Erin Public School hoping for RCAF CF-18 fly-by during September open house

Plans are in the works to have the Royal Canadian Air Force conduct a fly-by with a specially-marked Canada 150 CF-18 Hornet jet during Erin Public School’s open house on Sept. 19.

An application has been submitted and the school is awaiting confirmation, said Grade 7/8 teacher Paul Nethery.

Nethery requested a resolution from the town, which council approved on June 6.

“We wanted to make our school open house an extra special event, and I saw on the News that the public could apply for fly-bys,” he explained. “With some research I discovered the (CF-18) will be roughly in our area - Ottawa then London - that week so I figured it was in the realm of possibility.”

The resolution from council allows the aircraft to fly as low as 500 feet during the Erin Public School open house.

“Hopefully it will build an extra sense of community for parents and students, involving them in the school, making our event feel extra special,” said Nethery.

“It is also another addition to the Canada 150 celebrations being held around our community for the nation’s big year.”