MOOSE JAW — Moose Javians have been treated to the roar of the Snowbirds overhead for days now, but their season’s preparation has officially concluded and the 2022 Canadian Forces Snowbirds acceptance show was a success.
The June 9 performance at 15 Wing Moose Jaw was the first demonstration of this year. It served as the launch for the season before the 431 Air Demonstration Squadron flies to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Day and Air Show, June 18 to 19.
The Snowbird 3 aircraft failed its pre-flight check, causing Captain Arpit Mahajan to switch to the Snowbird 10 aircraft. Another minor hiccup came in the form of a severe thunderstorm warning for an area of southern Saskatchewan including Moose Jaw. Ominous clouds loomed to the north, but luckily stayed far enough away for the entire show to be performed.
“Moose Jaw proved to do what it normally does and throw some fun weather bumps,” said Major Brett Parker, Snowbird 1 and team lead. “It’s a nice flat prairie, but we always seem to have those funny bumps that throw us around.”
Nevertheless, Parker said he was ecstatic to be able to perform the full show after six months of hard work.
“The team did a good job today,” he added. “What better time than when we’re doing our acceptance show in front of (1 Canadian Air Division Commander Major-General Eric Kenny), basically authorizing us to go out on the road and showcase it to Canadians.”
Parker received his pilot’s wings in 2003. He’s flown with 431 Squadron for years, serving as Snowbird 5, 3, 2, and 7. He has over 5,000 hours of military jet flight time. Despite his wealth of experience, Parker told media after the show that he still feels a thrill each time he gets to fly in a show.
In addition to the nine primary pilots and two alternate pilots, the Snowbirds team has approximately 70 support personnel. Highly-trained technicians keep the planes in top condition, and mobile support equipment operators, resource management support clerks, engineers, a logistics officer, and a public affairs officer all help to showcase the skill and professionalism that has made the Snowbirds Canada’s elite air demonstration ambassadors for over 50 years.
The Snowbirds fly the CT-114 Tutor, designed and built in Canada by Canadair. The Tutor was first flown in 1960. It was the CAF’s primary jet trainer until its replacement in 2000 by the CT-155 Hawk and the CT-156 Harvard II.
Despite its age, the Tutor makes an excellent aerobatic demonstration jet thanks to its relatively light weight and powerful engine. The single General Electric J85 jet engine produces 2,700 pounds of thrust capable of speeds over 400 knots (740 kilometres per hour).
Parker said that this year’s offseason was challenging. “Between weather and COVID, it’s just been one of those years where we had to compromise and make it work. Even when we went out to Comox … the weather wasn’t the greatest, and then I ended up getting COVID out there, so I was grounded for a week.
“I think (today’s success is) kind of proof on point of just how effective our training is on the squadron.”
Parker and his team are looking forward to audiences both small and large at air shows across Canada and down into the States. The Maritimes and the East Coast missed out last year thanks to a hurricane, so they’re looking forward to visiting again.
They will be in Ottawa for Canada Day, at the Abbotsford International Airshow in August, the Canadian International Air Show in Toronto in September, and Huntington Beach, California in October for the Pacific Airshow — one of the largest in the world, with millions of spectators.
For more information on the Snowbirds and its team members, and to see their full schedule, visit www.canada.ca/en/air-force/services/showcasing/snowbirds.html. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
