Snowbirds

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Bede
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Snowbirds

Post by Bede »

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/ ... cident-in/
Snowbirds pilot charged with sexual assault after alleged incident in Barrie, Ont.

Snowbirds pilot Major Steve Hurlbut has been charged with sexual assault after an alleged incident in Barrie, Ont., last week.

The Canadian Forces Provost Marshal’s office says it began an investigation on June 14.

Military police laid the charge on Saturday, but a media advisory the same day made no mention of charges and did not name the individual involved.

Officials said on the weekend that the allegation was made by another member of the aerial acrobatics team.

The military says case has now been turned over to the civilian justice system.

Hurlbut flew lead solo on the 9 Jet for the nine-aircraft team, but his plane will be grounded until another pilot has the training needed to take over.
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MUSKEG
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Re: Snowbirds

Post by MUSKEG »

I wouldn’t cross the street to watch these arrogant pricks. Had first hand dealings with them and classless is a word that comes to mind. There’s a trail of broken homes whenever they leave a city. Compare them to the Angels or Thunderbirds or the solo airforce pilots and you’ll know what I mean.
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frosti
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Re: Snowbirds

Post by frosti »

MUSKEG wrote: Fri Jun 30, 2023 12:41 pm There’s a trail of broken homes whenever they leave a city.
You can say that about any pilot. Also, it takes two to tango.
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YC87DRVR
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Re: Snowbirds

Post by YC87DRVR »

MUSKEG wrote: Fri Jun 30, 2023 12:41 pm I wouldn’t cross the street to watch these arrogant pricks. Had first hand dealings with them and classless is a word that comes to mind. There’s a trail of broken homes whenever they leave a city. Compare them to the Angels or Thunderbirds or the solo airforce pilots and you’ll know what I mean.
Geeez. Seems personal…
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‘Bob’
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Re: Snowbirds

Post by ‘Bob’ »

Usually these things are.

I've had nothing but respect and displays of absolute professionalism from all of the military personnel I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.

But it doesn't take much to ruin that image especially in a high-profile PR role like the Snowbirds. The worst I heard about the Snowbirds is that they can be particularly demanding as to what the host provides for the airshow, but with far more tact and generally less entitlement than private acts.

But you know what they say... keep the home fires burning and generally outside advances are deterred and even actively ridiculed. "Crash and burn, huh Mav?" :wink:
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Big Pistons Forever
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Re: Snowbirds

Post by Big Pistons Forever »

The US Navy Blue Angles have a 76 page book of instructions for airshow managers. It even includes directions for the size of the garbage cans in their private briefing room :roll:

My personal experience with Snowbird pilots is that while they are definitely not riven with self doubt :lol: , they have been pretty low key and fun to mingle with at the airshow and especially at the bar afterwards.

However sadly, every large organization like the RCAF is going to have a small proportion of bad actors. Good on them that they are confronting the issue head on and not trying to cover it up.
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pelmet
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Re: Snowbirds

Post by pelmet »

Big Pistons Forever wrote: Sat Jul 01, 2023 4:14 pm The US Navy Blue Angles have a 76 page book of instructions for airshow managers. It even includes directions for the size of the garbage cans in their private briefing room :roll:
I heard that the airshow has to provide a Ford Thunderbird to each US Air force thunderbird pilot.
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TeePeeCreeper
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Re: Snowbirds

Post by TeePeeCreeper »

Big Pistons Forever wrote: Sat Jul 01, 2023 4:14 pm Good on them that they are confronting the issue head on and not trying to cover it up.
Confronting the issue? Good on them? It’s about time BPF!

After the enquiry they didn’t have any other options. Funny that, the military being forced to endure a civilian based and led investigation… although it’s long overdue I’m not putting any more faith in the civies investigation than I would a military tribunal.

TPC
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Dias
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Re: Snowbirds

Post by Dias »

Given the current social climate this will likely be the end of the Snowbirds. The planes are too old anyways.
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frosti
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Re: Snowbirds

Post by frosti »

**** wrote: Sun Jul 02, 2023 6:57 am Given the current social climate this will likely be the end of the Snowbirds. The planes are too old anyways.
The aircraft are good until at least 2030, the snowbirds aren’t going anywhere this decade.
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RoAF-Mig21
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Re: Snowbirds

Post by RoAF-Mig21 »

I think the Snowbirds have always been a symbol of Canada and every one of the pilots I've met throughout the years have been extremely nice and professional. I remember a number of years ago, I met Capt. Blake McNaughton, Snowbird 10 at Oshkosh Airventure. He saw me in the crowd, waving a Canadian flag and said "Don't go anywhere, we have to take a photo".

I had a nice chat with him and these are guys that genuinely love their job, the Canadian Forces and Canada. Good for them. I have nothing but respect for them.
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rookiepilot
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Re: Snowbirds

Post by rookiepilot »

Charges for that? No big deal.

Now, don’t use the wrong pronouns……

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/mic ... rison-time

Or touch a flag. Not the Canadian flag……

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/delta-pride-banne ... -1.6430541
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Reinhard
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Re: Snowbirds

Post by Reinhard »

Image

Military police investigators charged a Canadian Forces Snowbirds pilot with sexual assault Saturday, following an investigation into allegations that another member of the military had been the victim of sexual misconduct.

Major Hurlbut faces the following charge:

One count (1) Sexual Assault pursuant to section 271 of the Criminal Code

The matter will now proceed through the civilian justice system.

Major Steve “Stu” Hurlbut was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. His passion for aviation developed at a very young age, leading him to Air Cadets as a member of 538 “Buffalo” Squadron Royal Canadian Air Cadets. He earned his glider licence at the age of 16, and private pilot licences at 17.

Maj Hurlbut joined the Royal Canadian Airforce originally as an Air Navigator and graduated from Royal Military College (RMC) with a bachelor’s degree in physics. Maj Hurlbut was posted to 407 Squadron in Comox, British Columbia, on the CP-140 Aurora before returning to RMC to obtain a master’s degree in physics. After finishing his studies, Maj Hurlbut became a military lecturer at RMC for the next 3 years.

After transferring to the pilot trade, he completed his pilot training on the CT-156 Harvard II and CT-155 Hawk and was subsequently posted to 409 and 401 Tactical Fighters Squadrons in Cold Lake, Alberta, flying the CF-18 Hornet. During his time on fighter squadrons, Maj Hurlbut flew 36 combat missions over the skies of Iraq and Syria as part of Op IMPACT in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Maj Hurlbut was posted to 419 Fighter Training Squadron instructing on the CT-155 Hawk aircraft and obtained his A Category instructional category.

Maj Hurlbut joined the Snowbirds in 2021. He brings over 2,200 hours of military jet flying experience to the team. He is also an active member of the general aviation community flying over 2,000 hours on a variety of homebuilt aircraft.

Major Hurlbut flies the 9 Jet as the Lead Solo.
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