Near Toronto? Time for CIAS!
A Canadair CF-5 (officially designated the CF-116 Freedom Fighter) Serial No. 116742 from 433 “Porcupine” ÉTAC squadron based at CFB Bagotville, Quebec flies over Toronto, in September 1974. The pilot is doing a preview of the high-speed passes its squadron will make at the annual Canadian International Air Show (CIAS). Note the unfinished 1,800-foot-high CN Tower in the background.
(Toronto Star Archive)
Celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year, the Canadian International Air Show is North America’s longest-running airshow, and tickets go on sale this week.
The CN Tower still dominates the skyline.
Meanwhile, the top Freedom Fighter airframe, as detailed by Silverhawkauthor, was:
Originally ordered as RCAF 14742, re-marked before completion. Delivered directly to CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, where it served with No. 419 Squadron. With 433e L’Escadre de Combat when it visited Lossiemouth, UK in November 1975, and California in 1983. With No. 434 Squadron at CFB Chatham, NB in 1988. Back to No. 419 Squadron, with them in July 1989. Became instructional airframe 900B on 3 April 1993, used as a cockpit procedures trainer. In storage at Bristol Aerospace, Winnipeg, in December 1994. Reported damaged in handling accident at CFD Mountain View in the summer of 1995. Front fuselage in storage at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta in May 2006. Still there in 2009, stored for Cold Lake Museum. Nose section on display at Cold Lake Museum by 2010. Reported sold to Botswana, but that may just have been pieces of the airframe for spares.