Snowbirds Grounded

[monkeyspankmasterflex]

The military has already postured and told the government that the Snowbirds may be on the chopping block...http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada ... warns.html
I think Harper should call their bluff if he`s serious about defence.

Nowadays the ROI on the Snowbirds is negligible. Airshows are for old people, take a look around next time you`re at one. Kids the would rather twitter their blogs and play with their wii-wii`s. Airplanes are so 1985.

[Puddle Jumper]

Nowadays the ROI on the Snowbirds is negligible. Airshows are for old people, take a look around next time you`re at one. Kids the would rather twitter their blogs and play with their wii-wii`s. Airplanes are so 1985.

I agree, the ROI is limited here compared to the USA or UK, who have larger air forces to recruit for and bigger defence industries to promote. However, the fact that Canada has one of the best NATO flight training schools in the world using the Hawk 115, I would have thought there could be scope to keep a display team using Hawks. The Tutor isn't an operational aircraft, and certainly isn’t selling Canada’s airborne defence products to foreign air forces, so why continue to use it. In fact I’ve just realised, the one thing the Tutor is promoting very well, is that the DND has a great bunch of AMEs who manage to keep these old relics airborne - good work guys!

[Rockie]

I disagree that there is no benefit to the Snowbirds. While it is true the military doesn't recruit many pilots nowadays, our manning requirements have rarely been stronger. Don't forget we have been more involved in actual combat and large scale deployments since the cold war ended than the previous 30 years. Afghanistan is taking its toll, and rarely has the military needed public support as much as they do now. To many people the Snowbirds are the only military they will actually see beyond the television, and the team does a wonderful job of acting as liaison and ambassadors between the military and the country they protect. I think their presence is more relevant now than ever.

[MUSKEG]

Well halleluia. Finally we get repreeve from those elitist people. I have dealt with them first hand and that title fits exactly. Watching the snowturds is kind of like watching 80 year old people make love. First views are mostly out of curiousity, and then there's not much to look at. Go strut somewhere else.

[linecrew]

Nowadays the ROI on the Snowbirds is negligible. Airshows are for old people, take a look around next time you`re at one. Kids the would rather twitter their blogs and play with their wii-wii`s. Airplanes are so 1985.

I agree, the ROI is limited here compared to the USA or UK, who have larger air forces to recruit for and bigger defence industries to promote. However, the fact that Canada has one of the best NATO flight training schools in the world using the Hawk 115, I would have thought there could be scope to keep a display team using Hawks. The Tutor isn't an operational aircraft, and certainly isn’t selling Canada’s airborne defence products to foreign air forces, so why continue to use it. In fact I’ve just realised, the one thing the Tutor is promoting very well, is that the DND has a great bunch of AMEs who manage to keep these old relics airborne - good work guys!

DND owns the Tutors...they do not own the Hawks, or the Harvard IIs for that matter, they just operate them. I don't think it is possible to just "grab" a few Hawks for a dedicated demo team.

[canwhitewolf]

its a great airplane and I loved it to death

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fssIjFO ... annel_page

[canwhitewolf]

airshows are all over north america so a plane is needed that can transit in a resonable time, jets fill that bill

[armchair]

While I agree that the Snowbirds should not be a top priority for the government, neither are many other expensive waste of taxpayers money, and so many fat expense accounts for senior bureaucrats, who travel abroad as they wish and dine at Hy's Steakhouse and the likes for working lunches on the taxpayers bill. DFAIT (Foreign Affairs) spends more in renting and renovating empty luxury appartments, suites and homes worldwide than the Snowbirds cost in a year. In an equal playing field and responsible spending, I would say scrap the Snowbirds. But since Ottawa continues to distribute cash like dancing rows of PEZ dispensers to random programs, screw it then - keep the Snowbirds flying, they are great.

By the way here's a real good clip too (apologies if it was already posted, which it may...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYATAWU3u_Y

[Cat Driver]

If I had my way the Snow Birds would be given the best airplanes for performing air shows and have their budget increased to perform more shows.

Canada is getting further and further into a third world country mentality because of inept management without gutting our military to really drive the last nail into the coffin by cutting back on the air display team.

[SAR_YQQ]

The Tutor isn't an operational aircraft, and certainly isn’t selling Canada’s airborne defence products to foreign air forces, so why continue to use it.

It's not in the interest of DND/CF to sell anything - Bombardier makes the money if they sell training, not us.

[206]

Will they be in airdrie ab on July 22?

[Puddle Jumper]

The Tutor isn't an operational aircraft, and certainly isn’t selling Canada’s airborne defence products to foreign air forces, so why continue to use it.

It's not in the interest of DND/CF to sell anything - Bombardier makes the money if they sell training, not us.

So what benefit are the Snowbirds to the DND and the taxpayer then? Surely you don't think the Snowbirds have that much impact on recruitment do you!

OK, let's ask some of our younger viewers what they think of it all. With the potential of driving one of the following as a career in the forces, which one is most likely to make you sign on the dotted line?

A.

B.

C.

[GilletteNorth]

And you find the Snowbirds boring? How can a slower, piston aircraft compare to the speed and noise of a jet - even a Tutor?

I can't believe someone would actually think a jet gives a better show than an piston airplane doing tail slides and all that goes with a truly good aerobatic demonstration -- but to each his own --

Comparing a solo piston engine act to a 9 ship jet formation act is comparing apples to oranges...

I love the tutor. If the CF asked me to fly a tutor for them today at my age I'd still be yelling yes.

[GilletteNorth]

Let's be fair and portray both aircraft in a positive light eh?

[Puddle Jumper]

Good news for all you Tutor fans!

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/s ... n-fix.html