SnowBird Gear Up Landing at 15 Wing

[ArcticKat]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... 10301.html

[bizjets101]

photo source

[rigpiggy]

probably just change the smoke oil tanks, swing the gear ang good to go

[flyinggreasemonkey]

Snowbirds are an embarrassment. Outdated aircraft and the worst accident record in the world for a military demonstration team. They need to be disbanded or massively upgraded ASAP before more good people die.

[bizjets101]

Not sure where you get that idea from, I think you'll have to post some factual data from the Snowbirds vs other teams.

I grew up watching the Golden Hawks, then the Golden Centennaires, and the Snowbirds. In fact I lived in El Centro California for 4 years - where the Blue Angels practice twice a day - every day for 5 months!!!, and I watch them every day!!!

Blue Angels have lost more crew members, in less time, with half as many jets - and new ones at that!!!, and I love the Blue Angels.

I've no idea how old you are, but if you love aviation - and the Snowbirds go the way of the Golden Hawks - one day you'll miss them, and hopefully remember just how awesome they were.

They have my utmost respect, support, and I'd vote for new airplanes anytime for them!!!!

Oh as for embarrassment ?????? I spent 16 years in California and have many American military friends - I can tell you they've all watched the Snowbirds - and raved about the performance - as I beamed with Canadian pride.

I'm very sorry you feel that way, but I think the Snowbirds are awesome - and little kids just love them!!!! Ever watch the little kids at an airshow watching the Snowbirds with shear awe. Now that is cool.

Oh, and by the way, there have only ever been two Snowbird fatalities during a practice or show - that was caused by the airplane - and one was a malfunctioning seat belt, that leaves only one caused by the actual aircraft - ever!!! Not bad at all.

That is two fatalities caused by the airplane in over 40 years - 3 others in mid-airs which wouldn't matter what type of jet you were flying - and an accident that killed two - but was not performing a Snowbird function.

Flying military jets is inherently dangerous - that's life.

[burhead1]

Very nice post Bizjets!!

[amraam]

Great post Bizjets!

I think people forget that flying fighter jets is a dangerous business, they continue to train to fly close formation, low to the ground, and unfortunately human error and mechanical failures can still occur.

I have watched the Snowbirds at a couple of airshows in the US and am always impressed with the number of American air crews who stop whatever they are doing to watch the Snowbirds perform. They have always showed the Snowbirds a lot of respect.

When DND does get around to replacing the Tutor, I hope they are able to find something suitable. I doubt 30 year old CF-18s would be the right bet when the F-35s come online and I personally don't find the F-18s that the Blue Angels use to be the best entertainment anyway. The Tutors are able to give the Snowbirds the ability to go a little slower and that gives a better show IMHO. The UK uses some Hawks for their Demonstration team, perhaps that would be a good bet for the Snowbirds and would likely be fairly cost effective too.

The Snowbirds are a great representative of the Canadian Armed Forces and as Canadians we should all be very proud of what they do each and every year. They've done a wonderful job helping recruit young men and women to join the CAF and I hope they continue to get the political support they need to continue their tradition.

amraam

[Darkwing Duck]

+1 to both Amraam and Bizjets.

If you have ever watched the Snowbirds perform cudos has to go to every team member. From the pilots to the ground crew. They pack every little part and bag in those Tutors, unlike the Blue Angels flying Fat Albert. And a Snowbird performance has NEVER been canceled due to a mechanical issue. Something that also has to be accredited to the crew.

The Tutor is a perfect platform for what they do. I would much rather see the aerial display continuously then wait for a F16 or F18 fly by just below the sound barrier take half the great blue sky to turn around and come back . That is why the solo machine is sent out.

[Sky Pilot]

Snowbirds are an embarrassment. Outdated aircraft and the worst accident record in the world for a military demonstration team. They need to be disbanded or massively upgraded ASAP before more good people die.

I've seen the snowbirds perform many times. Fantastic! Disregard "Grease Monkey"

[Hedley]

the worst accident record in the world for a military demonstration team

Didn't the entire USAF t-bird team once fly into the ground, in perfect formation, after the lead's stick jammed?

Not sure the Snowbirds have outdone that.

Also, the USN Blue Angels have had their share of accidents, too.

Here you go:

On September 8, 1981, the commander of the Thunderbirds since 1979, Lt. Col. David L. Smith, 40,was taking off in his T-38 Talon when, shortly after departure from Burke Lakefront Airport, it ingested several seagulls, stalling the engines. Hundreds of spectators and countless downtown office workers watched in horror as the jet plunged downwards toward Lake Erie. Luckily, Smith and Staff Sgt Dwight Roberts, 31, the crew chief riding tandem behind him, both ejected from the plane.

But Smith's ejector seat chute did not have time to open, and he impacted on rocks next to the lake and rolled into the water, killing him instantly.

With the loss of their leader, and with the approach of autumn, the 1981 air show ended for the unit. A new leader, Major Norman Lowry, had already been selected by the Air Force to command the team after Smith. With Lowry leading, a fresh start after the loss of Smith and second solo Nick Hauck, who had been killed in another mishap in May of '81, began.

Four months later...

The four "Diamond" aircraft, Thunderbirds #1, 2, 3, and 4 (tail numbers 68-8156, 8175, 8176 & 8184), were training for an air show at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. Climbing side-by-side for several thousand feet in a slow, backward loop, then hurtling down at more than 400 mph, leveling off at about 100 feet, in a maneuver called a "line-abreast loop," a malfunction in the lead plane, Thunderbird #1, occurred.

Following their leader to the end, all four planes plowed in the ground. All four pilots were killed instantly.

Don't really understand the crap-fest on the Snowbirds here.

[bizjets101]

Blue Angels Accidents

Thunderbirds Jan 1982 Diamond Formation crash.

Crash occurred same week as the Air Florida B737 crash in Washington.

Thunderbirds had been using F-4 Phantom's but in the energy crises they were downgraded to T-38 Talons from 74 - 82. The crash above ended the use of T-38's and the Thunderbirds were grounded for 18 months - and almost got disbanded, but came back with F-16's.

[Old Dog Flying]

i`ve seen every CDN demo team since 1948 when the Blue Diamonds flew in the Windsor Airshow. I rode with the PFS Tigers in the Chipmunk and flew with a couple of the Snowbirds..and was at YMJ when they were an ùnder the table`bunch of instructors doing OB Philp`s bidding.

Bad mouth the Snowbirds in public and you just might get a new set of dentures. They are the finest demo team ever and all you have to do is sit in the pits at Reno and listen to the praise heaped on these guys. I personnally knew the teams from `71 til I retired in `76 and they do not take a back seat to anyone.

Per Ardua Ad Astra
Barney

[SAR_YQQ]

They pack every little part and bag in those Tutors, unlike the Blue Angels flying Fat Albert.

The Turkeys have an 18 wheeler that follows them around from show to show. It carries all the excess parts for the team - as much as they could try, I seriously doubt that a set of tires can fit in those tiny storage compartments.

[Darkwing Duck]

They pack every little part and bag in those Tutors, unlike the Blue Angels flying Fat Albert.

The Turkeys have an 18 wheeler that follows them around from show to show. It carries all the excess parts for the team - as much as they could try, I seriously doubt that a set of tires can fit in those tiny storage compartments.

The right seat in one of the tutors has been removed and a spare box has been added. The tires can be deflated, put in a vacuum pack and stored that way. The semi is used to carry the bling they sell to the masses at the airshows.