SNOWBIRDS
“A Tradition of Military Aviation Excellence” has been chosen as the theme for the 48th season of the 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, The Snowbirds.
That tradition of excellence will be front and centre in close to 60 appearances in Canada and The United States during the 2018 show season. Acknowledgement will also be given to the 60th anniversary of the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD).
The squadron has had a busy fall in selection of new team members and allowing Lt.-Col. Mike French, the new commanding officer, the opportunity to put his stamp on the manoeuvres to be performed during 2018. French is from Langley, B.C.
On the team’s Facebook page, new members are listed as follows: Snowbird 1 and team lead, Major Denis Bandet of Regina; Snowbird 2, Capt. Sarah Dallaire of Levis, Que.; Snowbird 5, Capt. Kevin Domon-Grenier of Saint-Raymond de Portneuf, Que.; Snowbird 7, Capt. Pierre-Marc Deschenes of Tadoussac, Que.; Snowbird 9, Capt. Taylor Evans of Canmore, Alta.; and Snowbird 11 (show co-ordinator, Capt. Robbie Hindle of Midland, Ont.
Other members are: Snowbird 3, Major Jason Tuckett of Hamilton, Ont,; Snowbird 4, Major Steve Melanson of Moncton, N.B.; Snowbird 6, Major Bassam Mnaymneh of Windsor, Ont,; Snowbird 8, Capt. Greg Hume-Powell of West Vancouver; and Snowbird 10, show co-ordinator, Capt. Blake McNaughton of St. Catharines, Ont.
The team’s honorary colonel is Les Gould, formerly of Moose Jaw; Chief Warrant Officer is Greg Fleet of North Bay; Major Yanick Gregoire of Toronto is deputy commanding officer; Capt. Philippe Roy of Gatineau, Que. is operations officer; Sgt. John Enright of Winnipeg, Man. is chief avionics technician; Master Corporal Shawn Falzarano of Winnipeg is deputy crew chief aviation tech- nician; Corporal Kyle Van Tol of Toronto is technical co-ordinator avionics technician; and Lieut. (N) Michele Tremblay of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is the team’s public affairs officer.
The official show season will begin May 5-6 in Havelock, North Carolina, followed by Colorado Springs, May 12-13; Anderson, South Carolina, May 19-20; Wantagh, New York, May 26-27; and Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, May 30.
June dates will take the Snowbirds to CFB Borden, Ont., Niagara Falls, New York; St. Thomas and Wasaga Beach in Ontario; and Chambly, Que.
The traditional visit to Ottawa for Canada Day on July 1 will be followed by a visit to Southport, Portage, Man. for July 7-8; Flin Flon on July 11; and Regina, July 14. The team will return for a full performance on Sunday, July 15 at 15 Wing as part of the fifth annual Highway to Heroes car show and concert sponsored by the 15 Wing Fellowship.
Alberta dates in Camrose, Cold Lake, Rocky Mountain House and Whitecourt will round out July.
Prior to the Abbotsford Air Show on Aug. 10-12, the Snowbirds will be in Venderhoof for Aug. 4-5. After the Abbotsford show, Snowbirds will be in Atlantic City, New Jersey for Aug. 22; Summerside, P.E.I for Aug. 2526; and in Brantford, Ont. for Aug. 29. September’s dates include the Canadian National Exhibition, Sept. 1-3 in Toronto; Sept. 4, Whitby, Ont.; Sept. 8-9, Mont-Joli, Que.; Sept. 15, Gatineau, Que.; Sept. 16 in Ottawa for the Battle of Britain commemoration; Sept. 19, Fort Erie, Ont.; Sept. 22-23, NAS Oceana, Virginia; and Sept. 29-30, Hillsboro, Oregon.
Fort Worth, Texas will be visited Oct. 13-14 before the Snowbirds return home for an Oct. 19 show at 15 Wing for family and friends.