End of an era for the Snowbirds

For many generations now, Canadians and aviation fans around the world have had the opportunity to enjoy our world‑famous Royal Canadian Air Force “Snowbirds” aerial flying team.

Given that the Snowbirds began as an incredible flying team back in 1971, for many, especially here in the Okanagan where we have been fortunate to host many air shows, they have become an icon and a symbol of a proud and uniquely Canadian achievement.

Based out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and flying the made‑in‑Canada Canadair CT‑114 Tutor, these jets and the incredibly skilled Canadian pilots who fly them have become a well‑known and familiar sight over the years.

I would be remiss if I did not also give a shout‑out to the rest of the Canadian Snowbird team, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the jets flying and the show running.

I mention all of this because after this year, the Canadian Snowbird team, as Canadians have come to know it, will cease to function in its current form.

After considerable speculation, and following intense questions raised by the Official Conservative Opposition in the House of Commons in early May about the future of the Snowbirds, the Liberal government has now announced that 2026 will be the final flying season for the team as it exists today.
The government also confirmed that the current CT‑114 Tutor aircraft will be retired and that a replacement aircraft has been selected.

The new Snowbirds aircraft, to the surprise of many, will not be a jet but rather a turbo‑prop trainer aircraft, the CT‑157 Siskin II, which also serves as an advanced training platform for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

What will happen to the current Snowbird squadron? It will be stood down after the 2026 flying season is complete, and team members will be reassigned. The Liberal government has stated it intends to eventually rebuild the team and, I quote, “return to the distinctive nine‑plane formation.” This new capability will remain based at 15 Wing Moose Jaw and is expected to be operational in the early 2030s.

This decision caught many off guard, particularly given that in 2021 the Liberal government announced $30 million in funding that it said would “keep the Snowbirds’ fleet of Tutor jets airworthy through 2030.”
Unfortunately, that did not occur.

The decision is already drawing criticism. Dan Dempsey of the Snowbirds Alumni Association stated, “It wouldn’t have been our first choice. As a G7 nation, all the other G7 countries that operate aerobatic teams fly jet aircraft.”

He also noted, “You can’t perform the same kind of show with a turbo‑prop trainer that you can with a jet. You don’t have the same vertical performance and so on. You can still put on a show.”

My question this week: What do you think of the Liberal government’s announcement regarding the future of the Snowbirds?

Your feedback helps me do my job. You are always welcome to share your thoughts on my Facebook page, by email at Dan.Albas@parl.gc.ca, or by calling toll‑free at 1‑800‑665‑8711.