Golden Hawks

The Golden Hawks were a Canadian military aerobatic flying team established in 1959 to celebrate the 35th anniversary or the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the "Golden" 50th anniversary of Canadian flight, which began with the AEA Silver Dart in 1909.

Initially a six-plane team was envisioned as performing for only one year with the F-86 Sabre, but the Golden Hawks were so popular after their single 63-show season that the team was expanded. Another Sabre was added to the team, allowing for a five-aircraft main formation with two solo jets. They continued performing for three more seasons until they were disbanded for financial reasons, on 7 February 1964, having flown a total of 317 shows across North America. Government officials said the $750,000 it took to operate the team each year could be used better for other purposes.

Not only did the team perform the loops, rolls and other maneuvers standard to military formation flying, they had their own trademark maneuvers. One of the Golden Hawks' signature stunts was a low-level flyby of the crowd with their canopies open, waving at the spectators. The Golden Hawks pioneered the bomb burst maneuver and the use of two solo pilots working together as part of the aerial demonstration which virtually every military team since has adopted in various ways.

No. 540 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets based in Oakville, Ontario is named after the Golden Hawks.

During the 1980s, No. 851 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets based in Prince Edward County, Ontario owned an F-86 Sabre that at one time was used by the Golden Hawks. From 1961 to 1977 the same Sabre was on display at Pinecrest school in Bloomfield, Ontario. The Sabre currently resides in Barrie, Ontario.

Accidents and incidents

*10 August 1959 - A Golden Hawks Sabre overshot when landing at McCall Airfield, Alberta, with the rest of the team and collided with a Piper Pacer about 2 miles west of the field. Pilot of the Sabre and two occupants of the Pacer were killed. [ cite journal |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2000 |month= |title=Casualty Compendium Part Seventy Seven|journal=Air-Britain Archive |volume=2000 |issue=2 |pages=66 |issn=0262-4923]

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Dempsey, Daniel V. "A Tradition of Excellence: Canada's Airshow Team Heritage". Victoria, BC: High Flight Enterprises, 2002. ISBN 0-9687817-0-5.
* Fast, Beverley G. "Snowbirds: Flying High, Canada's Snowbirds Celebrate 25 Years". Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: Lapel Marketing & Associates Inc., 1995. ISBN 0-96993127-0-7.