The Thunderbirds

The mighty Thunderbirds are in the air, as a team since 1947. Many types of aircraft have been in used by the Team since. They are currently flying the Lockheed-Martin F-16 and that since 1983. They come with 8 aircraft. 6 of them are in the air while they are performing, one backup and one for the advance aircraft. They are based at Nellis AFB near Las Vegas, Nevada. More than 140 persons compose this elite squadron. The new Team leader, this year, Lt. Col Case Cunningham, is eager to discover Quebec City and all it has to offer. Aside from the practice flights, the Thunderbirds will perform on Saturday and Sunday 12th and 13th of June. You have to be on the site to appreciate this one of a kind precision flight display from the United States Air Force Thunderbirds.

Mark Kirsch

One of the strongest men on Earth, Mark, only 29 years old, comes from the Tacoma, State of Washington. His unique specialty is to pull the large and heavy aircraft. On his record, he pulled a P-3 Orion, a KC-135 Stratotanker, a C-130 Hercules, a C-17 Globemaster III, a Boeing 737, 747, 767, also, some Airbus 330 and 340. At the Quebec City air show, he may compete with other would be strong women or men from the Greater Quebec area.

Bill Leff

Bill flies a Harvard in a very special way. He will present to us a night performance, with pyro, on his aircraft on Friday the 11th and on daytime Saturday and Sunday. Bill is from Dayton, Ohio and has clocked 30,000 hours in his career of which 4,000 hours on his current Harvard. Mr. Leff has flown for many airlines in the capacity of instructor on many modern types of aircraft. His performance includes a full series of very difficult maneuvers.

Dan Buchanan

Dan is a paraplegic. He decided not to be stopped by his predicament and to move about, and he does like you, and I wouldn't even dream of. He uses a Delta wing for the daytime show and a motorized one for the night show; also with pyro. Daytime launch is done through a catapult from his truck. His wheelchair always awaits him after landing. Dan comes to us from Dayton in the State of Nevada.

Skip Stewart

Skip has been the rising star of air shows for the last few years. From his native California, he roams the world over and is in great demand because of the way he handles his aircraft. Himself a real gentleman, for us, he is the natural follow up to our beloved Jim Leroy, Skip will keep you on your toes all during his performances. In the solo act or in tandem with Patty Wagstaff you will be stunt by the energy deployed by this gentleman.

CANADAIR F-86 SABRE 5

The F-86 Sabre Series 5 is an aircraft that was born in 1947 and is known primarily for his participation during the Korean War from 1950 until the armistice of 1953. This aircraft was designed for air superiority, and is armed in time of war with 6 Browning M2, 0.50in (12.7 mm) machine guns and can carry bombs, rockets and external fuel tanks. Series 5 Sabres are known as the "creme de la creme" of all versions, 370 copies of Series 5 aircrafts were built in Canada , its Orenda 14 turbojet Canadian engine made it possible to fly to an altitude of 50,000 feet and reach a maximum speed of 1.120 km / h or Mach 0.91! This aircraft is sporting the colours of the Golden Hawks Canadian aerobatic team created in 1959 to the celebration of 50th anniversary of aviation in Canada, and is currently owned by Vintage Wings of Canada.

CF-18 Demo

Captain Brian Bews, for Squadron 425, Ville de Québec from Bagotville has been designated the 2010 demo pilot for the Canadian Armed Forces. Brian will show what he can do with a Hornet in a demo mode. Hang on to your shoes.

Les Shockley

Les Schockley started Shock Wave back in the 1970's. Once dedicated only to funny car building, showing and racing at the best racetracks in the US. In 1988, along with his son Kent Shockwave start to show off in the air show business. It is Instant success. Les hold the Guinness record of 376 mph or 605 km/h over a 3 km long runway. Shock Wave Les and his son's driver Kent will be at the Quebec air show, from Galena, Kansas, with the largest jet powered, Peterbuilt, truck equipped with 3 Pratt & Whitney J34-48 engines. Like to get one...go to their website.

FA-18E Super Hornet

The F-18E Super Hornet is the most recent version of this one of a kind fighter. This hornet is 20% larger than the previous model. It hosts a pair of F-414-GE-400 engines. In combat mode, it has a range of 722 kms. It can reach a speed of 1,900 km/h. It has never been seen at the Quebec air show in demo mode, it is a first. This aircraft can also serve as a refueller with a special kit installed on it. This aircraft is part of Squadron VF-106, the GLADIATORS from Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia. It will be interesting to observe the difference in performances between this FA-18E and our Canadian CF-18.

Credit (picture) : Robert-St-Pierre

Surete du Quebec (Quebec Provincial Police) Bell 412

The QPP operates a fleet of a few helicopters to enhance security for the whole of the Quebec vast territory's population. Based in the Montreal area, the 412 is equipped with the latest technological system enabling the crew to quickly respond to almost any kind of emergencies. The well trained crews are able to fly during daylight hours and night time and also under less than ideal conditions in order to save lives or survey some suspicious activities. The Management of the Emergency Measures section of the QPP is proud to authorize the flying demonstration of this very special helicopter, the Bell 412. You have to be on site to see this demonstration, for the first time, at the Videotron Quebec air show 2010.

GOODYEAR FG-1D CORSAIR

The FG-1D Corsair is one of the most adapted and versatile aircraft of all fighters of the Second World War. Originally designed by Chance Vought in 1940, some Corsairs (like the one shown here) are being built under license by Goodyear to fill the large order of this aircraft with 12,583 copies. It is easily recognized by its wings "reversed seagulls wings" that allow the aircraft to have a huge Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8 "Double Wasp" 2000-horsepower engine and have one of the largest propeller on a combat aircraft, with a diameter of 13 feet 4 inches and sport a shorter and more robust landing gear to endure the repeated landings. Capable of reaching speeds of 685 kph and achieving 37,000 feet, it rivalled the best fighters of his era. Its 6 Browning M2, 12.7 mm machine guns are also formidable and it can carry 2,000 pounds of bombs and rockets made this aircraft very versatile. The Corsair presented here is painted in standard U.S. colours called "shipyard blue" in honour of Lieutenant Hampton Gray, Canadian pilot who received the Victoria Cross during the Second World War.