Golden Centennaires Explained

Unit Name:Golden Centennaires
Dates:1967
Country: Canada
Branch:Royal Canadian Air Force
Role:Aerobatic flight demonstration team
Size:Eight aircraft
Garrison:CFB Portage la Prairie
Colors:Gold, Dark blue, Red trim
Notable Commanders:Wing Commander O. B. Philp
Aircraft Trainer:CT-114 Tutor

The Golden Centennaires were a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) aerobatic flying team that performed in 1967, the Canadian Centennial year. The team was created to celebrate the Canadian Centennial.The eight-plane formation team, commanded by Wing Commander O. B. Philp C.M., DFC, CD, featured six-plane formations alternating with two solo aircraft. The aircraft used was the CT-114 Tutor, which sported a blue and gold paint scheme.

The Golden Centennaires performed 103 shows in Canada, including the opening and closing ceremonies of Expo 67 in Montreal, seven shows in the United States, and two shows in the Bahamas.[1] [2] The team was disbanded after the last show of the season, but the aircraft were used a few years later to form the Snowbirds, Canada's current national team.

Accompanying the Golden Centennaires were an Avro 504, a CF-104 Starfighter and a CF-101 Voodoo. All of these aircraft performed at the Centennial airshows.

References

Notes and References

  1. Dempsey 2002, p. 254.
  2. Dempsey 2002, p. 296.