Canadair CT-114 Tutor variant
Canadair CT-114 Tutor CT-114 Tutor (Snowbirds)
The CT-114s modified for the Canadian display team: smoke generating system, a distinctive paint scheme and a tuned engine. It is not a separate factory designation but an in-service modification standard.
History
During 1967 a batch of ten Tutors was modified for use as formation aerobatic aircraft by the Royal Canadian Air Force display team created to celebrate Canada's centennial year, the Golden Centennaires. Those aircraft had smoke generators installed along with various performance-enhancing modifications. At the end of the season, after 103 shows, the team was disbanded and the aircraft returned to routine training duties.
In 1971 a new formation team was formed at Two Canadian Armed Forces Flying Training School at CFB Moose Jaw, and once again adopted the type. The following year the name Snowbirds was chosen, and during 1978 the team received squadron status as 431 Air Demonstration Squadron. Since then the team has regularly performed at air shows and special events, including the annual Canada Day flypast over Ottawa.
According to journalist Guy Norris, a defining trait of their aerobatics is the physically demanding formation flying, as well as locally developed manoeuvres such as the Big Goose. Unlike most display teams, the Snowbirds do not have a support aircraft: all spares and useful material are carried by the aircraft themselves, in storage areas located in the nose and the wing root.
Snowbirds Tutors differ from standard examples in their smoke generating system, a highly recognisable paint scheme unique to the team, and a highly tuned engine for greater responsiveness during low-level flying. Display pilots would also deliberately fly with an above-average level of nose-down trim, so that pushing the stick down became unnecessary. The team's aircraft were regularly cycled with standard training airframes, allowing the Snowbirds to operate aircraft with comparatively low accumulated flight hours. After the retirement of 2000, the air force retained 26 airframes for the team.
The team's career has not been free of tragedy: in May 2020 a CT-114 crashed during a display at Kamloops, British Columbia. In May 2026 Canada announced the procurement of the CT-157 Siskin II, a version of the Pilatus PC-21, for the Snowbirds, expected to be operational in the early 2030s.