While the official ceremony happened earlier this month in France, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds team is hoping to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge throughout their 2017 airshow season.
The Moose Jaw-based aerobatic air demonstration team which practices annually every spring at 19 Wing Comox, has incorporated a special maneuver 鈥渢o honour those that have fallen in wars,鈥� explained Snowbird 9 lead solo Maj. Craig Sharp.
Sharp, who hails from Prince George, said he designed the maneuver with the commemoration in mind.
鈥淭he whole concept of it is for myself and my opposing solo, to basically run in over the crowd, we run straight up, and we do an opposing victory roll 鈥� and then we basically do a loop and then a split.鈥�
With their smoke, Sharp along with opposing solo Capt. Greg Hume-Powell, will use it to simulate the two pillars of the Vimy monument, along with commemorative narration and music.
It鈥檚 part of the show the team is looking forward to showcasing not only within the country, but at airshows in the U.S.
鈥淭his is kind of representative of Canada 鈥� we definitely want to bring that to the United States and we鈥檙e going to be able to explain that as well. They鈥檙e obviously a very close alley of ours so it鈥檚 going to be a nice moment to share with them,鈥� he added.
鈥淥f course everyone in Canada is going to get to share in that moment as well.鈥�
The team is practicing in the skies over the Valley until April 20. While the overcast and rainy weather may not prove opportune for spectators, the team - who aim to practice twice a day over CFB Comox and the Strait of Georgia - are taking the weather in stride.
鈥淲e have shows for all different kinds of weather,鈥� said Hume-Powell. 鈥淲e have a high show, we have a low show and a flat show. This weather, although it鈥檚 been kind of dismal and dull, we have had a chance to practice our low show, which is one that we don鈥檛 get to practice very often.鈥�
On April 16, the Comox Air Force Museum, located at the entrance to 19 Wing, will host the Snowbirds team from 4 to 5 p.m. where they will meet the public and sign autographs.
This year, the team is set to participate in 60 air shows in 40 communities across North America.
