Snowbird pilots making memorable moments across Canada

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The Snowbirds are perhaps the most enduring legacy in this county.

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“As exciting as it is to fly, the thing that I enjoy the most is traveling around with the guys and being part of this, meeting so many Canadians who have been impacted for 55 years,” Maj. Maciej Hatta told The Toronto Sun. “It is a special year for that.”

The 431 Air Demonstration Squadron out of Moose Jaw, Sask., will perform their last Toronto show this weekend at the Canadian International Air Show.

And though they still fly as true as eagles, this is their swan song season. The entire fleet of CT-114 Tutors will be taken out of service in November. The Swiss made CT-157 Siskin II has been chosen to replace the Tutor. The delivery date for those planes is approximately 2030.

This year, the team has touched nearly every province or territory and touched a lot of hearts, too.

“I always had a feeling there was something around what we have been seeing this summer,” Hatta said. “But it is always surprising just hearing people’s stories. Maybe surprise is the wrong word but maybe touching is a better word, that everybody seems to have some kind of connection with the team, and it might not be what we expect.”

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Positive feedback

“We are getting so much feedback from people, from Canadians and their experiences with the Snowbirds over the years, and to share that with them (is fantastic),” said Snowbird number six, Maj. Steven Sparks.

Hatta himself has his own story of how he was inspired by the Snowbirds when he was living in Milton, Ont. Chris Tucker, a pilot with the CF-18 Demonstration Team, has his own moment too, inspired when he saw the Snowbirds perform in Toronto.

“There are so many stories and unfortunately I can’t recount them all because we have just seen some many great Canadians and I just want to keep doing that as long as we can this season,” Hatta said.

“Come out and see us. We might not be able to wave during the show because we are kind of busy, but it is an honour to fly for Canadians and showcase the military in this way,” he added.

After the squad performs in Toronto, they have three more full shows, two flyovers and a scheduled appearance at the Grey Cup in Calgary on Nov. 15.

The military aerobatics flight demonstration team adopted the Snowbirds moniker in 1972 after a national competition among school children to name the squadron.

“It is a bittersweet moment, but the legacy of what the Snowbirds mean to Canadians is not lost on us,” Hatta said. “We are trying to represent that as best as we can. And represent the Canadian Armed Forces as best we can.”

ganderson@postmedia.com

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