The Canadian Forces Snowbirds took to the skies over Gatineau on Sunday for their final Canadian airshow appearance of the year, giving spectators one more chance to see the team’s CT-114 Tutor jets before they are retired. The performance capped off the three-day AERO Gatineau-Ottawa airshow at the Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport. For David Clark, it was a show worth travelling across the country to see. “It’s emotional,” Clark said. “I grew up in Ottawa and seeing them on Canada Day, the maple split behind Parliament Hill… big memories.” Clark now lives in Calgary but returned to Ottawa specifically for the weekend. “I’m actually here from Calgary to see this because I wanted to be here for the last performance,” he said. Clark said he has seen the Snowbirds five times this year, including stops in Red Deer, Alta. and Abbotsford, B.C. “Today, it was special.” The Snowbirds are flying their 55th and final show season with the CT-114 Tutor, an aircraft that has become synonymous with the team. AERO Gatineau-Ottawa director general John Bennett said the farewell has been emotional for organizers as well. “They’re iconic. They’re just something that’s so unique, so Canadian.” Bennett said. “And it’s going to be a hard time to sort of replace them.” Fans also got a glimpse of what comes next. The CT-157 Siskin II, the aircraft selected for the future Snowbirds, flew at the airshow ahead of Sunday’s Snowbirds performance. For longtime attendee David Dunphy, seeing the new aircraft brought mixed emotions.“I’m going to miss the sound of the jet,” Dunphy said. “Having seen it today in the air, it looks like it’s capable of doing what it should be doing, so we’ll see.” Dunphy has attended the Gatineau airshow for years and said Sunday’s performance felt especially significant.“The one today, it was extra special,” he said. “And I’m going to really miss them.” Younger fans were also taking in the show. Lucas Robson called the performance “one of the best shows they’ve ever done.” “I love the formations and the way they fly,” Robson said. “With such sync and such grace. It’s just amazing to think of the teamwork that’s necessary to do that.” Bennett estimated about 5,000 people attended Friday’s show, while between 13,000 and 15,000 were on hand Saturday. Final attendance numbers for Sunday were not yet available. The Gatineau performance marks the Snowbirds’ final scheduled Canadian airshow of 2026. The team has two U.S. appearances scheduled in October, before returning to Canada for the Grey Cup in Calgary in November.
