A pair of Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 fighter jets and a navy helicopter will fly over Hatley Castle at Royal Roads University this weekend.
The two CF-18 Hornet fighter jets hail from 4 Wing Cold Lake, AB – and the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter comes from 12 Wing Shearwater, NS – and are on the Island to complete training at 19 Wing Comox.
They’ll come down to Colwood around 2 p.m. on Sept. 14 for the flyover above Hatley Castle to commemorate the 30-year-reunion of the Royal Roads Military College’s last class, which graduated in 1995.
The flyby is also in honour of Cpt. Juli-Ann MacKenzie and Cpt. Miles Selby, two members of that class who died in the line of duty, and who will now have a memorial bench dedicated to them at the school.
The RCAF says the aircraft will fly no lower than 500 feet above the highest obstacle above their route, and that the event is “carefully planned and closely controlled for public safety.”
The exact schedule is dependent on weather and flying conditions, according to the air force.
“The CF-18 Hornet is the Royal Canadian Air Force’s frontline multi-role fighter, and is employed in many different roles, including air defence, air superiority and tactical support,” said the RCAF in a release Friday.
“The CH-148 Cyclone is Canada’s ship-borne maritime helicopter, providing air support to the Royal Canadian Navy, and serves roles in surface and sub-surface surveillance, search and rescue, utility transport and more,” added the air force.
A CH-148 Cyclone is pictured. (Royal Canadian Air Force/Twitter)