Wings Of The Prairies

           I'm sure we've all heard the news by now, that the RCAF is finally getting a new fighter after over a decade of delays in selecting a replacement. Eighty eigth brand new F-35s will be on the way which if I remember correctly, is a vastly different number than what we planned to buy as far back as 2010. It's a plane that no doubt did have teething troubles in its development but like most aircraft did overcome them eventually and has proved itself as capable in the hands of the Israelis. It's now a promising platform that's fast on its way to becoming one of the NATO standards, even with NATO countries who opt to use homegrown designs- it might even become the next F-16, enjoying a long and promising career, which if the CF-18 is anything to go off certainly will with the RCAF. So what's next with Canada? Can we predict what's next on the wishlist for the armed forces?           I think we certainly can, and I don't think ...

           When I was a boy, my father told me all sorts of tales. One tale that stood out in my young mind was the tale of the Arrow. I can't say which event exactly sparked my interest in aviation, but hearing the tall tales of the Arrow no doubt helped contribute to my obsession later on in life. Many experimental and prototype aircraft existed in the same timeframe as Avro Canada's big dream, some perhaps even more daring and innovative than the Arrow, yet are forgotten by all except the most die-hard aviation fanatics. So what are these legends? Why do they still persist? In this blog I'll be going over the various legends surrounding the Arrow- and how they still linger in 2022.           A couple years ago, I had the pleasure of revisiting one of my favorite museums, the Hangar Flight Museum in Calgary, Alberta. Sprinkled throughout the collection are small artifacts here and there of Avro Canada, some of which are tools that...

           So I've been quiet for sometime. So quiet in fact, some people might wonder if I've moved on from writing blogs here and creating content on YouTube. The resounding answer to that is no, I haven't moved on.            To say that the past year in the world has been crazy is an understatement. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, getting married, a busy work schedule, and other WOTP team members being tied up with life, I decided it was best to take a hiatus and wait for everything to get back on track. With the snow quickly melting and restrictions being lifted across the country, I've decided it's time for us to strap into the cockpit and get working on content again. So what's in store?           I have a few episodes planned, but only one is set in stone to begin production after a year of delays- the little known incident known as the 1946 RCAF Dakota crash in Estevan Saskatchewan. I have been i...

           Across Canada there are many places that you can go where you can learn more about the rich history of aviation in the country. As a creator documenting the history of flight in the prairies, I feel as though it’s my duty to recommend what I feel are some of the best museums. Seeing as today I’ll be filming at a museum this article seems rather fitting.           Live in Regina? Bored of the same old attractions? Tired of the modern skyline? Look no further than Moose Jaw! Not only is the city just under an hour away, but it really has that vintage atmosphere and a rich aviation history to boot. Not only is there displays of former RCAF aircraft at CFB Moose Jaw and the information center along the highway, but the Western Development Museum has a tasteful and exciting collection of aircraft of all sorts, from a Snowbird display team Tutor to a very good collection of BCATP aircraft and a little bit of history surrounding...

           By 1944 the Japanese Empire had suffered major setbacks in their total war against the allies, and the options for a strike on American and Canadian soil had long since passed. Gone were the days of Japanese submarines and reconnaissance aircraft attempting raids on the coastlines as all assets were either tied up or destroyed, or simply too far away to cause any damage. The Japanese needed a solution; their allies in Europe faced a similar situation, and found an answer in flying bombs- the V1 and later on the first ballistic missile, the V2. The problem was however that the technology for the rockets at the time didn’t allow for them to reach targets across oceans, so how could the Japanese create an answer to the German wonder weapons? That answer came in the form of the Fu-Go fire balloon.           The Fu-Go fire balloon was a hydrogen balloon equipped with light explosives, usually anti-personnel or incendiary. The ...

           With this article I’ll be bringing to light some of the tales I’ve heard from my family and friends over the years of aviation. Some I was present for during my almost 23 years of life so far that I’ve been privileged enough to live, others have been told long before my time. So strap in, get IFR clearance, and await the blue skies of stories ahead.           In a previous post detailing the BCATP, I reflected on a story my Gido told me of pilots that would dive at him and other hired men around Yorkton area and how he reflected on those stories fondly. It wouldn’t be the last time my family had an encounter with the Air Force over the homestead however. When my father was growing up the Pine Tree Line, part of NORAD’s defense against the Soviet Union was very active and there was an installation near Yorkton. Often RCAF aircraft would run circuits over the homestead, sometimes low enough to be at treetop level to try and...

           With this entry I’ll open with a famous speech from British prime minister Winston Churchill. To many, it is with these words which the 1940 Battle Of Britain began;           “We shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!”           With that speech, the commonwealth and Britain were rallied to the cause. Soon after, the RCAF would receive its first aerial victories, aces, and awards. No. 1 Squadron RCAF played a vital role in defeating the Luftwaffe over Britain during that perilous time, and with it brought prestige and honor to one Saskatchewan resident.           Ernest McNab, comm...