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Just a Suggestion.... (Read 667 times)

Feb 20^th, 2013 at 4:09pm

Seat_of_my_pants Offline
Colonel
CYOO Oshawa Ontario
Canada

Gender:
Posts: 22

Well I hope everyone's February blahs are being un-blahed somehow. I suppose that's why we have flight sims?

I'm not usually one to suggest what anyone does with their internet time, but if you like music, and people in air forces, in particular the Royal Canadian Air Force, take a few moments or minutes to check out the RCAF band known as The Air Command Band, or their small rock combo Jetstream. Arguably, Canada's best least known band.

They are made up of extremely talented musicians, some with professional pasts in music who signed on to the air force to play in the band. They all had to pass extremely tough auditions, as well as make it through basic training like any other Canadian Forces member. Their general duties within the RCAF vary, but they all play at a level of talent and professionalism I was simply floored by. We're not talking about average musicians by any stretch, I know plenty of those. These folks are, simply put, amazing.

They function not unlike the USO of the American military, but they are strictly music. They visited Kandahar, played some shows there, and every penny paid to see them goes to the Support the Troops fund, a charity put together to help vets and their families. You'll hear anything from rock classics to orchestral pieces to original written tunes by band members. I had never heard of them before 3 years ago, and in fact didn't even know the Canadian Forces had a music program of any sort.

You can find them via most search engines, and on the obvious internet video sites and I do hope you take a few moments to check them out. In two words, they rock.

Enjoy your February, as dreary as it can be at times...and take care Smiley

The guy behind this displayname is not a pilot but has flown small craft like Cessnas and Pipers and is truly addicted to being airborne...he's not sure if the stage or the pilot seat is more fun, so he'll try and keep getting to both.

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Reply #1 - Feb 21^st, 2013 at 9:47am

Flying Trucker Offline
Colonel
An Old Retired Rocking
Chair Flying Geezer

Gender:
Posts: 11425

Good morning Seat_of_my_pants...

We have been listening to these folks for many many years and we love their music.

Most Royal Canadian Air Force Squadrons have a Brass or Pipe Band.

My Squadron had a Brass Band and most of the lads were Aviation Techs of one sort or another.

I always found it easier to march to a Pipe Band and we seldom miss any of the military or civilian Pipe Bands that perform here several times a year.

I'll just add this little note also.

When I was flying either Military, Commercial or Bush, many of the crew including myself would take along our musical instruments if we were gone on an overnight trip.

Never could get anyone to help carry my piano though.
I am almost positive it would have fit into the DeHavilland of Canada DHC-3 "Otter", Consolidated Canso or Douglas DC-3.

You will not see many or any electrical musical instruments in a remote Bush Camp unless someone has brought along a portable generator... Grin

Stop into a Bush Pilots Camp some time if you want to hear some great songs, music and tall tales.
Now of course I do not know any Tall Tales... Lips Sealed

Thanks for the interesting post...

P.S....The piano we have now in this condo is half the weight and smaller than the piano or organ still at the old homestead...it still takes two good men to move it around.

Not sure about your area, Oshawa, but we have lots going on here during the Winter Season including February Ground Hog Fests (really great three day event held yearly) and Ice Hockey and Skating on the frozen ponds and rivers.

Right now I have just counted thirty-two (32) ice fishing huts and two (2) ice sail boats (moving at a good speed under sail) at the mouth of the frozen river and bay and the outside temperature without wind chill is minus eighteen (-18C) Celsius. Good strong north wind blowing so I am sure it is a tad cool out on the frozen bay/river.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

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Reply #2 - Feb 21^st, 2013 at 11:29pm

Seat_of_my_pants Offline
Colonel
CYOO Oshawa Ontario
Canada

Gender:
Posts: 22

Howdy Flying Trucker

Well to start, Oshawa is just east of Toronto, Ontario, on the shore of Lake Ontario. If you see a Chevy Impala anywhere, my neighbours built it. The same for the new Camaro, and a few other models of GM branded cars. Pretty much Oshawa is a blue collar town, and hosts a huge university & college campus as well. The retired hockey icon Bobby Orr played here in his junior days on our team, the Generals.

Our airport is municipal, with 2 runways, and was first registered as an airport in World war II, being used as a training base for pilots who would go on to England mostly for the war effort. Today, it's still home to a flying school, as well as an air ambulance base, and general aviation lighter traffic. A good pilot can land a Herc there, and once in a blue moon we get the treat of a CC-117 Globemaster doing a touvh and go, courtesy of a forces pilot from CFB Trenton in 436 Squadron who did his initial training at CYOO.

I'm not sure where you're from, but I love the idea of the winter festivities. There are a nummber of good lakes within an hour's drive of here for ice fishing in winter, and some world class Muskie in summer can be hunted just twenty minutes north of us. Lake Ontario is great for salmon fishing also.

And I know the pain of a piano. I may have a plethora of friends on barbecue day, but on moving day it takes one little piano and suddenly everyone's busy Smiley

I'm glad to see the reply by the way, and also glad I'm not the only fan of the forces' bands. The Air Command Band and Jetstream are based out of Winnipeg to the best of my knowledge, and Jetstream is one rawkin' combo, with a semi-famous guitar player.

Anyways, I digress as always yapping too much, so take care and happy flying

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