Page 8 - World Airshow News Final

Airshow News

CHANgES fOR 2025:
RCAF CF-18 Hornet

Demo to

Stand Down

The Royal Canadian Air Force
(RCAF) has announced their popular
CF-18 Hornet tactical demo will stand
down for the 2025 airshow season.
“The Royal Canadian Air Force is on
the cusp of a period of modernization
not seen since the Second World War,“
the RCAF said in their announcement.
“This period will impact nearly every
fleet of aircraft and all members of the
organization. The RCAF’s fighter force is
no exception as it transitions to the fifth
generation CF-35A.”
Instead of the typical CF-18 Hornet
Demonstration Team, the RCAF said
they would showcase a small number of
non-aerobatic tactical demonstrations to able at the time of each airshow. To limit The colorful and popular RCAF CF-18 Hornet demo jet
be carried out by operational CF-18 pi- the impact on the RCAF fighter force, it will stand down for the 2025 airshow season (photo
lots from squadrons at CFB Cold Lake was also decided that the CF-18s will only by Jim Froneberger).
and CFB Bagotville, flying grey paint attend a limited number of Canadian air-
scheme CF-18s from the inventory avail- shows during the 2025 season.

HONORINg tHE “But helping to build a lasting legacy for felt tribute to the countless Allied sailors
ALLIED VICtORy: veterans makes all of the preparations and airmen who served with courage
CAF Warbird to and sacrifices worth it.” and conviction during the Second World
Ready 4 Duty will also transport ar-
War,” said CAF President/CEO David
Make Epic Journey tifacts from surviving U.S. World War Oliver. “This commemorative mission
embodies the transatlantic bonds forged
II-era warships, such as U.S.S. Yorktown,
Battleship Texas, and U.S.S. Laffey. The in the fight for freedom and remain a cor-
To commemorate the 80th anniver- exhibition, assembled specifically for nerstone of our shared history.”
sary of the Allied victory in World War this tour, marks the first time that arti- Built in 1944, Ready 4 Duty is a Doug-
II, Ready 4 Duty, a historic U.S. Navy facts from so many U.S. World War II las R4D-6S, the U.S. Navy’s version of the
World War II-era Douglas R4D-6S oper- warships are publicly displayed together. legendary DC-3 and C-47. It is the last of
ated by the Commemorative Air Force “The Navy to Victory Tour is a heart- its kind still flying.
(CAF), is embarking on a transatlantic
journey from Texas to Europe. The am-
bitious twelve-week, 12,000-mile Navy to
Victory Tour will run from April through “Ready 4 Duty” is the
July and includes appearances at over a last Navy Douglas
dozen aviation and ceremonial events R4D-6S still flying. It
across the southern and eastern U.S., Ice- will make an epic trip
land, the United Kingdom, France, and this spring and summer
the Netherlands. (CAF photo by Karolina
“Safely operating an eighty-year-old Marek).
aircraft for such an extended journey is
no mean feat,” said Christopher Volpe,
Navy to Victory Tour’s lead coordinator.

www.airshowmag.com 8 The Final Issue