This is my first post here, so I have to say that this discussion group is superb, absolutely superb. Just as an aside, what made me register was the CGI movie of the Mosquitos and Spits. Just marvellous.

There’s been many unexpected flypasts I’ve seen over the years, so I’ll try to keep it within a reasonable amount:

1: In the early to mid 80s, whilst I lived about an hour south of Ottawa, I was in the basement of my house watching some gameshow or another, when I heard my dad bellowing at me to come outside. Being lazy at the time, I didn’t really want to tear myself from my seat, but filial duty made me go outside, and I’m glad I did. Picture if you will, a lovely formation of a replica Nieuport 17, Sopwith Triplane, and Avro 504, with the sun setting (a reverse of the dawn patrol, but you get the idea. I’m absolutely positive that the National Aeronautical Collection used to fly their replicas many years ago, so that’s whose planes I think they are).

2: Again in the mid-80s, I remember being at the local swimming pool for my lessons, when a Fieseler Storch (it was in wartime colours) came overhead. I remember that one especially, because I had a strip torn off me by the instructor because I wasn’t paying attention to her.

3: Early 90s. Driving back to Canada from Washington D.C., I saw for the only time my favourite civilian aircraft, a Beech Staggerwing, flying south somewhere in Pennsylvania. That was a really unexpected highlight of my trip.

4: Post 1998. Moved down to SW Ontario, and occasionally get flown over by the 5 Harvard formation from Tillsonburg. Highly unexpected the first time it happened (I didn’t know where they were from). A regular occurence now, but still a singular treat.

5: Early 2000s. Driving home from work, I too thought that I was having trouble with my car (as a previous poster said) and cursing that the miserable thing was going to need to go in for repairs. But all of a sudden, I saw what was making the noise, and my mood swung from unbridled rage to sheer joy, as it was a B-17G (no idea which one, as I was driving at about 50 mph at the time) that was climbing away, probably at an altitude of less than 1000′ when I saw it.

Since I now live close to Hamilton and the CWH, I suppose seeing the Lancaster and all the other goodies that they fly should not be considered unexpected, but they are for me. Every time any of those beauties fly past, my tools immediately get put down, and I drink it all in as best I can, trying to cement as many memories possible.