Аэропорт Камлупса подал заявку на постоянное размещение одного из retiring истребителей Snowbirds

Kamloops Airport bids for permanent Snowbird jet after likely final Fulton Field stop Airport wants a Snowbird The Snowbirds may have made their final stop in Kamloops, but YKA wants one of the team’s retiring Tutor jets to call the city home permanently. The Canadian Forces Snowbirds are flying their final air show season with the aging CT-114 Tutor in 2026. The Department of National Defence plans to replace the aircraft with the CT-157 Siskin II, with the new Snowbirds capability expected to become operational in the early 2030s. Ten of the retiring Snowbirds landed in Kamloops on Aug. 13 for a refuelling stop as they complete their final tour. Kamloops Airport has put its name forward to the Department of National Defence, requesting one of the retiring jets for permanent display. A military spokesperson told Castanet Kamloops a retirement plan for the aircraft is still being developed and no decisions have been made. “They haven't set anything out, they don't have any dates yet. It's all very new, so there's nothing really to report other than Kamloops is on the list as one of their potential forever homes,” Kamloops Airport managing director Jim Moroz said. Should it get one, Moroz said how the airport would display or memorialize the Tutor has yet to be decided. Moroz said those details were not requested as part of the initial application, but he is waiting to hear back from DND, which said there would be criteria YKA would have to meet. He said he expects municipalities, museums and other groups across Canada will be interested in securing the retiring aircraft, of which there are 11. “The eventual retirement plan will respect the significant place the Snowbirds and CT-114 occupy in Canadian aviation history,” a DND spokesperson said by email. “More details will be made available about the CT-114 retirement plan once a final decision has been made.” The spokesperson said the focus of both the Royal Canadian Air Force and 431 Air Demonstration Squadron remains on completing the Snowbirds’ 55th anniversary air show season. Respects paid during visit The Snowbirds have a tragic connection with Kamloops and Fulton Field. On May 17, 2020, RCAF Capt. Jennifer Casey was killed when a Snowbirds jet crashed in Kamloops shortly after takeoff. A military investigation found the aircraft struck a bird, resulting in a compressor stall before the pilot attempted to return to the airport. The city later memorialized Casey with a sculpture and public park adjacent to the airport. Moroz said members of the team who stopped at YKA this month also visited Jenn Casey Memorial Park near the airport runway to pay their respects. The Snowbirds have flown the CT-114 Tutor throughout their history, beginning in 1971. A total of 190 Tutors were built between 1963 and 1966. More Kamloops News Kamloops Weather Tourism Kamloops Kamloops Transit Airport Arrivals Airport Departures School District 73 Kamloops Classifieds Kamloops Discussion Forum Thompson-Nicola Regional District Interior Health Thompson Rivers University Thompson Career College Thompson-Nicola Regional Library Kamloops Real Estate