Blog: Moose Jaw has a strong link to the aviation world, writes Rebecca Lawrence from her new home in Canada.

The city is proud to be home to the Canadian Air Force base 15 Wing, which is where NATO flying training in Canada is stationed and also the base for the 431 Air Demonstration Squadron — aka The Snowbirds.

The Snowbirds are similar to the Red Arrows, although they fly Tutor jets instead of Hawks. However, both fly nine plane formations.

The team is a Canadian icon comprised of serving members of the Canadian Forces, and planes from 15 Wing fly are a regular sight in the skies above Moose Jaw.

Sometimes there is a special Snowbirds flypast down Main Street, which always draws a huge crowd.

There is a strong community feeling between the city and 15 Wing — so much so that in 2009, a Snowbird Tutor Jet was put on display along side Mac the Moose at Tourism Moose Jaw’s visitor information centre.

The shell of the CT-114 Tutor Jet was previously stored in the Snowbirds hangar at 15 Wing but is now mounted outside the tourism centre for all to see as they drive along the Trans-Canada Highway.

This year the Snowbirds marked another successful year entertaining people across North America for the team’s 40th anniversary.

The season began with a perfect day for the acceptance show in May, which gave family, friends and military personnel a sneak preview before the Snowbirds headed out on the road to 39 locations across North America.

The year’s performances were highlighted by a new move, the Olympic Split, in honour of the 2010 Olympic Games and Canadian athletes.

The team finished their season in October in Moose Jaw with an emotional finale as celebrations took place for the 40th anniversary.

To honour their homecoming and the anniversary celebrations taking place, October 21 was proclaimed Snowbirds Day in the City of Moose Jaw by Mayor Glenn Hagel.

2010 also saw Major Maryse Carmichael promoted to lieutenant-colonel.

She is the first female boss of the team and arrived back in Moose Jaw for her third posting.

Carmichael was an instructor on the tutor jet after she received her wings at 15 Wing in 1994. In November 2000, she was selected to fly as Snowbird No. 3, becoming the first female pilot to fly with the aerobatic team. She also flew as Snowbird No. 2.

The Snowbirds came under a new command for the 2010 show season – although Moose Jaw certainly remained their home.

The 431 Air Demonstration Squadron now reports to the Commander of 4 Wing, based in Cold Lake, Alta.

But the change was strictly administrative in nature, as the air force was reorganized with 1 Canadian Air Division made up of operational squadrons and 2 Canadian Air Division for doctrine, training and education.

It meant the Snowbirds fall into 1 division and 15 Wing into 2 division.

Now the Snowbirds are in training for a new season with the theme of celebrating Canada’s heroes.

The 2011 show venues were recently revealed at the International Council of Air Shows in Las Vegas.

On August 6 the Snowbirds will perform at 15 Wing for the people of Moose Jaw as part of Armed Forces Day so that will certainly be a day to look forward to.

The vast majority of pilots in the Canadian Air Force will call Moose Jaw home at some point as they go through their initial training at 15 Wing, flying on the CT-156 Harvard.

After completing training on the Harvard, it is then decided where the pilot will continue his or her training around Canada. Many pilots find they return to Moose Jaw as an instructor during the course of their career.

Moose Jaw is a very welcoming city. In fact its slogan is The Friendly City and it embraces the military into its way of life.

Many of the population have civilian jobs at the base and military families obviously use the facilities provided by the city.

The city’s aviation links were also demonstrated recently with the announcement that one of the founders of the Moose Jaw Flying Club will be inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame during a ceremony planned for May.

Richard W. (Dick) Ryan (1896-1992) flew as a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force in the First World War.

In 1928, Ryan helped established the Moose Jaw Flying Club and served as chief flying instructor before going on to establish Prairie Airways Ltd. in 1934, which was later bought by Canadian Pacific Airlines in 1942.

So far, there are 204 members of the hall of fame, which is located in the hangar at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin, Alta., south of Edmonton.

Moose Jaw is extremely proud of Ryan’s achievements and will continue to welcome the city’s links to the flying world as more pilots go on to achieve their ambitions.