Earlier today, Defence Minister David McGuinty made an announcment in Moose Jaw about the future of the RCAF's Snowbirds aerobatic team.
The Snowbirds have a long history with their CT-114 Tutor training aircraft, but their age is making it much harder to maintain and service them. The Department of National Defence is planning to revitalize the Snowbirds with a fleet of newly-developed CT-157 Siskin II planes, but their development won't be complete until the early 2030s.
Former Moose Jaw Mayor and Conservative MP Fraser Tolmie has been a critic of the government's decision to ground the Snowbirds, saying there are alternatives they could've considered, like flying modified shows.
The Snowbirds are still set to complete this year's planned airshows, but after that, they're headed to the hangars. Almost every Canadian can remember a time when they've looked up and seen the iconic Snowbirds red and white Tutors, a sight which won't be seen again until the early 2030s.
