WOW. I had the best weekend at Abbotsford Airshow. Airshow to me is like Christmas in August. I look forward to it every year. In 1986 my first Abbotsford Airshow I fell in Love with the high speed flying jets and the crazy aerobatic maneuvers performed by the best pilots in the world.

After seeing the Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly for the first time, I knew what Canadian pride is all about. Watching CF-18 do a simmulated strafe run and bomb drop creating a 500' wall of fire, literary takes your breath away.

CF-18 Strikes again

I was out of breath a few times this weekend. Running with my trusty old wet broom to put out the grass fires at the airport. Yes we use brooms to sweep out the flames on the grass. The Abbotsford Airport Fire department helps us put the fire out when all our Pyro segments are finished. They are such a great crew and have a lot of fun with us. They have nicknamed us the Canadian Summer Curling Team. Here is a shot of the boys helping us out.

Over the past 27 years I have only missed 2 airshows. ( I am still sad I missed them) . I have always loved taking pictures of planes and have been on a quest to get closer and closer to the action. From general admission, to front row box seating, to watching the airshow from my friends roof top I have now made it as close as I can possibly get. The HOT Zone. I have been very privileged to work with the awesome pyro crew from AV8FX for the last 2 Years. They needed an extra sweeper for the summer curling team and my long time friend and old Captain Pat (Big C), ask me if I would like to help April and the crew with the Airshow. I said yes and rest is history. Here are a few more pics from the HOT Zone.

April timed this one perfectly, but then she always does.

I love this P51 Mustang and our little wall of fire.

Many of the aircraft fly very low to the ground, I almost had to duck a few times.

That's team Red Bull taking low to another level. I think he was trying to give Mark a new haircut. 🙂

Check out the Indy Boy's Jet School bus having a race with an airplane.

That' our CF-18 Hornet going vertical beside the moon. It doesn't get any better that that.

Here is a closer look at the awesome paint job of the CF-18 and the HOT pyro crew.

I had such a great weekend and I am looking forward to next year. If you love planes you should come out next year and check it out.

If you want to see a few more pictures from this years Airshow, check them out on my Facebook page at Abbotsford Airshow 2012 .