The planes were built in the early 60s. They are worn out antiques. Our Canadian Snowbirds have put on exceptional shows and are the best trained pilots in the world. However too many of them are dying and this is unacceptable. The Harvards and the Hawks are not suitable replacement planes for the Tudor jets used by the Snowbirds. Therefore the time has come to shut down the program.
I think it’s time to retire the Snowbirds
Mon, 2020-05-18 12:58
#1
Misfit
I think it’s time to retire the Snowbirds
Mon, 2020-05-18 13:30
#2
For context, there was a fatal crash near Kamloops this weekend.
I saw the snowbird salute to the heatlh care workers, and I thought, "wouldn't that money be better spent on PPE for them?"
Mon, 2020-05-18 15:56
#3
Totally agreed on the misguided nature of the tribute-bringing in the Snowbirds rather than providing adequate federal funding for the crisis may have been a ploy by Justin to win over Con voters-and on the need to retire the Snowbirds, as well as the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds on the other side of the border.
Wed, 2020-05-20 14:28
#4
Completely agree. We can train our pilots with a newer jet if indeed we need to train our pilots.
There is no defensive need for fighter jets. No perceived enemies can reach our shores. Most of them don't have suitable fighter jets and none of them has an effective navy. There are only the French, British, and Americans capabil of attacking Canada and they are our allies.
Wed, 2020-05-20 16:04
#5
Um the Russians can reach us actually, with Navy and Air Force
Thu, 2020-05-21 01:56
#6
The Snowbirds are not for training pilots they are the airshow team. I watched them practicing over Kye Bay in the "same" planes over forty years ago. The reason I put same in quotes is because they are constantly being rebuilt and maintained. There is not a single part on the planes that I watched that is the same but they are the same plane. They used to use CFB Comox to train for their precision routines and still do occasionally.
19 Wing Comox at CFB Comox has real fighter jets. However the major training done at the base is with 418 Search and Rescue Operational Training Squadron. They also do glider training for air cadets in the summer.
I was disgusted when the fly-bys were announced because militarism is the wrong emotion to bring our country together. My country is run by smooth talking war mongers. The list of squadrons and equipment at 19 Wing is an interesting read. The expenditure on Search and Rescue has my full support.
http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/19-wing/index.page
http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/squadron/418-squadron.page
Thu, 2020-05-21 23:49
#7
Misfit
The Tutor jets were used to train pilots at 15 Wing in Moose Jaw. They were discontinued in 2000. They use the British Hawk jet and the American Beechcraft Harvard II turbo prop now to train pilots.
Fri, 2020-05-22 18:55
#8
Fri, 2020-05-22 20:41
#9
Doctor blasts military flyovers, asks to spend money on health care workers and poor instead
With the good doctor on that.
Sun, 2020-05-24 00:57
#10
Can someone please explain why, after someone died as a result of a flyover, that the snowbirds did another flyover as tribute?