The Tutor Knights

Book excerpt: The Red Knight holds a special place in Canadian history. The RCAF’s solo aerobatic display thrilled airshow audiences throughout North America from 1958–1969. With over 600 performances, the Red Knight ranks third in RCAF history to today’s Snowbirds and CF-18 Hornet Demo. In recognition of the program’s importance, Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame honoured the Red Knight with its Belt of Orion Award for Excellence in 2020 and the Royal Canadian Mint issued a commemorative coin in 2022. Aviation historian John Charles Corrigan spent 25 years researching and chronicling the program’s history in his book, The Red Knight. Budget cuts and a fatal accident resulted in the program’s cancellation in 1970. John’s latest book, The Tutor Knights takes the reader on an insider’s journey through the final two seasons of the program. With meticulous attention to detail, he describes a program in flux and subject to extraordinary stresses, which presaged an incredible series of tragedies. With numerous interviews, media reports, illustrations and never before seen photos and documentation, The Tutor Knights is written with aviation enthusiasts in mind. It will be of interest to those who marvel at the grace and precision of aerobatic flying from a uniquely Canadian perspective. https://www.facebook.com/rcafredknight