The 431 (Snowbirds) Air Demonstration Team’s annual aerobatics could become a thing of the past as Ottawa considers eliminating some older military equipment that has become difficult and costly to maintain.
CBC reported recently that the Department of National Defence (DND) is actively considering whether to retire some older ships, planes and equipment, although the defence minister said he has not made any decisions yet and is waiting for advice from military leaders.
The Snowbirds’ CT-114 Tutor jets have been in service since the early 1960s, although the Royal Canadian Air Force has extended the aircraft's life to 2025 and is now upgrading it even further. The RCAF recently installed new avionics that the defence department says can keep the demonstration jets flying until perhaps 2030 — almost 70 years after they were purchased.
In an email to the Moose Jaw Express, the Department of National Defence said, “The Government of Canada remains committed to the Snowbirds and RCAF air demonstration mission. No decision on the future of the Snowbirds air demonstration team will be made without necessary consultation and approval.
“The Royal Canadian Air Force, along with the Canadian Armed Forces, is in the process of carefully examining a number of capabilities, including 431 Air Demonstration Squadron / CT-114 Tutor. The RCAF priority in this matter is ensuring the safety of all personnel operating and supporting our aircraft.
“The Snowbirds air demonstration team remains committed to bringing Canadians the best air demonstration performances in 2024 and looks forward to engaging with Canadians and air show participants as we celebrate the RCAF Centennial.”
The military ordered the Tutor jets in 1961, while they began their demonstration career in 1967. They adopted the name Snowbirds in 1971 and were formally designated as the airshow team in 1975.
The Tutors also served for decades as the air force's principal jet trainer before being retired in the early 2000s, CBC reported. Of the 191 originally ordered, roughly 26 are thought to be in the air force inventory or storage.
In 2003, the RCAF was urged to quickly replace the Tutors, which were considered well-maintained but ancient.
A study by the defence department's director of major service delivery procurement warned that the aircraft's life expectancy would run to 2010 but could be extended for another decade if necessary, CBC added.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify some facts.
