The 2016 Gathering of the Classics, Edenvale Aerodrome
The annual Gathering of the Classics, at Edenvale Aerodrome west of Collingwood, ON, is one of southern Ontario’s most popular summer aviation events. The 2016 edition, held under sunny skies on Aug. 6, was another impressive event. A colourful variety of vintage, classic, homebuilt and experimental aircraft flew in and a large display of vintage automobiles attracted spectators as well.
The Edenvale Aerodrome was a BCATP emergency relief field supporting Camp Borden from 1940 to 1945. It became a civilian aerodrome in 1950, used mostly for race car events, but abandoned again in 1959. Since 2002, it has operated as a private civilian aerodrome. Billed as “a beautiful place to fly,” Edenvale Aerodrome has steadily grown with new runways, taxiways and ramps and four rows of modern T-hangars. The scenic airport offers easy access to the Georgian Bay shoreline, the hills of Collingwood and surrounding central Ontario farmland.
The aerodrome is the home of the Edenvale Classic Aircraft Foundation (www.classicaircraft.ca), organizer of the Gathering of the Classics. Now one of the largest aircraft and automobile displays of its kind in Canada, the Gathering offers something for almost everyone.
One of the most impressive visitors this year was a striking Lockheed 12A, CF-LKD, owned by Invicta Air of St. Catharines. This aircraft, 2012 Oshkosh Grand Champion – Antique, had a long corporate history. It went to the RCAF under Lend-Lease and served at Trenton, as RCAF 7837, from 1937 to 1940. After the war, it was flown by Texaco and eventually acquired by Peter Ramm of St. Catharines in 2007. It has recently been listed for sale at $1,850,000.
The largest aircraft at the fly-in was the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum B-25J Mitchell. It has been a regular visitor to Edenvale, providing six passenger flights this year. Vintage Wings of Canada flew their Lysander, with veteran warbird pilot Dave Hadfield at the controls. A Robinson Special Seabee conversion, with a Corvette V8 engine in place of the original Franklin engine in the Republic RC-3 Seabee, also attracted considerable interest. This attractive “VeeBee”, flown in by Michael Lush of Orangeville, ON, was an award winner at the 2015 Sun ‘n Fun fly-in in Florida.
Overall, it was one “pretty cool” show, as illustrated by a few pictures.
--- photos and story by Gord McNulty
The beautiful Lockheed 12, CF-LKD, arrives at Edenvale on August 6
Another view of the Lockheed 12 CF-LKD at Edenvale
CWHM B-25J Mitchell taking off from Gathering of the Classics
Robinson Special Seabee C-FDOQ
The Vintage Wings of Canada Westland Lysander looked good at Edenvale
Highly polished ERCO Ercoupe C-FTSS
Lake Buccaneer C-GENS arrives at Edenvale
A Van's RV-3, C-GBRV, was another prime example of the popular, high-peformance Van's kit aircraft series
Murphy Moose C-FXLR arrives at Edenvale
An unusual DHC-1 Chipmunk, C-GVME, with a Rotec radial engine
Stinson 105 Voyager CF-SKP arrives at Edenvale
Cessna 195 CF-KCS arrives at Edenvale