Snowbirds buzz Wheat City

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This article was published 12/05/2020 (2162 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On a sunny and clear-skied Manitoba Day, the people of Brandon looked up in the sky to watch a show being put on by some distinguished guests and their flying machines.

As part of their cross-country Operation Inspiration, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds flight demonstration team made a pit stop in the Wheat City on their way west. Taking off from Winnipeg at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning, the Snowbirds flew west to Brandon, making a detour to put on a show for the people in Portage la Prairie along the way.

Dozens of cars pulled over along the side of the road in clear spaces and along the roads to Brandon Municipal Airport to watch the team’s approach and departure from Brandon. Some people got comfortable in folding chairs to watch the show as others surveyed the scene up close using binoculars. 

Almost everyone was taking pictures using professional cameras, basic point-and-shoot models or plain old smartphone or tablet cameras. The team is made up of 11 jets, nine that perform together and two that fly ahead to arrange things on the ground in advance of the performance team.

Landon Alvarenga, 11, was there to see the Snowbirds perform for the first time. He said it was “pretty cool” to be able to go see them, especially because he can’t go out and see his friends right now.

Bob McLeod, a naval and aerospace enthusiast, made the trip up from Souris to see the Snowbirds. He said he’d brought a Snowbirds shirt with him in the hopes that he might be able to get it signed. 

After landing in Brandon and making a picture-perfect lineup along the tarmac, the occupants of the 11 jets exited their cockpits to a barrage of applause from a group of onlookers at the airport that included Mayor Rick Chrest.

“They did a number of circles over the city, I thought they were very generous with their time over Brandon,” Chrest said. “I could see cars lined up every which way all over the city. I believe they achieved their objective of trying to give Canadians a lift during this time. We’re grateful Brandon got to be one of their flyovers and moreover a landing spot.”

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Snowbirds pilots and other personnel weren’t able to meet people in person in an effort to be safe as they travel from city to city. However, the Sun was able to connect with Master Cpl. Mike Lovatt over the phone during the Snowbirds’ stop in town.

It was a homecoming of sorts for Lovatt, who hails from Carroll, a 30-kilometre drive southwest of Brandon. Lovatt is deputy crew chief for the Snowbirds, riding behind a pilot during the current tour and doing servicing and maintenance work.

Lovatt said this current tour has been special because they’ve been able to fly right over cities when normally they’re not able to. “We’re usually off on the sides,” he said. “It’s been a very unique experience being over cities like Toronto and Winnipeg and Brandon.”

According to him, it’s the “most unique” tour he’s ever done with the Snowbirds in his 10 years with the team. Because of the COVID-19 related shutdowns and the lack of military missions going on right now, Lovatt said the Snowbirds have received a huge response from both the people in cities they visit and fellow Canadian Forces members at the bases in which they stop over.

One of the most special parts of the trip was performing in Nova Scotia as that province continues to heal after the tragic shootings that occurred last month, Lovatt said. They’ve managed to visit every province while heading east except for Newfoundland, as bad weather blocked their passage.

He said he was most looking forward to warmer weather as they headed west so he doesn’t have to do maintenance in the cold.

At 1:30 p.m., the Snowbirds took off once again to head to their home base in Moose Jaw, Sask., where they’ll get a couple of days to spend with family before continuing their voyage westward.

» cslark@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @ColinSlark