The Royal Canadian Air Force created the Golden Hawks precision aerobatic team in 1959 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of powered flight in Canada. The team flew swept-wing F-86 fighter jets, which had served the RCAF since 1948. From August 1950 to October 1958, Canadair built 1,815 Canadian F-86 Sabres in Montreal, powered by Orenda turbojet engines built by Avro Canada. Made up of 7 planes, the Golden Hawks performed at air shows across Canada and the United States, giving 317 shows from 1959 to 1963. The team was officially disbanded for financial reasons on February 7, 1964. Plane #23649 was acquired by members of Brockville #426 Wing of the R.C.A.F. Association and mounted here in 1968 in memory of all Allied airmen who lost their lives in the cause of freedom.