The Snowbirds currently fly the aging T-114 Tutor jets, which have been part of the Royal Canadian Air Force inventory since the 1960s. The Tutors have kept flying long after their projected lifespan which ended in 2010.
DND says the Swiss-made, turbo-prop CT-157 Siskin II has been chosen to replace the Snowbird squadron. The planes are already on order and are being delivered for use as the air force’s initial pilot training aircraft.
The Snowbirds will probably take to the air again in the early 2030s.
So some of my images of the Snowbirds from the 2008 and 2009 Toronto International Air Show.
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds create an arrow shape as they fly over Toronto during the Canadian International Air Show, Toronto, August 31, 2008. (Robin Rowland)The Canadian Forces Snowbirds roar low over Toronto at the Canadian International Air Show, Aug. 31, 2008. (Robin Rowland)The Canadian Forces Snowbirds create a spectacular finale for the spectators at the CNE at the Canadian International Air Show, Toronto, August 31, 2008. (Robin Rowland)One of the Tutor jets from the Canadian Forces Snowbirds perform at Canadian International Air Show, Toronto, Sept 6, 2009 (Robin Rowland)A seagull joinsthe formation as the Canadian Forces Snowbirds perform at Canadian International Air Show, Toronto, Sept 6, 2009. (Robin Rowland)The Canadian Forces Snowbirds perform near a bridge at Canadian International Air Show, Toronto, Sept 6, 2009 (Robin Rowland)The Canadian Forces Snowbirds perform at Canadian International Air Show, Toronto, Sept 6, 2009 (Robin Rowland)The Canadian Forces Snowbirds demontrate their loop in the clear blue sky at the Canadian International Air Show, Toronto, August 31, 2008. (Robin Rowland)The Canadian Forces Snowbirds perform at Canadian International Air Show, Toronto, Sept 6, 2009 (Robin Rowland)
In one month the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Fifty years ago, Canada gave a birthday gift to the United States, a glossy coffee table book of high quality photographs that was at the time the “longest undefended border” in the world. It was called Between Friends/Entre Amis. […]
If you look west over Kitimat’s mountains, with the skies clear about an hour after the summery sunset, you will see the planets Venus and Jupiter in the sky. Venus is closer and brighter and seen to the right, lower on the horizon. Jupiter, farther away of course, and not as bright, can be seen […]
For the past year people in Kitimat have called the LNG Canada flare “the eye of Sauron” after how it was depicted in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movie The Two Towers On May 31, 2026, I woke up at 3:34 am in time to catch the May blue “micro” full moon right over […]
