The Royal Canadian Air Force from Trenton has spent a lot of time in the Parry Sound area this summer. Throughout the summer, a Hercules aircraft has been spotted quite often over land and water around Georgian Bay. The Royal Canadian Armed Forces 424 Squadron out of Trenton has been doing a lot of training in the region and most recently last Wednesday where they were in Pointe au Baril and dropped parachuters at the Parry Sound and Area Municipal Airport. Captain Dan Clarke says the airport has everything they need.
This year, the airport bought an adapter for their fuel pump to allow for the Hercules to be filled faster. Clarke says it’s important because Georgian Bay can be very busy for them.
He says the squadron used to come to the region regularly when he was with them 11 years ago, but spent more time over in Muskoka since then. When he returned to the squadron last year, he noticed they weren’t coming to Parry Sound anymore and asked if they could.
Each time they come into the airport they are greeted by nearby residents and cottagers and are always happy to answer questions and, if time allows, even give tours inside the plane.