dt_toronto_geek
Superstar
I saw the air show this year for the first time in several years, from the Island. A few times they did seem amazingly low, but never within any dangerous range of downtown towers, etc. The majority of it was over water, although obviously not all of it. I was quite impressed. It takes real skill to fly as these guys do. It's always enjoyable to watch people who are evidently among the best at their jobs.
I don't think they did any colour smoke trails. One team did do a "petal burst" manoeuvre, which impressed me considerably.
As for noise, it's a couple of hours. Not as bad as the car race in July.
I watched the air show a few times from Hanlan's Point way back in the day and it amazed me how the jet fly-overs would actually vibrate and move the sand beneath my butt. Amazing! The unobstructed view of the show was stunning however the problem from there is the sun shining in my eyes so I usually cycle about a mile west of Ontario Place and watch it from there now. It's a good view from there, quite crowded which is fine but the sun in eyes issue is better. It was a terrific show this year!