SNOWBIRD SALUTE
The Snowbirds flew over Saskatoon on Thursday as part of Operation Inspiration, a nationwide tour by the aerobatics unit to show their support for Canadians who are hunkering down and riding out the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spectators young and old sat on doorsteps, watched from parks and berms and trails, looked upward from neighbourhood streets or peeked out their windows in Saskatoon
as the Canadian Armed Forces’ famed Snowbirds aerobatics team took to the skies Thursday in a cross-province flyby.
The Snowbirds, as part of their Canada-wide tour aimed at boosting morale during the COVID-19 pandemic, flew over large parts of Saskatchewan. The planes went from Moose Jaw to Regina, and then cruised toward Saskatoon — all before 11 a.m. From there, they headed along Highway 16 to Alberta, passing over North Battleford and Lloydminster before stopping for the day in Cold Lake, Alta.
The tour started last weekend in Nova Scotia and will continue heading toward the west coast. Members of the Snowbirds paused their training in March because of COVID-19 but spent two days recently at their home base of 15 Wing Moose Jaw flying refresher and training missions before starting the tour.
“We’ve been asked to do what we do best: inspire Canadians,” said Lt.-col. Mike French, the commanding officer of the Snowbirds, in a statement prior to the tour’s first flight. “Through Operation
INSPIRATION, we not only want to salute the front-line health care workers, first responders, and essential workers, but also all Canadians doing their part to stop the spread of COVID-19.”
Lt.-gen. Al Meinzinger said that while “Canadians may not be able to gather at air shows for now, we’re honoured to bring the Snowbirds team to Canadians and to pay special tribute to them.”