David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, leaves following a press conference regarding the future of the 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds in Moose Jaw, Sask., on May 19, 2026. The Canadian PressLiam Richards
Canada’s Snowbirds squadron will be grounded after the 2026 flying season, bringing to a close more than five decades of aerial acrobatics as its pilots await the arrival of new aircraft, the country’s defence minister has announced.
The nine-plane squadron is set to fly the long-serving CT-114 Tutor jets for their final season this summer and will not return to the skies until their historic planes are replaced by the CT-157 Siskin II, an advanced turboprop military training aircraft, Defence Minister David McGuinty said in a May 19 press conference at Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw.
