The Canadian Forces Snowbirds have applied the brakes to their performing schedule and have cancelled six shows in their air show season.
In a statement on their Facebook page, the team posted that they decided to undertake additional practice and training from their home base at 15 Wing Moose Jaw before returning to their 2017 air performance season.
Their team lead, Maj. Patrick Gobeil, determined additional training is required, despite several well-executed shows and practices early in the season.
“A reduced training period hampered by poor weather which continued into the show season, resulted in numerous cancelled practices. As a result, more training is required before the Snowbirds resume the 2017 schedule,” he noted.
The team held an abbreviated practice in Comox this year from April 5 to 20.
The Snowbirds have cancelled their participation in the following air shows:
• Rochester, New York (May 17)
• Quonset Air National Guard Base, Rhode Island (May 20 and 21)
• Fort Erie, Ont. (May 24)
• Windsor, Ont. (May 27 and 28)
• Whiteman, Missouri (May 31)
• Duluth, Minnesota (June 3 and 4)
The Snowbirds intend to return to the air show circuit once they have the consistency required for their dynamic nine-aircraft aerobatic performance, the statement said.