MOOSE JAW — The iconic Snowbirds are being grounded — at least in their current form.
At an announcement at 15 Wing Moose Jaw Tuesday morning, Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed the government will procure new CT-157 Siskin II aircraft.
Those aircraft will make up the new nine-plane fleet of the Snowbirds. The current fleet of 431 Air Demonstration Squadron’s CT-114 Tutor aircraft will be retired, and the 2026 season will be the final one for the current fleet as air demonstration and training aircraft.
But the new aircraft will not be operational until the early 2030s, according to the federal government. That means the Snowbirds will be out of action for an extended period until the new fleet is in place.
While the announcement does not mean the end of the Snowbirds, it does mark a significant end of an era with the retirement of the current fleet. The Canadair CT-114 Tutor has been in service with the RCAF as a jet trainer since 1963, and have served as aircraft of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds since 1971.
"For 55 years, the Snowbirds have represented Canada and the Royal Canadian Air Force with dignity and with pride." said McGuinty.
"The sound of their engines and the trails of the white plumes of smoke behind them have become part of our national story. They are Canadian icons. They are the pride of Saskatchewan. And for millions of Canadians, they represent cherished memories. Canadians remember watching the Snowbirds as children. They remember looking up at the sky with awe. They remember seeing them and seeing something that made them proud of this country. Something that matters. Because if we want to remain a country of builders, innovators, explorers and bold minds, we need national symbols that make you want to aim higher. For more than half a century, snowboards have been exactly that."
The Department of National Defence says the CT-157 Siskin II (Pilatus PC21) will, like its predecessor Tutors, serve as both a training and air demonstration aircraft, and said it will continue Canada's tradition of air demonstration capability with a modern fleet that will ultimately rebuild up to the team’s distinctive nine-plane formation.
The CT-157 Siskin II aircraft will have a distinctive and different look compared to the old jet Tutors, including propellers at the front of the aircraft.
Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, Commander of the RCAF, spoke of what to expect in the months ahead in the transition from the old fleet to the new.
"During this transition, our connection with Canadians will not lag," she said. "You will continue to see the RCAF across the country, go through aircraft and personnel participation in air shows, through our RCAF attractions team, through immersive virtual reality experiences, and other innovative performances that bring aviation to life in new ways. So stay tuned. While the retirement of the CT-114 Tutor brings understandable emotion, I encourage all Canadians to see the upcoming 2026 season for what it truly is, a chance to celebrate. Let's acknowledge the entire team, the pilots and technicians, the squadron support staff, as well as the entrepreneurs and project teams who have supported and maintained the tutor fleet, allowing it to achieve this remarkable accomplishment."
It's not nailed down yet what the final schedule for the current Snowbirds will be. The team had been scheduled to end the current season in October in Sacramento, but officials confirmed that will not be their final performance.
For decades, the Snowbirds have been based at 15 Wing Moose Jaw. McGuinty confirmed the new fleet of Snowbirds aircraft will remain based in Moose Jaw.
McGuinty pointed to the government's investment through the Future Aircraft Training Program, a more than $9.4 billion long-term investment that he said will "modernize how the next generation of Royal Canadian Air Force personnel are trained."
He said Moose Jaw is "poised to benefit from a multi-billion dollar investment through this program, one that will strengthen the local economy, support long-term job creation, and reinforce this community's central role in Canadian military aviation."
McGuinty said over its 25-year lifespan, the Future Aircraft Training Program is expected to support approximately 3,400 jobs and generate nearly $10 billion in economic benefits across the prairies. In Moose Jaw, he said, planned infrastructure investments are estimated at more than $1 billion.
"That includes major upgrades, modernization projects, rebuilding runway infrastructure, to replacing the fire hall, to investing in the facilities and systems to support the people who serve here every day. And because supporting our personnel also means supporting their families, we're continuing Phase 2 of the National Housing Strategy at 15 Wing through the construction of 24 new residential housing units."
Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger paid tribute to those who worked at 15 Wing.
"For decades, this base has been a cornerstone of Canada's military excellence and we are seeing it grow. As part of the future air crew training program, 15 Wing will welcome new aircraft and the people to support them.
"But the base is also an integral part of the community as well. Across rural Canada, bases like 15 Wing are far more than just another workplace. They are neighbourhoods, gathering places and hubs of local life. The members who serve here coach our kids' teams, volunteer in our local organizations, support local businesses and build lasting roots alongside their neighbours. In Moose Jaw, we see that connection every single day."
