By Skies Magazine | August 8, 2016 Estimated reading time 4 minutes, 33 seconds.
Over 180 aircraft converged on the aerodrome for the gathering.
The Edenvale Classic Aircraft Foundation, formerly the Collingwood Classic Aircraft Foundation, has held a gathering of classic aircraft and vehicles for 30 years. This year’s event was held on Saturday, Aug. 6.
Located on Highway 26 south of Wasaga Beach, Ont., the Edenvale Aerodrome host an annual gathering of the classics featuring vintage aircraft and cars. Billed as one of the largest fly-ins in Canada, the event presents a little something for everyone.
This year’s event saw over 100 vintage and classic cars on display. Select food vendors offered a variety of options for lunch and several local craft brewers presented a great selection of beers. There was entertainment for kids including a kiddie ground school.
Over 180 aircraft converged on the aerodrome for the gathering. Many were vintage, classics and ex-military aircraft including jet trainers.
Edenvale Aerodrome’s roots date back to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan when the location was chosen as No. 1 Relief Field for Camp Borden. The first recorded landing at the site took place on August 8, 1941.
After the war in 1946, the airfield was turned over to the Department of Transport, and then transferred back to the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1949 for property salvage and war assets for final disposal. In civilian hands for the 1950s, the location was used as a racetrack using the taxiways and runways as the racecourse.
In 1962 the military took back possession of the field and created a remote communication station for Base Borden, which closed in 1994. The location boasts a cold war era underground command bunker capable of surviving a nuclear attack.
In 2004, Czechoslovakian born Milan Kroupa, purchased the property and since that time has rebuilt the property into a great aviation location on the south shore of Georgian Bay.
Located near Wasaga Beach and Collingwood, and featuring Bistro 26, a gourmet restaurant, Edenvale has become a destination for many pilots in southern Ontario.
The 2016 Gathering of the Classics saw 180 aircraft in attendance, ranging from vintage aircraft like the Meyers OTW and Waco Cabin YOC to classics like Cessna 195s. Ex-military aircraft included a DH-82A Tiger Moth, BCATP aircraft like the Cornell, Harvard and Lysander.
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum brought its B-25 Mitchell bomber.
Edenvale-based Cold War Air Museum represented the jet age with its L-29 Delfin jet. For those who wanted to experience the thrill of flight, the Edenvale Classic Aircraft Foundation offered rides in its Fairchild Cornell and Fleet Canuck.
Big Blue Air offered rides in its Robinson R66 helicopter.
The event’s 100-plus volunteers and over 30 years of experience make for a well-organized and smooth flowing event. Whether arriving by air or ground, reception is fast and smooth. When in the Collingwood/Wasaga Beach area, be sure to visit the Edenvale Classic Aircraft Foundation and Acer Cold War Museum or Bistro 26 for some good food.
