The fairgrounds sky opening day.
They arrived right on time. At 6:30 pm on Thursday June 11th, members of Canada’s iconic Snowbird squadron flew over the grounds of the Millbrook Fair to mark the opening of the 175th Millbrook Fair celebration.
Clear, sunny skies gave Fair visitors and Millbrook neighbours a clear view of these beloved Canadian aerial performers.
Officially known as the 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, the Snowbirds are members of the military aerobatics flight demonstration team of the Canadian Air Force (CAF)which is based near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. It was founded in 1978 but originated during WWII when the squadron was created as part of the Commonwealth’s contribution to air crew in defense of Europe.
Today their role is to demonstrate the skill, professionalism and teamwork of the Canadian Forces personnel, and provides a public relations and recruiting role for the CAF.
Securing this display of CAF expertise took patience and perseverance. Millbrook Agricultural Society Past President Debra Post began the process last July, submitting an application to the CAF along with a letter from Council authorizing the squadron to flyover the grounds at 500 ft. Then came the wait…Once the squadron had agreed to come, maps with GPS coordinates were submitted to ensure the aircraft knew exactly where to fly. Confirmation of the show arrived in the week before the Fair opening, allowing the Fair Board to promote the event. News of the flyover spread quickly, with an announcement on the Fair Facebook page attracting 130,000 views.
The flyover drew more attention in part because last month it was announced that this demonstration squadron will be grounded indefinitely at the end of this year. The aircraft they use are old and outdated: the model in use has been part of the CAF inventory since the 1960’s. According to Prime Minister Carney, these aircraft had to be replaced because they are “literally at the end of their lives.
The Swiss-made, turbo-prop CT-157 Siskin II has been chosen to replace the Snowbird unit aircraft and some units are already on order. These first aircraft will be used in the air force’s initial pilot training. It is expected that the Snowbird replacement units will be added to the existing order, which means Snowbird performances are not likely to resume until the early 2030’s. This hiatus also removes some pressure from pilot shortages the CAF is currently facing.
In Millbrook the Snowbirds performed a flyover, but the squadron is also known for their aerobatic manoeuvres in the sky, sometimes supported with musical accompaniment and live commentary from the pilot performers. Formations and manoeuvres are choreographed each season by team members and require approval by the CAF, Transport Canada and the US Federal Aviation Administration as the Snowbirds often perform in the US. During performances, the aircraft fly at speeds between 100 knots (190 km/h) and 320 knots (590 km/h) with the aircraft separated by less than six feet during many of their formations. Altitude and speed restrictions in the manoeuvres were increased in 2021 after crashes in 2019 and 2020,allowing pilots more time to react. Maintenance and inspection schedules were also intensified at that time.
In the meantime, the Snowbirds will continue this season with a busy schedule until October, where they wrap up their season with a performance at the home base in Moose Jaw.