‘End of an era’: Edmonton waves goodbye to retiring Snowbirds fleet in final flyover

The Snowbirds at Edmonton International Airport on July 15, 2026. (Curtis Goodrum/CTV News Edmonton)

A decisive whoosh fell over parts of the city on Wednesday as a retiring Snowbirds fleet took their final bow.

The nine CT-114 Tutor Jets have flown over Edmonton for the past 50 years. Wednesday’s non-aerobatic display didn’t cover each and every formation, but spectators along the river valley told CTV News Edmonton it was nostalgic nonetheless.

“They’re so cool. Even as somebody who’s not really that interested in airplanes in the military, I find them absolutely fascinating,” Connor’s Hill spectator Amanda Wettlaufer told CTV News Edmonton.

“(It’s) the end of an era. It’s pretty sad to see, but time has to move on,” spectator Tristan Spilstead said. “The jets are plenty old, and they’ve served us for a long, long time.”

Earlier this year, the federal government announced the retirement of the Canadian Forces military flight team’s old fleet and subsequent pausing of ceremonial flyovers across the country until replacements were finalized.

“This is a bit of a farewell tour for this aircraft, that’s for sure,” Snowbirds Capt. Patrick Charette said on Wednesday.

“We’re trying to overfly as many communities as we can all over Canada to show appreciation and to give one last chance to see us and reminisce about the history of the team.”

The jets from the 1960s have long served as a “recruiting tool” symbolic of the Canadian military, Charette added.

Still, debate surrounded the viability of the planes and whether it was necessary to halt the iconic performances.

Spilstead, who currently flies for Canadian North Airlines, says the Snowbirds are “woven” into patriot history.

“They should get their place on Canadian currency. It’s our team. It flies all over the country. It represents us abroad,” he said.

Canada is set to replace the 1960s icons with the CT-157 Siskin II, a modernization that may not be complete until the early 2030s.

Until then, those on the ground and in the skies must wave goodbye.

“I have vivid memories of seeing the snowbirds for the first time in Montreal … It was definitely a reason why I was interested in a career in military aviation and it’s always been on my bucket list,” Charette said.

His experience on the team for its final season has been “very proud” and “very humbling.”

“Thank you to everyone for their support. Couldn’t be possible without everyone supporting us for years.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Curtis Goodrum and Dave Mitchell