Pick any bright and sunny day in the winter and spring months, and there’s a chance you’ll hear the sound of fighter jets roaring over Canada’s Most Notorious City.
Cast a glance skyward, and you just might catch a glimpse of the legendary Canadian Forces Snowbirds and their CT-114 Tutor jets in action, preparing for their busy season throughout the summer months.
To say the least, the 431 Air Demonstration Squadron is the pride and joy of 15 Wing and the city of Moose Jaw, with the link between the Snowbirds and the community being so strong that the local Western Hockey League franchise rebranded last summer to include imagery from the flight team in their logo.
Formed in June 1971 to ‘demonstrate the skill, professionalism and teamwork of Canadian Forces personnel’, the team features nine planes flying in acrobatic formations and performing high-speed passes to thrill the massive crowds that show up whenever they fly.
The Snowbirds rotate pilots in on a regular basis, with the current crew comprised of Lt.-Col. Denis Bandet (commanding officer), Maj. Brett Parker (Snowbird 1 Team Lead), Cap. Caitlin Clapp (Snowbird 2 Inner Right Wing), Cap. Steve Timm (Snowbird 3 Inner Left Wing), Cap. Patrice Powis-Clement (Snowbird 4 First Line Astern), Cap. Thomas Thornton (Snowbird 5 Second Line Astern), Cap. Steven Sparks (Snowbird 6 Outer Right Wing), Cap. Dominic Appolloni (Snowbird 7 Outer Left Wing), Cap. Marc-Andre Plante (Snowbird 8 Opposing Solo), Maj. Steve Hurlbut (Snowbird 9 Lead Solo).
All told, a total of 80 personnel are part of the Snowbirds, including a robust ground crew that helps keep the aircraft in tip-top shape.
The Snowbirds season traditionally begins Acceptance Show at the end of May. From there, it’s off to locations all over Canada and North America, and the summer of 2023 was no exception.
The Snowbirds performed their first public show during the June 3 weekend in Thunder Bay and spent the first month of the season on the east coast before performing their traditional Canada Day Show over the Halifax Harbour. The team had two stops in Saskatchewan in July, performing over Craven on both July 15 and 16 and setting up a static display in Saskatoon on July 27. The Snowbirds will have two international dates, performing at the Pacific Air Show in Huntington Beach, Cal. and at the California International Air Show in Salinas, Cal.
Although much of the summer showings have been done, the Snowbirds are still expected to perform on Aug. 19 in Winnipeg and on Aug. 26-27 in Leamington Beach, Ont.
Dates in September include: Sept. 1-4, Toronto; Sept. 8-10, London; Sept. 16-17, Gatineau; and Sept. 30, Huntington Beach, California.
This year’s Snowbird schedule concludes on October 7-8 in Salinas, California.
From start to finish, the Snowbirds season will feature 23 shows in total, wrapping up with the season-closing show at 15 Wing.
For more information on the Snowbirds, including regular updates on shows and team news, be sure to visit www.facebook.com/CFSnowbirdsFC.
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