Tiger Boys Fly-Ins draw aviation fans to Guelph Airpark
Photos and report by Gord McNulty, CAHS Vice President
The popularity of fly-ins throughout the season at Guelph Airpark in southern Ontario continues to grow. Aviation fans, including numerous CAHS members, find a visit to Guelph invariably offers something special. The impressive variety of classic aircraft, homebuilts of every description and vintage, Second World War trainers and more is hard to beat, as is the camaraderie among pilots, photographers and enthusiasts young and old.
Beginning in May, fly-in barbecues take place every Thursday evening. The Tiger Boys, Tom Dietrich and Bob Revell, who have collected and restored historic aircraft for more than 35 years, host the fly-ins at their hangar. Visitors savour homemade burgers, salad and butter tarts and an opportunity to catch up on “hangar flying.” In September, the Tiger Boys host their annual two-day Open House which attracts a colourful array of aircraft.
Guelph is invariably a lively scene. I had just arrived at a BBQ in June, for example, when accomplished aerobatic pilot Hella Comat of Burlington flew in with her Pitts Special S1-T, C-FWTT. Hella gave an excellent presentation on her career to the Toronto Chapter in December, 2016. The report is in in Vol.51, No. 4 of the Flypast Newsletters link of the Chapter website, www.torontoaviationhistory.com.
It was also the first time I had seen the Tiger Boys rare Corben Super Ace, CF-I0X, which had recently arrived on display. Proudly sporting No. 12 on the fuselage, this Ford Model A-powered aircraft was the twelfth built at the Corben factory in Chicago.
“Big Red,” a beautiful Stinson Reliant, C-FATE, was among the highlights of the busy Open House on Sept. 15. This impressive ‘Stinson Gullwing’ is based by Ross Adams at Burlington, ON, in summer and Calgary in winter. Speaking of Pitts, Bill Ludwig of Chatham, ON, flew his Pitts Special S1-T C-GBKF from Chatham, in southwestern Ontario, to Guelph in a 54-minute flight.
I’ve barely touched the bases of all of the action but, hopefully, even this brief account provides an indication that Guelph has much to offer.
Stinson Reliant C-FATE, Big Red, at Guelph, Sept. 15, 2018. Based at Burlington in the summer and Calgary
in the winter.
Corben Super Ace, CF-IOX, of Guelph Tiger Boys, 12th one built by Corben in Chicago. Ford Model A engine.
June 28, 2018.
The cockpit of the Corben Super Ace with original Corben Sport Plane Co. nameplate and lubrication recommendations.
Pitts Special S1-T, C-FWTT, was flown in by accomplished aerobatic pilot Hella Comat. June 28, 2018.
Pitts Special S1-T at Guelph, flown in from Chatham, ON by Bill Ludwig. Sept. 15, 2018.
A smooth landing at Guelph by Bill Ludwig in Pitts Special S1-T C-GBKF, Sept. 15, 2018.
1929 Pietenpol C-IKRO of the Tiger Boys was the fourth built by Bernard Pietenpol. 40 hp Model A engine
June 28, 2018.
DH82A Tiger Moth 'Woody,' C-GMTH, of the Tiger Boys in its eye-catching paint scheme. June 28, 2018.
Taylor E-2 Cub CF-ANT, was the first Cub to fly in Canada.
Vintage Cubs at Guelph, Piper J-2 CF-BBY and Taylor E-2 CF-ANT, Sept. 15, 2018.
A newly completed VP-1 Volksplane and the Tiger Boys vintage Ford truck are in the foreground at the lineup on Sept. 15, 2018.