross Granley, a “dynamic duo” of second-generation air show pilots flying Yaks.
David and Drew Watson from Alberta presented their appropriately named Yellow Thunder flight with their Harvards and performed a true smoke-and-thunder show.
A rarely seen World War II dive bomber, the Douglas SBD Dauntless owned by Erickson Aviation from Madras, Oregon, put on an excellent display; demonstrating both its pilot’s skill and the aircraft’s capabilities.
Brad Wurston rounded out the day with a resounding demonstration of his flying skills and the carbon fibre strength of his Australian built MXS-R.
In spite of several 9-1-1 calls to the RCMP by drivers on the nearby freeway reporting an airplane crash, Donna Flynn, the very professional air boss, kept this eclectic group on time and safe throughout the show.
Without question, one of the best entertainment bargains of the season and one that will be on my schedule again next August.