The Red Knight (aircraft)
Encyclopedia
The Red Knight was a Canadian
air force aerobatic show that operated from 1958 to 1969. Consisting of a single red T-33, the Red Knight performed loops, rolls, Cuban 8s, horizontal 360s, inverted flight, and high speed passes at airshows around North America, often appearing as an opening act for or in conjunction with the Golden Hawks
and later the Golden Centennaires
, Canada's contemporary aerobatic teams. The T-33 was replaced by the Tutor in July 1968.
During its service with the Royal Canadian Air Force
(1958–1968) and the Canadian Forces
(1968–1969), the Red Knight (affectionately referred to as the "Pink Dink" by air force personnel) was flown by seventeen different pilots from four different bases. Beginning in 1961 a second Red Knight aircraft with alternate pilot entered service, and the aircraft sometimes performed together or separately in different locations. An accident involving two Red Knights occurred in August 21, 1963 at the Gimli
Air Force Day airshow. When the aircraft were performing a Cuban 8, alternate pilot Wayne MacLellan recognized that he was too low to the ground and aborted the manoeuvre. Lead pilot J.W. "Bud" Morin failed to recognize this and was killed when his plane contacted the ground. An air force investigation allowed the team to continue, but forbade any further coordinated acts.
The Red Knight had five trouble-free years of flying after Morin's accident, but that was cut short when pilot John Reid crashed during a photo shoot on May 22, 1968. After conducting a low-altitude loop, Reid could not pull the aircraft up fast enough and crashed into the ground. Though he was thrown clear of the wreckage, Reid died in hospital. This tragedy was closely followed by another. On July 13, 1969, Red Knight Bryan Alston was killed when his Tutor suffered a power failure and crashed during the forced landing. These two crashes in short succession led the air force to seriously reconsider the program. Ultimately, because of budget considerations and personnel cuts, the Red Knight program was canceled.
After its disappearance as a formal demonstration aircraft, the Red Knight was resurrected as a private show in the United States
. Between 1990 and 1993, Rick Brickert flew a restored T-33 in airshows around the United States and as the pace plane for the Reno Air Races
. After Rick's death in 1993 when he crashed the Pond Racer
experimental aircraft, the T-33 sat unused until acquired by Red Knight Air Shows, LLC in 2003. This company currently operates the T-33 and coordinates appearances at airshows around the continent.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
air force aerobatic show that operated from 1958 to 1969. Consisting of a single red T-33, the Red Knight performed loops, rolls, Cuban 8s, horizontal 360s, inverted flight, and high speed passes at airshows around North America, often appearing as an opening act for or in conjunction with the Golden Hawks
Golden Hawks
The Golden Hawks were a Canadian military aerobatic flying team established in 1959 to celebrate the 35th anniversary or the Royal Canadian Air Force and the "Golden" 50th anniversary of Canadian flight, which began with the AEA Silver Dart in 1909....
and later the Golden Centennaires
Golden Centennaires
The Golden Centennaires were a Canadian air force aerobatic flying team that performed in 1967, the Canadian Centennial year. The team was created to celebrate the Canadian Centennial....
, Canada's contemporary aerobatic teams. The T-33 was replaced by the Tutor in July 1968.
During its service with the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
(1958–1968) and the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
(1968–1969), the Red Knight (affectionately referred to as the "Pink Dink" by air force personnel) was flown by seventeen different pilots from four different bases. Beginning in 1961 a second Red Knight aircraft with alternate pilot entered service, and the aircraft sometimes performed together or separately in different locations. An accident involving two Red Knights occurred in August 21, 1963 at the Gimli
RCAF Station Gimli
RCAF Station Gimli was an air station of the Royal Canadian Air Force located near Gimli, Manitoba, Canada.On September 6, 1943, the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan established No. 18 Service Flying Training School to train aircrew for Second World War operations using the Avro Anson. No...
Air Force Day airshow. When the aircraft were performing a Cuban 8, alternate pilot Wayne MacLellan recognized that he was too low to the ground and aborted the manoeuvre. Lead pilot J.W. "Bud" Morin failed to recognize this and was killed when his plane contacted the ground. An air force investigation allowed the team to continue, but forbade any further coordinated acts.
After its disappearance as a formal demonstration aircraft, the Red Knight was resurrected as a private show in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Between 1990 and 1993, Rick Brickert flew a restored T-33 in airshows around the United States and as the pace plane for the Reno Air Races
Reno Air Races
The Reno Air Races, also known as the National Championship Air Races, take place each September at the Reno Stead Airport a few miles north of Reno, Nevada, USA...
. After Rick's death in 1993 when he crashed the Pond Racer
Scaled Composites Pond Racer
-External links:***...
experimental aircraft, the T-33 sat unused until acquired by Red Knight Air Shows, LLC in 2003. This company currently operates the T-33 and coordinates appearances at airshows around the continent.