2023 Chilliwack Airshow Performers
The Chilliwack Airshow organizing committee are excited to bring New & Returning Performers to the 2023 Chilliwack Flight Fest. Helping us celebrate 29 years of providing a FREE admission Airshow to the Residents of the City of Chilliwack and surrounding areas.
All made possible by the support of our sponsors and the dedication of our Volunteers.
The Curtiss P-40 was a development of the radial engined P-36/Hawk 75. The prototype XP-40 was a converted P-36A with the R-1830 replaced with an Allison V-1710-19 liquid cooled V-12. First flown in October 1938, the P-40 was evaluated at Wright Field in May 1939 resulting in an order for 524 aircraft.
Early P-40s were equipped with 2x .50 and 4x .30 caliber machine guns with the .50s mounted above the engine. With the P-40D the engine mounted guns were removed and later P-40s standardized on 6x .50 caliber machine guns mounted in the wings.
Although the P-40 was best known for using the Allison V-1710, the P-40F and P-40L were powered by the Packard V-1650-1 Merlin. The V-1650-1 had a single stage supercharger so it did not have the altitude performance of the P-51 fitted the later V-1650 with a two stage supercharger.
Over 13,700 P-40s had been built by the time production ended in December 1944. Although the P-40 did not have the best performance of its contemporaries, it did have a reputation as a rugged aircraft and it was available when needed.
The P-40 is most famous as the aircraft of General Claire Chennault’s American Volunteer Group – the Flying Tigers. Their P-40Bs defended China against the Japanese. P-40s also serviced in the Pacific, Middle East and Europe and defended North America in the Aleutians. The P-40 was operated by England, France, China, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and Turkey as well as the United States.
This aircraft was purchased direct from Curtiss by the British Purchasing Commission (i.e. it was not a Lease-Lend aircraft with a USAAC serial). It was delivered to the RAF on 6 November 1941 as AK940. It was allocated to the Royal Canadian Air Force and served with 111 Squadron. It was re-numbered to 1058 later in the war, and finally struck off charge on 16 August 1946. The aircraft also flew with 133 Squadron, was coded X and was based at Tofino, British Columbia and Sea Island, BC.
This P-40E has undergone a 21 month restoration. Originally restored in the early 1980’s it was badly damaged in a forced landing in 1996. Stored for some time, it was initially purchased by Dick Thurman and subsequently sold to Tony Banta. Restoration was begun in June 2000 and it flew again on the 24th March 2002. The aircraft has made its debut at the ‘Warbirds Over Wanaka’ 2002 airshow.
The aircraft was another that was restored as joint venture between Pioneer Aero Restorations and Avspecs, using Pioneer’s large selection of tooling.
Canadian Museum of Flight
Yellow Thunder
David Watson lives in Beaumont, Alberta with his wife Caroline. David’s day job is running a business marketing software and providing consulting services for the construction design community.
David trained for his pilot’s license in the last Fleet Canuck in the Edmonton Flying Club fleet (C-FEOH) in 1985. Later that year, he immediately acquired a Harvard endorsement flying his father’s Harvard; the same aircraft he now owns. In 2007, he purchased a Yak-52 aircraft to fly competition aerobatics, winning first place in Sportsman’s category in 2009 – his first contest.
David is now a commercial pilot with an IFR rating.
Drew Watson lives in Ponoka, Alberta with his wife, Wendy, and his faithful companion, Knuckles. Drew’s love of aviation guided him into his second career and is now a professional pilot. His piloting career has given him the opportunity to fly corporate airplanes in Western Canada, pilot warbirds in Hawaii, perform at Airshows, and, currently, providing hail suppression services in Alberta during the summer and rain enhancement services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the Winter.
Drew purchased his first airplane, a Fleet Canuck, with his brother, David, in 2000 and obtained his private pilot license in the Canuck in 2002. After purchasing his Harvard in 2006 Drew furthered his career in aviation by obtaining his Commercial Pilot License, in his Harvard, in 2008 and has since accumulated over 3,000 hours in 30 different airplane types. More recently, Drew has become and ACE (Aerobatic Competency Evaluator), evaluating other airshow professionals.
Richard Mrazek
Joining John in the sky is his son Richard Mrazek. Watch in amazement as Richard awes the crowd gracefully performing in his
Mike Tryggvason
Mike Tryggvason is a Canadian competition aerobatic and airshow pilot with more than 5000 hours of total flight time. He works at a major airline as a pilot and instructor, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Western Ontario.
Mike is based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and currently flies a Extra 300 in airshows and Advanced competition.
His group, 10g Aerosports, strives to promote and inspire the next generation of aviators across Canada and the USA.
John Mrazek
John is a veteran airshow performer and he is bringing the smoke and noise to Chilliwack this year! When John is not flying airshows he is instructing in the art of aerobatics, formation flying, and acts as an ICAS approved Airshow Certificate Evaluator.
Ross Granley
In our past 26 years, there have been only a couple of shows that have not had a Granley presence and we could not be happier to announce that this year will be no different!!
Featured in the television series “Airshow”, you won’t want to miss Ross in his white Yak 18T as he wows the audience right from the second he takes to the sky.
Ross is a former Royal Canadian Air Force pilot and is one of the most respected and idolized pilots in the airshow industry!
We’re beyond excited to welcome Ross Granley back to the skies of Chilliwack!
Roy Hafeli
Showline Airshow Services
Showline Airshow Services directed their first show in 1992 and has since has been involved as Event Consultants, Air Operations Director, and Air Boss at airshows in both Canada and the United States. Showline is able to provide the experience drawn from the aviation and event professionals that make up the company.
