The Snowbirds are the most famous military demonstration team ever formed in Canada, but the Canadian military has a strong history involving other teams prior to the Snowbirds. In 1929, the first ever Canadian demonstration team, the Siskins was formed by the RCAF. The Golden Hawks followed in 1959, and in 1967, the Golden Centennaires were formed to commemorate Canada's centennial year. The Golden Centennaires flew only that one year. Not until four years later were the Snowbirds formed.
The Siskins
Formed in 1929, the Siskins flew for three seasons. The team consisted of three Armstrong-Whitworth Siskin IIIA biplanes and were based at Camp Borden, Ontario. Occasionally, the team would tie the aircraft together with rope while in the air! During their three year existence the Siskins flew over 100 aerial demonstrations.
The Siskin was one of Canada's top line fighters until just prior to World War Two. It had a 450 horsepower engine, a maximum take-off weight of just over 3,000 pounds, a top speed of 256 miles per hour, and a service ceiling of 27,000 feet. It was armed with two Vickers .303 machine guns.
One of the Siskin pilots, Squadron Leader E.A. McNabb, would become the first RCAF pilot to win the Distinguised Flying Cross during World War Two.
The Golden Hawks
The Golden Hawks were formed in 1959 to celebrate the Golden Anniversary of flight in Canada, as well as the RCAF's 35th anniversary. The team flew six F-86 Sabres with most of the formation flying involving four aircraft with two soloists. The show was 25 minutes long and consisted of standard RCAF maneuvers, but with much closer formations.
The Golden Hawks remained active until September 1963 before being disbanded. The team flew 317 demonstrations over their five year existence.
The Golden Centennaires
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The Golden Centennaires were formed in 1967 to celebrate Canada's centennial. The team, flying
the same CT-114 Tutor used today by the Snowbirds, performed 100 shows in Canada during the year
as well as eight others in the United States. Over four million people watched their
performances during the season.
The team was commanded by Colonel O.B. Philip, who would later form the Snowbirds. In 1969, Colonel Philip, now base commander at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, noticed several white painted Tutors at the base. It turned out they were former Golden Centennaire aircraft and were still modified for aerobatic flying. By 1971 he had formed an unofficial "non-aerobatic" team which practiced after their regular flying hours. This group would eventually become the Snowbirds. |
The Snowbirds
The team held a competition at the Base Elementary School to name the new demonstration team. The name "Snowbirds" was the eventual winner. The Snowbirds, using seven aircraft, flew their first official demonstration on July 11, 1971 at the 1971 Saskatchewan Homecoming Airshow. They also flew at major airshows across Canada, including Abbotsford and the CNE in Toronto, as well as at military bases.
In 1972 two solo aircraft were added to the team. They flew 25 shows that year. In 1973 the Snowbirds expanded their show to include aerobatic formation maneuvers, but formation changes during these maneuvers was still disallowed.
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The team was cleared to fly a fully aerobatic formation display in 1974. They also adopted the
paint scheme that is still used today that same year. The Snowbirds flew 80 shows in 1974.
The Snowbirds performed an unusual show in 1975 on May 11 at Inuvik when they flew their performance at midnight. In 1977 the team was made a permanent unit and was designated the Canadian Forces Air Demonstration Team (CFADT). On April 1, 1978 the Snowbirds were given squadron status and were designated 431 Air Demonstration Squadron. |
| In 1986 the team performed numerous times at Expo 86, including opening day and closing day. Also in 1986, Major D.F. (Yogi) Huyghebaert led an historic five plane flypast at the Abbotsford Airshow. The other aircraft came from the U.S., Italy, France, and Brazil. |
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The Snowbirds performed at the opening ceremonies for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. 1990 was
the 20th Anniversary of the Snowbirds, and the team used red and white smoke to mark the occasion. They
also flew their 1000th demonstration in 1990.
In 1991 they performed at the Disney 20th Anniversary Celebrations. 1993 marked the first performance outside of Canada and the U.S. when the team flew three shows at Guadalajara, Mexico. Also in 1993, team lead Major Dean Rainkie flew a rare formation with an Su-27 of the Russian Knights at the Abbotsford Airshow. |
| Another rare flypast involving a Snowbird was at Abbotsford in 1995 when team lead Major Steve Hill lead a formation with aircraft from the Brazilian Esquadrilha da Fumaca, the Chilean Halcones, and the Northern Lights. |
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