The skies above London are about to be filled with fighter jets, helicopters, and other military aircraft.
Airshow London takes flight Friday at the London International Airport.
On Thursday, CF-18 Hornet pilot Captain Ryan Kean was able to spend a morning with 30 London students.
The London-born fighter jet pilot, spent Thursday morning with the group of Grade 7 students from Lord Nelson Public School at the Jet Aircraft Museum on Aviation Lane. He explained the aircraft's speed and agility, talked about his more than 1,600 hours flying high performance military jets, and answered countless questions.
"The kids have so many questions when they see the jet. How high can you go? How fast have you gone? You get a lot of the same questions every place you go but sometimes kids come up with really good, intelligent, interesting questions," says Kean. "It's always great for me and my team to be able to answer them and pass on our knowledge and experience to them."
Kean, who will close out Friday's Hour of Power, was the first airshow performer to arrive in the city ahead of this weekend's show at the London International Airport.
"I was on my way from my show in Val-d'Or, Quebec and since we had a week between shows and I had to do some work here for the airshow to certify the cable for the F22, I came here on Monday and was able to stay the week," says Kean.
Throughout his one year stint as pilot of the CF-18 Demonstration Team, Kean has flown in 29 airshows with four more to follow London's appearence.
"Every different show site is a new airshow. While it may be my 29th show, it's some little kid's first airshow," says Kean. "We have to carry on our excitement, our enthusiasm, and skill, professionalism and team work to every single show like it's our first because for some people in the crowd, it is their first show."
Lord Nelson Grade 7/8 teacher Sean McLellan says you could see the children light up when Kean walked into the room.
"We can teach them as much as we can in school but to actually get them out and be able to see all of this is what really generates excitement," says McLellan. "Talking to pilots gives them that inspiration that maybe this is something that maybe they want to do and take on in their lives."
Prior to their field trip to the Jet Aircraft Museum the students studied the basics of aviation. But for 12-year-old Jessica Mason it was the airshow returning to London that ignited her interest in flight.
"I just got into airplanes when I heard about this show. I've still got a lot to learn about them," says Mason. "I didn't know how fast a jet could go until I met Captain Kean. I would definitely like to fly with him someday. It would be a lot of fun."
Mason and her classmates were surprised to learn of Kean's London roots.
"I couldn't believe Captain Kean was from London. I thought he would be from Toronto or the United States," says Mason.
Kean graduated from Western University in 2005 and while he may not have time to visit his old stomping ground, he does plan to relive at least one university memory.
"I like going to restaurants, I like eating and coming back to get a shawarma just like when I was in university," says Kean.
The CF-18 Demonstration Team consists of Kean and 12 others, including safety crew, technicians, and narrators. Only eight team members will be on hand for the Airshow London performances Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
For more information about Airshow London visit www.airshowlondon.com.