Airshow London officially opened its gates to the public Friday afternoon.
But between practice flights, skydiving opportunities and school trips — there’s been plenty of action for the past few days at the London International Airport.
The Snowbirds, the U.S. National Guard’s A10s and the Royal Canadian Air Force’s search and rescue planes were among military crafts who prepared for this weekend’s events, drawing people’s attention to the sky starting Thursday with the mechanical sound of their engines and wings, slicing through the air above London.
“They were really high in the sky. Then the next thing I know, they’re coming down to the ground.”
Hannah Freyer, an 11-year-old on a school trip to Airshow London with her mother, described air demonstrations taking place throughout Friday.
“It was loud. But it wasn’t that loud,” she said, standing in line to check out the inside of the massive Airbus KC-30A, flown from across the globe by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
Before the craft was opened up for tours, Mayor Matt Brown presented RAAF’s pilot and crew with a plaque for having traveled the furthest to reach London’s show.
“Our original mission was to bring across participants from the Australian contingent for the Invictus games, being held currently in Toronto,” explained RAAF co-pilot, Ben Howlett.
The Royal Australian Air Force flew into @AirshowLondon this morning. I spoke with their co-pilot Ben Howlett. pic.twitter.com/9No5wu8ofF
— Liny Lamberink (@LinyLamberink) September 22, 2017