Shiftheads - Go See the Snowbirds: A Pilot on What's About to Change Forever

Snowbirds Tutor jets have one season of flying left after this one, and a pilot says the years between the last Tutor flight and the replacement arriving could stretch well into the next decade. John Tory Jr. says the world's top air show teams are all jets, and the Snowbirds' Tutors were iconic for what their pilots could do with them. The replacement turboprop emulates jet handling at a fraction of the cost, but the 400-plus knot runs and near-sonic passes are gone. Tory Jr. says military recruitment is strong and other aircraft at air shows, from the CF-188 to water bombers, inspire the next generation. But the head-on pass at a closing speed of a thousand miles an hour will be missed. He says the full Snowbird schedule is public on the DND website. Topics: Snowbirds Tutor jets, jet air show team, turboprop replacement, CF-188, DND schedule GUEST: John Tory Jr. Originally aired on 2026-05-19