(Republished from the June 1959 issue of The Voxair)
The RCAF’S newly created “GOLDEN HAWKS” precision aerobatic team, now training at Chatham, N.B., will be seen by millions of Canadians this summer during its four-month tour of the country starting in May.
Organized to take part in the activities celebrating the Golden Anniversary of Flight in Canada and the RCAF’s 35th Anniversary. The team in their gold, red and white Sabre jets will be one of the few Air Force aerobatic teams to perform on a nation-wide basis since the famed “Siskins” toured the country in connection with the Trans-Canada Air Pagaent of 1931.
Formation aerobatics have long been a part of military flying and teams such as the US Navy’s Blue Angels and the Royal Air Force Black Knights are world famous. Now to join this select group of precision perfect pilots the Royal Canadian Air Force will present the Golden Hawks.
Leading the group of eight skilled pilots selected for the Golden Hawk team is Squadron Leader Fern Villeneuve, 31, of Ottawa. S/L Villeneuve is considered to be one of Canada’s top aerobatic pilots.
These other members of the team combine with him to form a four-plane formation, while two others perform solo displays and two spare pilots are available to fill in any position as required.
The Golden Hawks will stage a 23-minute sequence of loops, rolls, cross-overs, bombursts, Cuban eights and rhubarbs during each performance. All these are standard manoeuvres to RCAF fighter pilots but will be carried out in tight formation by the Golden Hawks in their colourful) planes.
Scheduled to start their tour in mid-May the Golden Hawks will be seen at more than thirty Canadian centres from Newfoundland to British Columbia.
Ed’s Note—In Winnipeg the Golden Hawks will stage their aerobatics on Air Force Day, Saturday, August 8.