Snowbirds Grounded Until Early 2030s for Fleet Renewal
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds aerobatic team will stop flying until the early 2030s while their aging CT-114 Tutor jets are replaced with modern CT-157 Siskin II aircraft.
Canada's iconic Canadian Forces Snowbirds are being grounded for years as the military replaces their aging fleet of Tutor jets introduced in the 1960s.
The federal government announced that the Snowbirds team—a key symbol of Canadian military pride and a regular fixture at airshows and public events—will stop flying while new CT-157 Siskin II aircraft are built and integrated into operations. The timeline extends into the early 2030s, marking a significant gap for a team that's been performing for decades.
Snowbirds fans across Canada, including in Calgary where military heritage runs deep, will feel the absence. The team draws crowds at summer airshows and represents a rare public-facing element of Canada's military. The switch to modern aircraft is necessary—the Tutors are vintage Cold War-era trainers—but the years-long grounding means no aerial performances for a substantial period.
Defence Minister David McGuinty is set to announce further details at 15 Wing Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan, the team's home base. For now, fans will have to settle for other air displays or wait for the new Siskins to take to the skies.