Information AboutSnowbirds |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT SNOWBIRDS | |
| military units and formations of canada | |
| canadian forces air command | |
| canadian forces aircraft squadrons | |
| royal canadian air force | |
| military history of canada | |
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: ''For other uses, see Snowbird .'' Officially known as the Canadian Forces 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, the '''Snowbirds''' are Canada 's Aerobatic s team. Unlike The United States ' Blue Angels and Thunderbirds , the Snowbirds perform with nine airplanes, which give them more variations in formation and flying patterns. The Snowbirds have flown for over 100 million spectators across North America . The 431 Air Demonstration Squadron is under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Forces Air Command . Approximately 80 Canadian Forces personnel work with the squadron full-time; 24 personnel comprise the show team that travels during the show season. The show team currently flies 11 Canadair CT-114 Tutor s — nine for aerobatic performances, including two solo aircraft, and two as spares, flown by the team coordinators. HISTORY On November 11 , 1942 , the 431 Bomber Squadron was formed at Burn, England . Flying Vickers Wellington s, Handley Page Halifax s, and Avro Lancaster s out of England for the duration of the war, they moved to RCAF Station Dartmouth , Nova Scotia , after V-E Day , disbanding there on September 5 , 1945 . Six years later, the 431 Fighter Squadron re-formed at RCAF Station Bagotville on January 18 , 1954 , to display the capabilities of the new F-86 Sabre to the public at airshows until it was disbanded on October 1 , 1954. In 1969 , Colonel O.B. Philp , former leader of the Golden Centennaires aerobatic team obtained permission to use seven of the leftover CT-114 Tutor aircraft still fitted for aerobatic flying. Philp and three others from the 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School began unofficially training for aerobatic flight at CFB Moose Jaw and performing at shows around the country. Known as the ''2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School Formation Team'', or 2CFFTS the team grew in size and gained recognition but remained unofficial until it was formed into the separate 431 Air Demonstration Squadron on April 1 , 1978 . A contest at the base elementary school chose the name Snowbirds from the aircraft's distinctive white paint scheme. Since then, the Snowbirds have become an icon of Canadian aviation, and were awarded the 1994 "Belt of Orion" by Canada's Aviation Hall Of Fame . The squadron continues to fly the CT-114 Tutor, and was presented their Squadron Colours on October 15 , 1999 for 25 years of service. For a time, the Red Knight , a solo show of a single Canadair (Lockheed) CT-33 Silver Star , also flew with the 431. On June 28th 2006, Canada Post will release two domestic rate (51 cent Canadian) stamps to commemoarte the 35th anniversary of the team. ACCIDENTS The Snowbirds have had several accidents in the history of the squadron, with five deaths resulting:
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