VFC Open House: A Soaring Success

The threat of rain loomed in the air as the VFC prepared to host its annual open house community event for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The wind briskly strafed the runways and before long, the skies burst into a steady drizzle—the bane of outdoor events. But as if by miracle, within moments the rain passed; the clouds parted, and the VFC was bathed in the light of one of the last days of summer. It was a great day for an open house.

While the board of directors checked vaccine passports at the door for hundreds of eager attendees, the rest of the VFC was hard at work setting up discovery flights, greeting interested community members and prospective pilots, and even cooking burgers for a BBQ-style lunch. Among the assembled guests from our partner organizations were representatives from the BC Air Museum, Angel Flight, and so many more.

There was also a special appearance by the PBY-5A Canso 1102, known as the "Shady Lady" (left), and her pilot, Oliver Evans. The RCAF came and brought their CH148 Cyclone helicopter, the crash-fire-response fire truck from the Victoria International Airport made an appearance, and rescue services like the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRRC) were on site too, along with the VFC's own Captain Sebastien Lemire! This hometown hero was featured in the Patrician back in the December 2015 issue and after an exciting career as a pilot across Canada, he's back in Victoria coordinating the efforts that save lives (more about that in an upcoming issue!)

There were also some oneof-a-kind aircraft including a hand-built RV-7 (the gorgeous red one to the left), and what may perhaps be the world's only flying yacht, a lovingly modified Grumman!

In all, the open house hosted nearly 350 members of the community. Attendance like that during a global pandemic and with event restrictions is a major accomplishment for the club. As we move forward toward a return to normal, it's vital that we take time to celebrate our successes in the face of adversity—and this year's open house was an absolute win.