Aerobatic pilot hopes to push limits in retirement

Gordon Price's urge to continue flying after retirement is about to be taken to the extreme.

Price, who will be 70 next year, recently bought a new plane and hopes to start showing off his aerobatic skills in airshows, he said from the COPA Flight 144 and Owen Sound Rotary Club's Third Annual Wings and Wheels event at the Billy Bishop Regional Airport just west of Owen Sound on Sunday.

"It's going to be interesting to see what I can do," said Price. "As long as I am comfortable I am fine."

Price, who calls Dyer's Bay home, started out flying about 52 years ago. He spent some time with the Canadian Air Force before becoming a commercial pilot, spending 36 years with Air Canada before retiring in 2002. He flew aerobatics for decades, including flying for Canada at the World Aerobatic Championships three times, the last time in 1988.

After that he retired and didn't have much to do with airplanes.

"After I retired I was with-drawn, but I'm back," said Price.

The Yak-50 is a Russian-built airplane best known for its handling. It has been flown to World Aerobatic Championships and has been used by the Russian national aerobatic team. The one Price bought is the the first of its kind to be built and the only one in Canada. He hopes to get it in the air in the next couple of weeks. He has been unable to fly it so far as he is still waiting for paperwork to be finalized after he bought the plane from a seller in the U.S.

"It flies up to 250 miles per hour, but it is best for going backwards, doing tail slides," said Price, adding what he is most excited about is doing gyroscopic manoeuvers where the propeller and momentum are used to flip the airplane around.

Price said the Yak-50 is in great shape and ready to fly, but there is an unknown factor -- him.

"How much can I take, that is the big question," said Price. "There is only one guy that can figure that out."

The third annual Wings and Wheels event was scaled back on Sunday due to low-lying clouds and drizzle in the morning.

There were plans to have a B- 25 Mitchell Bomber at the airport, but it cancelled for mechanical reasons. The Canadian Harvards were also to be at the event offering flights to the public, but by mid-afternoon they had still not yet arrived.

Late morning the number of vehicles taking part in the car show was pushing 200, with more rolling in by the minute.

Aerobatic pilot hopes to push limits in retirement - Owen Sound ...

Gordon Price's urge to continue flying after retirement is about to be taken to the extreme.

Price, who will be 70 next year, recently bought a new plane and hopes to start showing off his aerobatic skills in airshows, he said from the COPA Flight 144 and Owen Sound Rotary Club's Third Annual Wings and Wheels event at the Billy Bishop Regional Airport just west of Owen Sound on Sunday.

"It's going to be interesting to see what I can do," said Price. "As long as I am comfortable I am fine."

Price, who calls Dyer's Bay home, started out flying about 52 years ago. He spent some time with the Canadian Air Force before becoming a commercial pilot, spending 36 years with Air Canada before retiring in 2002. He flew aerobatics for decades, including flying for Canada at the World Aerobatic Championships three times, the last time in 1988.

After that he retired and didn't have much to do with airplanes.

"After I retired I was with-drawn, but I'm back," said Price.

The Yak-50 is a Russian-built airplane best known for its handling. It has been flown to World Aerobatic Championships and has been used by the Russian national aerobatic team. The one Price bought is the the first of its kind to be built and the only one in Canada. He hopes to get it in the air in the next couple of weeks. He has been unable to fly it so far as he is still waiting for paperwork to be finalized after he bought the plane from a seller in the U.S.

"It flies up to 250 miles per hour, but it is best for going backwards, doing tail slides," said Price, adding what he is most excited about is doing gyroscopic manoeuvers where the propeller and momentum are used to flip the airplane around.

Price said the Yak-50 is in great shape and ready to fly, but there is an unknown factor -- him.

"How much can I take, that is the big question," said Price. "There is only one guy that can figure that out."

The third annual Wings and Wheels event was scaled back on Sunday due to low-lying clouds and drizzle in the morning.

There were plans to have a B- 25 Mitchell Bomber at the airport, but it cancelled for mechanical reasons. The Canadian Harvards were also to be at the event offering flights to the public, but by mid-afternoon they had still not yet arrived.

Late morning the number of vehicles taking part in the car show was pushing 200, with more rolling in by the minute.

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