Ask and you shall receive. In this case it was a request for flares! The picture was taken during a NORAD exercise, and the four CF-18s were from 433e ESC, 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec. Although tactically this is something that would never happen it did provide for a nice picture! They were photographed from the back seat of a CF-18B.

© Mike Reyno EOS A2 35-135mm 3.5 Provia

	Canada’s only float equipped aircraft is this CC-138 Twin Otter, which is operated by 440 Sqn based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in Canada’s far north. Due to their geographic location it is rare to see the aircraft in operation. Previously, when the squadron was based in Edmonton its primary mission was Search and Rescue, hence the SAR scheme however, its primary role now is to support the Canadian Forces Northern Area HQ. This aircraft was photographed over Great Slave Lake from the rear door of a second Twin Otter. The squadron also operates the aircraft on tundra tyres as well as normal tyres. EOS 1N 28-105mm Image Stabilized Lens Velvia		Another aircraft painted in 1999 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the RCAF was a CT-114 Tutor belonging to 2 CFFTS from 15 Wing Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. After 36 years of service the Tutor, the backbone of Canadian Forces pilot training since 1964, was retired on August 14, as NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) moves into high gear. The Tutor has been replaced with the CT-156 Harvard II and the CT-155 Hawk. However, the Snowbirds will continue to operate the Tutor until at least 2006. It was photographed from the back ramp of a CC-115 Buffalo. This particular aircraft maintained its flashy scheme until it made the last flight for the entire training fleet on August 14 this year. EOS 1N 28-105mm Image Stabilized Lens Velvia
	In 1999, NATO was celebrating its 50th anniversary. To commemorate the event it appropriately painted one of its AWACS, LX-N 90442, in NATO colours and the flags of the countries that make up the NATO alliance. In August, the aircraft, flown by an all-Canadian crew, made its first air show appearance in Canada at the Abbottsford International Air Show in BC. I was asked to photograph the aircraft as it was making its way back to Germany, but only after a short detour over the mountains on Vancouver Island. The commanding officer of 414 Combat Support Sqn provided the photo chase in the back of a T-Bird. The formation became a little more interesting as you will see! EOS 1N 28-105mm Image Stabilized Lens Velvia		During this years Maple Flag at 4 Wing Cold Lake in Canada, I had the opportunity to fly with and photograph 410 TF(OT) Sqn’s latest in a series of commemorative paint schemes – this one to celebrate the Dawn of the New Millennium, applied to one of its 27 CF-18s that it has on strength. Luck was on my side this day after a few frantic phone calls were made overseas to get clearance for a Jaguar from No. 41 Sqn to join the formation, which provided for a rather unique photo opportunity. For this particular photo the Jag was in full afterburner while the CF-18 was not even in mil power! EOS 1N 28-105mm Image Stabilized Lens Velvia
	Even some of Canada’s helicopter squadrons got into the mood to paint some of their aircraft for the 75th anniversary. In this case it was a CH-124 Sea King (12440) assigned to 12 Wing Shearwater in Nova Scotia. The helicopters are pooled at 12 Wing, but in this case a crew flew it from the Helicopter Operational Test Flight. They dropped me off on a cliff and then did a few fly-byes for the camera. EOS 1N 200mm 2.8 Velvia		Canada operates a fleet of 99 CH-146 Griffons (not to be confused by the ‘Griffin’ operated in the UK) for tactical helicopter and combat support operations. It replaced the Twin Huey, Iroquois and Kiowa. In this case these two Griffons belong to 400 TACHEL Sqn based in Borden, Ontario – a Total Force squadron manned by regular and reserve personnel. The squadron provided a third Griffon for the shoot. EOS A2 28-105mm Image Stabilized Lens (needed it this day!) Provia 100F

I have been taking pictures of Canadian aviation subjects for 10 year of my 30 years. Being from London, Ontario, the seed was planted for me at the London International Air Show. I was watching and learning from some of the best at the time, like Don Spearing, Dave Brown and Robbie Shaw. My passion for photography and aviation didn't start to take off until I attended Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1991 though. Shearwater was close by, which is where I got my first taste of air-air photography of a T-Bird after I promised an article would be published. I was hooked after that!

Fast forward 10 years and I now do, what supposedly started as a hobby, full-time. I have my own stock company on the side called Skytech Images (www.skytechimages.com) specializing in Canadian aviation related material; commercial aviation, military aviation, general aviation, business aviation and helicopters. I also work for Corvus Publishing Group, publishers of WINGS and HELICOPTERS Magazines - Canada's national trade publications, as the chief correspondent and photographer.

It is my association with the magazines that I can thank for all of the access! I also freelance from time to time, when I have spare time, to a few European, American and Asian publications that always seem hungry for Canadian material. I now live in Kitchener, Ontario, west of Toronto, but it's not too often that you will find me at home since I will be in one part of the country or another for various photo assignments. Next stop - Moose Jaw for a NATO Flying Training in Canada feature!