CF Snowbirds, CF-18 demo jet in Camrose for 'loud and fast' show
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will perform the first show of their 50th year in Camrose, Alta., on July 24 and 25.
"We are so excited about it," Maj. Brett Parker, who will fly the No. 7 aircraft during the Camrose Drive-In Airshow.
The show will feature not only the 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, belovedly known by Canadians as the Snowbirds, but also demonstrations by the Canadian Forces CF18 Demo Team and CH-146 Griffon Tactical Helicopter.
"It's going to be a great show, actually. A lot of people have seen the Snowbirds," said Doug Lindseth, of Iron Cree Flying Club, which partnered with the Camrose Flying Club to organize the show.
"But this year we actually have a different helicopter coming along as well: the F18 Super Hornet, which we're all excited about. It's going to be fantastic. Lot's to cheer about."
The twin-engine fighter aircraft will be flown by Cpt. Dan Deluce, who served the tactical fighter squadron in Cold Lake, Alta., for three years and later instructed in the NATO flying program.
He was selected to pilot the 2020 show before it was cancelled.
His solo performance will last about 15 minutes, according to Cpt. Rachel Brosseau of the CF-18 Demo Team communications.
"He really just shows off the capabilities of the Hornet. So there's lots of different maneuvers he comes in and does over the airshow display area, things like the high speed pass, high alpha pass where he goes with the jets and goes really slow, different looping capabilities and 360 turns," Brosseau said.
"It's loud and it's fast."
The shows are the result of months of work – roughly half a year.
"Practice makes perfect," Parker explained.
"Over the course of that six months, we move around the formation, we move the players around to put together our show. And hopefully at the end of April when we put together our acceptance show that we'll take out onto the road to show all the Canadians, we're at our show spacing – which is roughly four feet – away from each other."
Months of prep work by organizers and volunteers, too.
The flying clubs are selling three kinds of tickets online by carload. They expect about 1,000 vehicles to attend.
"Fill the car up as much as you can. Bring Grandma, bring the kids, bring the cousins, bring your neighbour," Lindseth said.
Camrose Flying Club's Ron Grue added, "We're so fortunate to be able to host them in their 50th year and it's a great opportunity for kids.
"That's where all the pilots come from. They went to their show, they got inspired about flying, and that's why they're pilots in the Snowbirds."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Nahreman Issa
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Stormy Daniels is expected to appear at Trump's hush money trial on Tuesday
Donald Trump returns to the hush money trial Tuesday facing a threat of jail time for additional gag order violations as prosecutors gear up to summon big-name witnesses including porn actor Stormy Daniels.