Snowbird down

[SilverFox441]

Not much in the way of details as yet, but it is reported that one of the Canadian Armed Forces CT-114 Tutor jets of 431 (Air Demonstration) Sqdn, "The Snowbirds" has crashed.

The crash occured during an airshow at Thunder Bay, Ontario. Initial reports are that the pilot ejected safely.

The CT-114 Tutor jet flown by the Snowbirds entered service in the mid-60's. The aircraft has been retired from training duties and is now in service only with the Snowbirds. Plane are underway to find a replacement aircraft for the team.

Only sketchy reports as yet...the crash occured after 5:00 PM so there is some conflicting info. It was during a performance so there was only the pilot aboard.

The Tutor has an old-style explosive ram seat ejection mechanism so back injuries are a real possibility.

I'm actually hoping the incident aircraft is Snowbird 5... the Minister of Defence flew in that plane this month, it might bring home the need to spend some of the current federal budget surplus on new planes for the team!

[JRoc]

Actually, the Defense Minister flew with them just on Monday.

My dad just came down and told me - I held my breath as I asked him the first 3 questions: Where? When? And is the pilot safe?  A definite sigh of relief, now.

I wasn't aware they had left town already.

Speaking of replacing the Tutors - in today's paper (the local rag, the Moose Jaw Times-Herald) there was a story about replacing them.  It had mentioned something about aircraft stress and load tests in order 'to find a suitable fixed-wing aircraft'.  Well... the Reds use the Hawk, and we've got several of them here already - why not lease a few more and call it finished?

I mean... I grew up with the Tuts and all, and it does add a bit of nostalgia when the 'birds are practising here, but still - they're quite rickety now, and in diminishing numbers due to crashes, weathering and disposals.  If I remember correctly, there's less than 50 left in varying states of condition in Ont.

[SilverFox441]

Actually, the Canadian Armed Forces do not have any Hawks...

The Hawks flown by the flight training schools are leased. The whole flight training system is operated by commercial companies on a for-profit basis.

Operating leased aircraft in a permanently modified condition as demonstration aircraft is a difficult sell.

I'd like for them to operate a Sqdn of CF-188s...even the non-updated version would be very cool.

[C]

Operating leased aircraft in a permanently modified condition as demonstration aircraft is a difficult sell.

If they're leased from BAE SYSTEMS I doubt they'd object too much in principle - its BAE SYSTEMS that pays for the Red Arrows to go round the world as a marketing tool for its products, so North American based team would probably be good in todays market...

[Hagar]

Sorry to hear that but at least the pilot is OK.

The age of the aircraft might have nothing to do with it. Depends on the reason for the accident. The Red Arrows have lost eight Hawks over the years, at least one being in a fatal collision. I can only think of one during an actual performance when XX262 hit a yacht mast at Brighton & ditched in the sea. The yacht had no business being there & fortunately the pilot was unhurt. This was in 1980 when the airframes were new. http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/oldstuff/arrows/Arrow.htm

I'd like for them to operate a Sqdn of CF-188s...even the non-updated version would be very cool.

Not necessarily the ideal choice for a formation display team like the Snowbirds but if these are currently in service it might represent the country better. They would probably be far more expensive to operate leading to a smaller team.