Canadian Warplanes 2: Canadair CT-114 Tutor, Golden Centenaires

Golden Centenaires

(CF Photo)

Canadair CT-114 Tutors, Golden Centennaire formation flight.

"The Golden Centennaires were formed in 1966 as Canada neared it's 100th birthday in 1967, with W/C O.B. Philps (later "father" of the Snowbirds air demonstration team) as commanding officer. The team criss-crossed Canada in 1967 in their gold and blue Tutors, captivating air show audiences from coast to coast. However, they flew only during the Centennial year after which the Canadian Armed Forces were once again left without an aerobatic performance team, until the Snowbirds were formed at CFB Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1970." (National Defence of Canada)

(CF Photo)

Canadair CT-114 Tutors, Golden Centennaire formation flight.

Golden Centenaires badge.

(RCAF Photo)

Golden Centenaires on the ramp in British Columbia.

(RCAF Photo)

S/L Clarence "CB" Lang as the Squadron Leader of the Golden Centennaires. This team was the only Airforce aerobatic team to take-off and land in formation.

The Golden Centennaires were a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) aerobatic flying team that performed in 1967 to celebrate the Canadian Centennial. The eight-plane formation team, commanded by Wing Commander O. B. Philp C.M., DFC, CD, featured six-plane formations alternating with two solo aircraft. The aircraft flown was the CT-114 Tutor, which sported a blue and gold paint scheme. The Team Leader was Squadron Leader Clarence B. Lang.

The Golden Centennaires performed 103 shows in Canada, including the opening and closing ceremonies of Expo 67 in Montreal, seven shows in the United States, and two shows in the Bahamas. The team was disbanded after the last show of the season, but the aircraft were used a few years later to form the Snowbirds, Canada's current national team. Accompanying the Golden Centennaires were an Avro 504, a CF-104 Starfighter and a CF-101 Voodoo. All of these aircraft performed at the Centennial airshows. (Wikipedia)

(RCAF Photo)

Golden Centenaires formation over the rockies.

(RCAF Photo)

Golden Centenaires on the ramp.

(Alain Rioux Photo)

Canadair CT-114 Tutor (Serial No. 114093), painted in the colours of the Golden Centennaires to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the RCAF demonstration team.  They only flew the Tutor for one year in 1967 to celebrate Canada's 100th anniversary as a country and were disbanded at the end of that year.

(Mike Kaehler Photo)

Canadair CT-114 Tutor (Serial No. 26122), Golden Centennaires.

(RCAFA Photo)

Canadair CT-114 Tutor (Serial No. 26183), Golden Centennaires in flight with Avro 504K (Serial No. D8971), C-GYCK.

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Golden Centennaires Team. Left to Right: F/O J. M. McKay, F/L M. J. Swallow, F/L B. K. Doyle, S/L C. B. Lang, F/L T. P. Hinton, F/L R. C. Bennett, F/L R. C. Dagenais and F/L R. W. Slaughter.

(RCAF Photo)

Golden Centennaires Team.

(Bzuk Photo)

Canadair CT-114 Tutor prototype in Golden Centennaires livery, on display at Southport Aerospace, Manitoba, 1 July 2007.

(Cf100clunk Photo)

Canadair CT-114 Tutor in Golden Centennaires livery, Millenium Park, Creston, British Columbia. 29 July 2022.