Couldn't get out to Oshkosh this year—or any year for that matter—but there was a mini-edition of the event at Springbank today, marked by the arrival of this rather nice-looking Cozy Mark IV. | 🛩️ 📹 📍 🇨🇦 | 🔗 www.aircraftspruce.ca/catalog/pnpa...

Better put the pasta water on. | 🍅 🌱

For some reason, I was thinking about this excellent @scribener.bsky.social article today, and wanted to share it here again for any and all to read and think about. It captures a moment where I was so damn proud to be a Canadian. 🥺 Here's what I also know for sure: this, too, will pass. | 🛩️ 🦆 🍁

Tipped off to their arrival by our friend @jasonchampton.bsky.social, these three beauties are on a tour of western Canada. We touched base with the Erickson Collection, from whence they came and obtained this … (📸 Erickson Collection) | 🛩️ ⚔️ 📅 📍 🇨🇦 🥇 | 🧵 1/4 | 🔗 ericksoncollection.com?utm_source=b...

Candidly, I had mixed feelings when the news broke about a potential return of Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors. It made me think back to his first tenure with the team; here are my thoughts from 2019. Rereading them, I'm now inclined to believe 'Kawhi II' could be an interesting sequel. | 🏀 🦖

Merde. | ⚽️

Here's a rare opportunity to ask professional photographer Jon Davison for some tips, tricks, and hacks on how to improve your aviation photography. The *free* live webinar is coming up soon, but pre-registration is required. More information by clicking the link below. | 🏷️ #photography #fotografia

‘Keep Them Flying’ is a good old-fashioned cards and letters campaign being organised to keep the Snowbirds flying through the extended pause between old (CT-114) and new (CT-157) team aircraft. If you have seen … (📸 Russ via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY 2.0.) | 🛩️ ⚔️ 🥇 | 🧵 1/2 | 🔗 keepthemflying.ca

An RV-10 apparently so new, the owner hasn't yet had an opportunity to add accent stripes. Love the extra bass note 🎶 in that sound. | 🛩️ 📹 📍 🇨🇦 | 🔗 www.vansaircraft.com/rv-10/

Hard to believe that this beautiful Lancair 320 is already thirty-two years old, which is a testament to its timeless design. It still looks fresh and modern. Another pilot who taxis with purpose. I like it; avgas is expensive. | 🛩️ 📹 📍 🇨🇦

Back at Springbank after the road trip to the coast, this sharp-looking Gazelle made an appearance, although I didn't catch it flying, unfortunately. While it may be part of @airbus.com now, it will always be Aérospatiale to me. Sounds cooler. | 🛩️ 🚁 📍 🇨🇦

Go Belgium. | ⚽️ 🇧🇪

Make that Jude Bellingham for pope. | ⚽️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

What September’s pesto looks like in July. | 🌱

I figured enough time had elapsed since the passing of a much-beloved neighbourhood dog 🐶 that I could finally address their remaining traces on our lawn. | 🌱

No matter how things eventually turned out, @canmntofficial.bsky.social, it was one hell of a ride and you made us all so very proud. Thank you. See you, better than ever, in four years’ time. | ⚽️ 🍁

The July issue is out. 💥 This month, BluFly connects with the team of Atlantic Explorer, who recently completed a record-setting, hydrogen-lofted, transatlantic flight from Presque Isle, Maine, to Tandel, Luxembourg. The article is jam-packed with fascinating details and amazing photos. | 🛩️ 🎈 🥇

The final planespotting stop of the Okanagan Valley road trip was the product of what had to be absolute alignment of the stars and dumb luck. Specifically, how often do you randomly drive up to an airport and *five minutes later* the resident … | 🛩️ ⚔️ 📹 📍 🇨🇦 | 🧵 1/5 | 🔗 kfcentre.ca

Eustáquio for pope. | ⚽️ 🍁

A Britten-Norman Islander, looking quite forlorn, as recently captured at Penticton Airport. Did you know @brittennorman.bsky.social is making these again? Or maybe this one is a candidate for their recently announced Global Aircraft Recovery service? | 🔗 britten-norman.com/britten-norm...

We were out for a cruise to the Okotoks Air Ranch (CFX2) recently, and found our planespotting spot fenced off. That's the bad news. ☹️ The much better news 🙂 is the plan they have as described by @rkorotyszyn.bsky.social writing for the @westernwheel.bsky.social this past February. | 🛩️ 📍 🇨🇦

Moving up the valley, from the intersection of Skaha Hills Drive and View Road, there's this view of Penticton Airport. Added to the Lottery Wings list: a condo here so we can while the hours watching aircraft movements up and down the Okanagan Valley. | 🛩️ 📍 🇨🇦 | 🔗 yyf.penticton.ca?utm_source=t...

One last stop at Oliver Airport for a couple of Schweizer SGS 2-33 gliders, which I'm presuming belong to the Air Cadets. It's an organization for which I have profound respect, having kickstarted the successful aviation career of a family member. | 🛩️ ⚔️ 🪽 📍 🇨🇦 | 🔗 aircadetleague.com?utm_source=t...

Just down from the Nanchang in the previous photo, this guy had his hangar door open for an impromptu meeting of the Oliver Ercoupe Club, or so it would seem. Actually, they're on the register as Alon A-2 Aircoupes, for those sticklers for detail. | 🛩️ 📍 🇨🇦 | 🧵 1/2 | 🔗 www.oliver.ca/town-service...

Next on the recent road trip was this (presumed) Nanchang CJ-6 looking a little sunbaked at its roost at the Oliver, British Columbia airport. The aircraft was produced in China in huge numbers, and Oliver seems to be something of a hub for them. | 🛩️ ⚔️ 📍 🇨🇦 | 🔗 www.warplane.com/aircraft/col...

If you have a hankerin' for a one-of-a-kind aircraft, the one and only VanEmber DV-1 is for sale at Chilliwack Airport, in British Columbia, Canada. The @airplane-pictures.net photo actually reveals quite a bit more about this unique aircraft. | 🛩️ 📍 🇨🇦 | 🔗 airplane-pictures.net/photo/124334...

A sad De Havilland DH.104 Dove 5A spotted at Chilliwack Airport. Sadder still, it has rotted even more since captured on @airhistorynet.bsky.social and was airworthy when it arrived, I believe. So, anybody see Mosquito forward of the passenger windows? | 🛩️ 📍 🇨🇦 | 🔗 www.airhistory.net/photo/111464...

Oh. Well, I like wine, beer, and food tours, too.

So hydration breaks are really about squeezing in a few commercials in the middle of the half, right? | ⚽️

Kudos to the @RobbReport.com for presenting the new Rivian such that it looks like it took its design cues from a 1990 Yugo.

After my tomato seeding apocalypse last season, with its zero percent germination rate, I thought I had sworn off tomatoes this year. But a very kind, generous neighbour saved me from myself and gave me four beautiful plants. From top to bottom: Manitoba, two Sweet 100s, and a San Marzano. | 🍅 🌱

Any reason why he can't officiate games in Canada and Mexico, @theguardian.com? | ⚽️ 🍁

Last month we teased this; now, in rich detail, Duncan Aviation's Eric Anderson describes how this Pilatus PC-12 was lovingly refurbished from the ground up, and capped off with this striking livery by renowned contemporary artist Derek DeYoung. Yes, sometimes dreams do indeed come true. | 🛩️ 🌲 🥇

The new issue has dropped. 💥 Triggered by recent events, we're celebrating the Snowbirds in June. @terencecgannon.com kicks off with a personal retrospective on the team, and then segues into some thoughts about their future. Surprisingly, he thinks it's brighter than many might think. | 🛩️ ⚔️ 🥇

Hey @darthamin.bsky.social: You're yelling too much 🗣️ on 'Deals and Dunks' with @talkhoops.bsky.social. (📸 Alan Levine via Wikimedia under CC BY 2.0)

Some quick arithmetic: 300,000 of 5,000,000 is 6%. 400,000 of 5,000,000 is 8%. Now, stop whatever you're doing, give your collective heads a shake, and start working on healthcare, education, and affordability. 😤 Everything else: tied for second to last. Last place? Those 🤬 boots. | 🍁

Don't get me wrong, I love a Bell 212 as much as anybody—particularly that cinematic sound—but I think we can also agree the real star of this video is that sky, don't you think? The mountains are also pretty nice. 😉 Captured at Springbank last week. | 🛩️ 🚁 📹 📍 🇨🇦 | 🔗 lrhelicopters.com/aircraft/?ut...

Gosh, we had no idea this project was even in the works. Our hats 🎩 are off to Renault for getting behind this amazing effort, intended to enable the aircraft—one of the most beautiful ever 😍 in our humble opinion—to get back in the air, where it belongs. More details and videos with link. | 🛩️ 📹 📰 🥇

Friday Pizzapalooza 🍕 We had a lactose-free requirement in our household this week, so we tried the Mozzarella Style Shreds from Violife. While the texture on the cooked pizza wasn't quite spot-on, the flavour was surprisingly close to the real thing. | 👨🏼‍🍳 🤌🏻 🌱 | 🔗 www.violife.com/en-ca/produc...

The choice of Trainer Yellow and military markings for this Hatz CB-1 is an inspired choice, and looks particularly striking when set against the backdrop of the Rockies. It was spotted at Springbank on Thursday, and it sure looks like it *could* have been used for RCAF training. | 🛩️ 📍 ⚔️ 🇨🇦

I have just come up with an exciting new career option for myself: writing referendum questions. Here's an example of my work: "Do you prefer to see rabbits in the wild, or the red one? Answer 1) yes, or 2) no." | 🍁

I've always had a soft spot for the Duke and its 'mini-airliner' lines, particularly in profile. The elegant livery and the logo 'B' on the tail accentuate these characteristics on this particular example, spotted at Springbank yesterday. Oh, and then there's *that sound.* | 🛩️ 📍 📹 🇨🇦

What's the *only* benefit of the city doing sewer maintenance in the alley behind the house? It's a great excuse to spend the morning at Springbank. This very handsome Super Decathlon graced the ramp right on cue. Lots more to come when I have a chance to post them. | 🛩️ 📍 🇨🇦

What a shock. | 🍁

The moon-venus conjunction as seen from Calgary this evening. To my eye, the cloud formation below looks like a sunlit river through dark mountains, leading the viewer's eye to the celestial event above. | 🔭

I haven't watched professional golf on TV for quite some time, but I did catch a bit of today's coverage. What is it that certain members of 'the gallery' have taken to yelling, seemingly all the time? It sounds like "Imma assole!" but that can't possibly be right. (📸 See ALT) | 🏌

Friday Pizzapalooza 🍕 Most of the time, the pepperoni scatters itself randomly across the pizza. Then, every once in a while, right out of the blue … what are the odds?! | 👨🏼‍🍳 🤌🏻

Friday Pizzapalooza 🍕 You know what they say about pizza: when it’s good, it’s great, and when it’s lousy, it’s still pretty good.

Class action lawsuit, anybody? | 🍁

Okay, I've never seen a network television commercial for a submarine, but there's a first time for everything. It's both stylish and brooding, which seems to fit the message perfectly. Well done to the creatives behind this effort. | ⚔️ 🍁