Four Sask. players named to Canada world junior hockey championship team
19h ago
Berkly Catton, Brayden Yager, Caden Price and Tanner Howe were all named.
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be soaring over Saskatoon on Thursday.
The aerobatics team will be flying in formation over the heart of downtown Saskatoon, near River Landing, but the planes will be visible from other areas of the city too.
“Since it’s over a populated area, it’s going to be 500 feet over the tallest building in the area, so we’re probably looking at about 1,000 feet,” explained Capt. Phil Rochon, public affairs officer for the Snowbirds.
He said the aircraft will be “close enough that you’ll be able to see the formations quite clearly, especially with the smoke.”
There will be eight aircraft flying in total, with one flying into the city earlier. Rochon said that plane will contain the advance team, consisting of the safety pilot and the show’s narrator. They will be coming in to set up a command post at River Landing so that they can communicate with the rest of the team during the performance.
Rochon said the team will be doing formation flying, showcasing different shapes including a big ‘V’ and a diamond.
“We have a number of formations within our repertoire that the team trains on throughout the year, so for us to be able to go up there and to be able to practise our changing of formations while in flight is always a great opportunity,” said Rochon.
“By showing off and paying tribute to the people who keep Saskatoon safe, it’s gravy on top of this wonderful opportunity.”
The performance is meant to celebrate public safety and those who help make Saskatoon a healthy community.
The flyovers will take place between 11:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m.
The event was originally supposed to contain a special performance from the Canadian Forces parachute team, the SkyHawks. Due to flight complications, the team was unable to make the event, but will continue touring the rest of Canada.
Following the event, a barbecue is being hosted at the Aviation Museum on Hangar Road near the airport, where fans can meet members of the Snowbirds team.
“The team loves meeting all of our fans, whether they be new fans or fans for a long time,” said Rochon.