Canada to ground Snowbirds as Tutor jets face retirement

The Canadian federal government has announced the retirement of the Snowbirds’ iconic CT-114 Tutor jets, which will be replaced by tuboprop-driven CT-157 Sisken IIs. Because the procurement and preparation of the new aircraft are expected to take until the early 2030s, the air demonstration squadron will remain grounded during the transition.

While the final fate of the historic CT-114 fleet remains undecided, the Department of National Defence stated that a plan for the “responsible development” of the aircraft is currently being developed. The department emphasized that the retirement plan will respect the significant role the aircraft and the team play in Canadian aviation history.

Defence Minister David McGuinty described the decision as an investment in the future of Canadian aerospace and aviation training. The Snowbirds, which have performed at over 2,700 air shows since 1971, are based in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The team is expected to continue using Moose Jaw as its home base following the retirement of the Tutor jets.