Canada's Snowbirds Team - Unique In Military Aviation

The Royal Canadian Air Force flight demonstration team, the Snowbirds, stopped off in Washington DC recently, and Aviation Week was there to see them.

In between air shows on their 2016 schedule, the team's CT-114 Tutors performed a flypast over the National Mall, after forming up over Dulles (above). Then during a quiet period in Dulles' schedules, they flew in a tight formation down runway 01R in perfect weather, showing off their brightly colored red and white jets.

After landing they taxied to a remote ramp for fueling, giving passengers inside the terminal an unusual sight as they taxied past the regular airline gates.

Here the team are on the ramp getting ready to move off to their ultimate destination, the Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy museum, located at the southern end of Dulles Airport.

After taxiing a couple of miles, the team finally arrived to position themselves on the museum's outdoor ramp, where they will be on display on May 25 for one afternoon only.

So why are they unique in military aviation? For one thing, they fly the CL-41/CT-114 Tutor, and no other military flies this 1960s vintage aircraft. Even the Royal Canadian Air Force doesn't fly it outside the team, and that makes the Snowbirds probably the only military team in the world flying an aircraft that is not otherwise in service.

The team has only flown the Tutor since inception in 1970, and is surely the military display team with the longest-serving type, easily beating the RAF's Red Arrows Hawks by 10 years or so.

Performing 37 air shows across North America this year including 11 in the USA, the team are on a brief stop in the U.S. capital after recent performances in Fort Lauderdale, FL and Latrobe, PA. Next stop: Jones Beach, NY.

Their visit to DC is part of Canada's build-up to 'Canada 150' in a year's time, when Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary. For the next few years at least the Snowbirds will be a very visible symbol of Canada's military, its pride and professionalism.

All photos by Nigel Howarth