Snowbirds to make passes over Saskatoon on Tuesday before team is grounded

Fans of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds in Saskatoon will have another chance to see the iconic red and white jets before the team is grounded.

Brian Swidrovich, an organizer for the Canada Remembers Air Show and an honorary Snowbird for his work in support of the team, said he made a request for the Snowbirds to perform several non-aerobatic flyovers and make a brief stop for fuel in the Bridge City on Tuesday. After working through some organizational challenges, he said the team agreed.

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After making their passes over the city, Swidrovich said the Snowbirds will land in Saskatoon to refuel, with an event planned at the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum, in the southeast corner of the airport, to let fans get a close look at the Tutor jets before the 1960s-era aircraft are retired at the conclusion of the 2026 airshow season.

“It’ll give people an opportunity – those who want to see the Tutors for the last time – to come out to the museum,” Swidrovich said. “It’s a $10 admission to go. It’s all donations to the museum.”

In May, the federal government announced that the air demonstration team will replace its aging CT-114 Tutor jets with tuboprop-driven CT-157 Sisken II aircraft. The team will remain grounded until the new planes are procured and ready to fly, which is expected to take until the early 2030s.

Swidrovich said the jets will be in operation on Tuesday, meaning viewers won’t be able to get closer than about 100 feet, but he still expects a good turnout at the museum.

“They’ll be able to come in and enjoy the museum’s artifacts and the aircraft there, but also see the jets come in, taxi in and refuel and taxi out again,” he said, adding that attendance may be limited. The museum is charging a $10 donation for admission, he said, and burgers will also be available.

“It’s not a very big site, and there’s a good chance we might have to cap it off at some point,” he said.

But even those who can’t make it to the museum will still have a few chances to see the Snowbirds in action on Tuesday. Swidrovich said he expects to see the squadron make several passes over the city while flying in formation, so viewers all over Saskatoon can enjoy a final chance to see the Tutors overhead.

He said some other communities could be in for a treat on Tuesday as well.

“The team is doing some low-level passes of small towns between Moose Jaw and Saskatoon, so those communities are going to get to see the team for the first time ever, and possibly the last time ever with the Tudors,” Swidrovich said.

He said Craik, Davidson, Kenaston, Hanley and Dundurn should all get a chance to see the jets overhead on Tuesday morning.

Swidrovich said the timing for the team’s appearance has not been finalized yet, as it’s just a brief stop as the pilots make their way to Cold Lake, Alta. on Tuesday.

“It’s going to be hit and miss on exact timing, for sure, but mid-to-late morning is the best we can pinpoint at this point,” Swidrovich explained.

–with files from 650 CKOM’s Brent Bosker