Celebrating One of Canada’s Greatest Wartime Achievements

The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan

In 2011, Vintage Wings of Canada paid tribute to one of the greatest military and industrial achievements in Canada, indeed the world, during the Second World War. The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) was a stunning achievement in planning, construction, community involvement and aircrew training that involved every province of Canada, hundreds of small and medium sized communities across the country, and hundreds of thousands of airmen from Canada, the British Commonwealth and the United States of America.

The Vintage Wings of Canada “Yellow Wings” program spanned a year and a country to bring the story of how everyday Canadians, communities and companies did their part as the Aerodrome of Democracy to win the war against two evil empires.

Based on last season’s outstanding success, the Yellow Wings program will continue this summer. Yellow Wings 2012 will see the aircraft head to the east coast, spending July and August touring the Atlantic region. We anticipate another busy summer spreading the word to fellow Canadians about a little-known part of our history. Please see below for some of last years statistics.

Aircraft Involved:

deHavilland Tiger Moth

North American Harvard

Fleet Finch

Fairchild Cornell

Boeing Stearman

Number of airfields visited: 67

Number of locally organized public events attended: 47

Number of hours flown:452

Number of Vintage Wings members taken for sponsored rides:298

Stearman: 91

Harvard: 89

Cornell: 77

Finch: 37

Tiger Moth: 4

Number of volunteer pilots involved:21

Number of volunteer hours put towards the program:15,000

Number of miles covered:18,000

Number of bugs cleaned off the aircraft: 23, 485