Downsview Fly in

Last Friday I left work early to 'attend' the "Toronto Annual Wings & Wheels Heritage Festival".  The event is held in Downsview Park, Toronto.

Instead of driving in the show, I choose to fly myself the event on a small plane.  (Fly in is just similar to drive in, but you fly instead of drive!)

The venue is held in the airport inside Downsview Park, called Downsview Airport.  This private Airport is used by Bombardier to assemble their Dash 8 airplanes, and several business jets.  Because the airport is actually owned by Bombardier, you have to pre-register so they grant you landing rights.

Also, this airport is surrounded by 3 airports/aerodromes, which are Buttonville, City Center and Pearson International Airport.   That means, I have to make sure that my flying altitude has to be right,  otherwise I will either be in collision course for planes in Buttonville if I fly too low (circuit is 1600 ft above sea level), and if I then fly too high near Downsview, I will be confronted with the BIG JETS landing at Pearson as Downsview is directly under their approach path (landing tracks).

I have to talk and switch air traffic control frequencies on the radio many times for the short flight.  It is probably the busiest (and complex) airspace in Canada.  (In fact I was ask to hold outside Buttonville's zone for a while before they let me in because the Air Traffic there is too busy)

Winds on Friday is about 320 degrees @ 10 knots.  Great for runway 33.

Some photos:

Just tookoff for a while and inside Buttonville, Markham zone 

Flying over Buttonville Airport.  It was busy that afternoon as you can see a few planes on the taxiway and runway

Over Interchange Highway 404 and 407  

Over the city near Yonge street (the longest street in the world)..

Right Downwind runway 33 for Downsview airport.  You can see Allen Road/Dufferin paralleling it.

Crazily Busy interchange at 401 and Allen Road.  See how many cars are on highway 401!  I am happy that I am not in those traffic congestion 

Final for runway 33 at Downsview Airport.  You can see Yorkdale Mall and the Home depot directly my approach path.

After landing and a loooooong taxi, this is what I was greeted with.  And CF-18

Inside the hanger, is the Ornithopter. It successfully became airborne by flapping its wings back in 2006.

The Thruxton Jackaroo.

And the famous Arrow Avro Mockup

Then it is time to leave (get to return my plane).  Here is a view of the Downsview runway.  It is around 7000 ft long x 200 ft wide, whereas my usual home runway is a 'tiny 2000 ft x 50 ft' wide.  I am feeling that I can land my plane across the width of the runway!   This photo is taken while I am waiting another float plane to transit over the airport.  i.e. I have to have the plane visual before I can take off safely.

(I am feeling that the whole piece of land belongs to me at this time.  "No one" can be on this runway except me!)