Initially a six-plane Canadair F-86 Sabre the  team was envisioned as performing for only one year with the Canadair Sabre, but the Golden Hawks were so popular after their single 1963-show season that the team was expanded. Another Sabre was added to the team, allowing for a five-aircraft main formation with two solo jets. They continued performing for three more seasons until they were disbanded for financial reasons, on February 7, 1964, having flown a total of 317 shows across North America.

Not only did the team perform the loops, rolls and other maneuvers standard to military formation flying, they had their own trademark maneuvers. One of the Golden Hawks' signature stunts was a low-level flyby of the crowd with their canopies open, waving at the spectators. The Golden Hawks pioneered the bomb burst maneuver and a two-aircraft coordinated solo program which virtually every military team since has adopted in various ways.

From 1960 to 1962, W/C Allan was the Commanding Officer of the Golden Hawks. Although he had been a Sabre squadron C/O, he had no experience in aerobatics. However, he was in charge of the team and travelled with them, flying a T-33 that was painted in Golden Hawks' markings. The golden T-33 was a real crowd pleaser, so Jack often made low passes on arrival and departure as the team visited the many air shows and other functions they performed at.

Jack Allan's T-33 in Golden Hawks Markings. Courtesy: Rae Simpson

Millions of Canadians witnessed an historic event in 2009 as one of the most famous aircraft to have served in the Royal Canadian Air Force toured Canada as the mainstay of the Centennial Heritage Flight celebrating 100 years of powered flight in Canada. Due to popular demand, the Discovery Air Hawk One toured Canada again in 2010 to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy and will continue to salute our veterans.

Chosen by the RCAF as its frontline fighter in August 1949, the Canadair F-86 Sabre served in Western Europe as a deterrent to the Warsaw Pact from the early days of the Cold War until it was replaced by the CF-104 Starfighter beginning in 1962. All told, some 300 RCAF Sabres were based in Europe at the height of the fighter’s operational service as part of Canada’s collective defence contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Spread throughout 12 Squadrons on 4 Wings, the aircraft saw service in three countries in the interceptor day fighter role – 1 (F) Wing North Luffenham, England, latterly Marville, France; 2 (F) Wing Grostenquin, France; 3 (F) Wing Zweibrücken, West Germany, latterly Lahr, West Germany; and 4 (F) Wing Baden-Soellingen, West Germany.

Read the Story here: Vintage Wings of Canada Hawk One The Return of a Legend. From Bomber Command Museum of Canada

Golden Hawks Video Clip

Bomber Command Museum of Canada, Nanton Alberta

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