The Snowbirds Are Coming, the Snowbirds Are Coming!

January 2020 - Apparently, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds are as excited as we are that they will return to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this year. They are very popular with Oshkosh crowds because of their precision and creative use of up to nine aircraft in their formations. By all accounts, they love their 50-year connection with EAA.

"There is an elegance in the Snowbirds' aerial choreography that is matched by no other military demonstration group," said Rick Larsen, EAA's vice president of programs, publications, and marketing, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. "When they appeared at Oshkosh in 2016, the Snowbirds were warmly welcomed, not only for their air show performances, but for the way they interacted with our attendees, including some team members even camping with their jet on the show grounds. The Snowbirds' return is just one more reason that EAA AirVenture 2020 will be an event to remember."

Classic shot of Snowbirds at Oshkosh by Jim Koepnick.

They fly more than 50 different formations during their 35-minute performance, and the CT-114 Tutor jets are noticeably quieter than most military jet displays, which will please the noise-sensitive among us. There is even a rumour that they will camp next to their aircraft, as two of them did when visiting AirVenture in 2019.

Your Canadian Council is working out the details of how Canadian EAA members might be able to meet their Snowbird heroes and heroines. Just one more reason to be firming up your plans for Oshkosh in July!

You can enjoy reading more about your RCAF Snowbirds here.

On a personal note, your editor had the unique experience of attempting to join the circuit at Bromont, Quebec, at the sametime some of the Snowbirds arrived. They were quite content to let me land first!