Vancouver Island residents will have two final chances to catch the Canadian Forces Snowbirds in action this summer before the iconic aerobatic team is temporarily grounded for several years.
The iconic aerobatic team is set to pause performances after the 2026 season as the Royal Canadian Air Force retires its aging CT-114 Tutor jets and prepares for a new generation of aircraft.
Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed this week that the Snowbirds will temporarily stand down beginning in 2027 while the team transitions to the new CT-157 Siskin II jets, which are not expected to arrive until the early 2030s.
That means Victoria’s two scheduled Snowbirds appearances this summer could mark the final Vancouver Island performances for years to come.
The team is scheduled to perform a full airshow over the Dallas Road waterfront beginning at 5 p.m. on August 4th.
A second appearance is planned for August 8th with a flypast over Victoria’s Inner Harbour during the David Foster Foundation’s 40th anniversary concert event.
In a statement released this week, the 431 Air Demonstration Squadron said every performance this season carries “even greater meaning” as the legendary aircrafts near retirement.
The squadron also reflected on the role the Snowbirds have played in Canadian life over the decades, including their cross-country flyovers during the COVID-19 pandemic meant to honour healthcare workers and frontline staff.
“Through every flypast, we sought to inspire, uplift and remind Canadians that even in the most difficult moments, we stand together,” the statement reads.
The August 4th performance in Victoria will coincide with a special celebration at the BC Aviation Museum in North Saanich, where a restored CT-114 Tutor jet known as Snowbird 1 will be unveiled.
The aircraft dates back to the original Snowbirds era in the early 1970s.
Current team members are expected to appear at the museum on August 3rd for autograph sessions alongside former Snowbirds pilots and support crew, including Sidney resident Maj.-Gen. Glen Younghusband, who served as the team’s first leader in 1971 and 1972.
The Snowbirds have become one of Canada’s most recognizable aerial demonstration teams over the past 55 years, performing thousands of shows across North America and drawing millions of spectators.
But according to the squadron, keeping the Tutor fleet flying has become increasingly difficult as the aircraft continue to age.
“Time has made the aircraft increasingly challenging to maintain,” the statement said.
While the Snowbirds are expected to return once the new aircraft are ready, this summer is shaping up to be a farewell tour for a jet that has become deeply tied to the team’s identity for more than half a century.
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