RCAF Snowbirds ground display at CWHM

[BloorwestSiR]

I just got an email from The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum that the Snowbirds will be making a ground display visit on June 17th. 

 

https://www.warplane.com/events/upcoming/event-details.aspx?eventId=293

 

This is most likely the last time they'll do so until the 2030s as the Tutor is being retired later this year. 

 

I'm planning to attend and I'll be dragging out the youngest if I do. 

 

Carl

[Oldbaldguy]

Sorry.  I've lost the bubble on this.  I understand the Snowbirds are retiring their current aircraft because they are fair worn out and next to impossible to maintain.  But does this also mean the team is disbanding?  No more national demo team at all for Canada?  If so, does this mean no more Snowbirds ever or only until some unannounced date in the future?   It would be a shame to lose the team and its unique personality altogether.  I've seen their display several times, often at somewhat backwater shows here in the States, and never heard a bad word spoken about them.  Their display was fun and easy to watch up close and personal.  Unlike the US teams, they made few, if any, demands on the host communities.  They simply showed up, hung out and made friends.  No special cars or billeting or gym access or strutting around in tailored bags like they were on Broadway.   Their pre show show was great:  They'd detach themselves from the crowd at the appointed time and wander over to their planes.  Once saddled up, the boss said over the radio, "Snowbirds.  Fire 'em up!" and the show was on.  Simple as that.  And if something broke on one of the airplanes during a demo, they did not fly away in a huff.  The guy would land and they'd fix whatever it was while regular people stood around and watched, then off he'd go.   To us here in the States who have seen the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels shows for years, the Snowbirds are every man's team; neighbors you can talk to, not zipper-suited sky gods with toothpaste ad smiles.  I will be sorely bummed if all that goes away for good.

[BloorwestSiR]

@Oldbaldguy, my understanding is that this will be the final season for the foreseeable future. New planes are forthcoming but won't arrive until the 2030s. So there won't be any demonstrations for a while. 

 

I get to see them every summer when they close out the CNE on Labour Day weekend here in Toronto and have seen them previously when they've gone to support the CWHM. 

 

 

Carl