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Snowbirds to make final Abbotsford appearances in CT-114 Tutor
The Snowbirds will perform this weekend at the Abbotsford International Airshow in the CT-114 Tutor before the aging aircraft is replaced and the team is grounded from October into the 2030s.
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will make their final Abbotsford International Airshow appearances in the original CT-114 Tutor aircraft this weekend.
The military aerobatic team is expected to be grounded from October into the 2030s as the aging Tutor fleet is replaced by the CT-157 Siskin II. The team will fly again, but not in the aircraft that has been central to its public demonstrations for decades.
Maj. Steve Timm, who grew up in Surrey and first saw the Snowbirds at the Abbotsford airshow, said joining the squadron made the return especially meaningful. He said the Tutor's slower speed and tighter turning radius allow for close-in loops and rolls in front of airshow crowds.
The Snowbirds debuted at Abbotsford, Canada's national air show, in 1971, according to airshow representative Jadene Mah. The airshow runs Friday through Sunday, with limited tickets still available.