2016 Air Demonstration Season Draws to a Close

October 16, 2016 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) air demonstration teams conclude their programs for 2016 this weekend after collectively appearing at more than 70 venues in Canada and the United States over the summer.  

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds performed their year-end show for military families on Friday at 15 Wing Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan, noting the CAF is marking 25 years of service provided by the Military Family Services Program. The CF-18 Demonstration Team returns home this weekend as well.

Throughout the show season, the RCAF has recognized Canada’s leadership of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP, or “The Plan”). The 2016 CF-18 Demo Hornet has unique tail and body art to illustrate this theme, and the eleven Snowbird CT-114 aircraft each display a BCATP logo.

Both teams represent Canada as ambassadors across North America, demonstrating the outstanding teamwork, excellence, discipline and dedication inherent in the women and men of the CAF. Airshow demonstrations are an opportunity to show Canadians the professionalism and skill within the RCAF critical to serving important missions in Canada and around the world.

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Quick Facts

• The Military Family Services Program, created 25 years ago, is a program that is built by families for families; it supports military families in person at local Military Family Resource Centres, by phone through the Family Information Line, or online at www.familyforce.ca.
• In collaboration with the Military Family Services Program, the RCAF considers support to families a key line of operations with a particular focus on facilitating affordable daycare, access to medical services, and spousal employment.
• Each year the RCAF air demonstration teams highlight significant undertakings or commemorative events; this year the RCAF recognizes the great achievements of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP or “The Plan”).
• The BCATP played a critical role in Canada's great contributions to Allied victory in the Second World War.
• Over a five-year period (1940-1945), “The Plan” was responsible for  training  over 131,000 aircrew graduates, including pilots, wireless operators, air gunners, and navigators for the air forces of Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
• Many Canadians trained under the BCATP: 25,747 as pilots; 12,855 as navigators; 6,659 as air bombers; 12,744 as wireless operators; 12,917 as air gunners, and 1,913 as flight engineers.
• 151 BCATP schools, supported by their communities, were established across Canada in every province and employed 3,540 aircraft, 33,000 air force personnel, and 6,000 civilian employees. The Plan was so successful that U.S. President Roosevelt described Canada as, "the aerodrome of democracy".
• The BCATP helped create a legacy in Canada that continues to this day, demonstrating that our future is indeed built on our past. The relationships forged between Canadians, their communities and the RCAF by “The Plan” is a cherished part of Canada’s rich aviation history.

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Associated Links

• Royal Canadian Air Force
• CF Snowbirds
• CF-18 National Demonstration Team
• BCATP Backgrounder
• Military Family Resource Centres

Contacts

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca