summer

Harvard's and Hero's

This weekend ( June 20th-22nd) was a Gathering/Event in Tillsonburg On. Celebrating 75 years of the Harvards and the Veterans who flew them. This Harvard fly over was the largest one since WWII and there was no way I was going to miss a piece of history like that.

I showed up to the Tillsonburg airport around 11:30pm, from the highway I could see a small sea of yellow planes as I approached and was instantly excited for the show. The sound of 11 harvards flying through the air is outstanding, nothing like you've ever heard before. This event wasn't just harvards, the majority was, but there was also a Harvard II trainer there which was a treat to see, and two T-28 Trojan's, One navy blue, and one that was White and Orange if I remember right, it was a treat to see them take off at the end of the show. 

Harvard's and Hero's started off with one harvard and one amazing pilot who was making this plane do things I never thought a harvard could do. This plane was flipping tail over prop, straight up into the sky and stalling out, kicking the tail over the nose, crazy rolls, and really really low flying.. I mean .. if I had to guess, 30 ft off the ground, it was insane!  After that, all the harvards took to the skies to do a couple fly by's, which was then followed up by the Canadian Harvard Aerobatics Team, who always put on an amazing show with smoke and crazy stunts! - Shutter Click ~

 

The Canadian Harvard Aerobatics Team come racing in from the right, smoke on, getting set up for a steep climb.

Coming straight at the crowd while in a diamond formation, pulling back on the stick and going vertical. 

Pulling back, shooting straight up and back over the top for a smoky back roll.

Team comes straight over the crowds heads with smoke on, setting up to bank left and come across centre stage.

Two team members come flying in head on and cross last minute just missing one another.

The reason everyone gathered.. The 11 Harvard Tribute Pass.. what a sound and sight to see. 

Rick Volker, A Harvard Aerobatics Pilot gets in his harvard and taxi's up to put on quite an impressive solo aerobatics display. Who knew the harvard could do the things he made it do!

Rick Volker, Banking hard in front of the crowd as he gains some momentum and air speed to perform some more amazing aerobatics. 

Rick Volker doing a close, topside pass for the crowd and photographers.. what a photo op! 

Rick Volker doing a tight inside loop stage centre. 

2013 FireFighter Fit Challenge

I've never seen so many pretty ladies gathered together at an event in my life!
 
This weekend ( Aug 9,10,11th) was the Ingersoll Ontario 2013 FireFighter Fit Challenge. This is an event where Firefighters, men and women, gather to run a course which show cases how physically fit they are, and have to be to do their job. I may not name the sections of the course correctly but it starts out with: A run up 5 flights of stairs in full gear, then at the top, they do a hand over hand pull of rolled up hose to the top of the tower. After that, they run back down 5 flights of stairs. Once at the bottom they have to bleed their oxygen tank, and switch tanks onto another firefighters back. Firefighter number two then jumps onto a Hammer Shuttle and beats a big steel block from one end to the other, then takes off running, weaving around fake fire hydrants. They then pick up a fire hose, throw it over their shoulder, and run back down the course to a target where they then have to blast the hose at the target and knock it down. Once the target has been knocked down they pick up a 175lbs dummy and drag it all the way back down the course across the finish line.
 
This event was pretty sweet to watch take place and it really makes you realize how in shape these firefighters really are.
 
Shutter Click. 

 

 

 © Kevin Vyse Photography 

All rights reserved 2013  

 © Kevin Vyse Photography 

All rights reserved 2013  

 © Kevin Vyse Photography 

All rights reserved 2013  

 © Kevin Vyse Photography 

All rights reserved 2013  

 © Kevin Vyse Photography 

All rights reserved 2013  

 © Kevin Vyse Photography 

All rights reserved 2013