{"id":41149,"date":"2026-05-19T20:23:49","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T19:23:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/?p=41149"},"modified":"2026-05-19T20:23:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T19:23:51","slug":"canada-pilatus-pc-24-snowbirds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/canada-pilatus-pc-24-snowbirds\/","title":{"rendered":"Snowbirds grounded? Canada confirms PC-21 turboprop replacement for Tutor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/tag\/canada\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1181\">Canada<\/a><\/span><\/strong> has confirmed plans to procure a new aircraft for their aerial display team, the Snowbirds, bringing an end to more than five decades of CT-114 Tutor operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only is it goodbye to the Tutor, but it&#8217;s also goodbye to the jet engine for the team. The new aircraft to be procured are turboprops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fear not, however, because the Pilatus PC-21, known as the CT-157 Siskin II in Canadian military service, is one of the most capable and jet-like turboprops in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Pilatus-PC-21-for-RCAF-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"Pilatus PC-21 for RCAF\" class=\"wp-image-41152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Pilatus-PC-21-for-RCAF-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Pilatus-PC-21-for-RCAF-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Pilatus-PC-21-for-RCAF-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Pilatus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>However, with the new fleet not expected to become operational until the early 2030s and the Tutor retiring after the 2026 season, the Snowbirds now face a lengthy transition period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-6-xl-font-size\">The Pilatus PC-21 is picked for Canada&#8217;s Snowbirds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Announced on 19 May, David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, revealed the intention to procure new aircraft for the display team. The timeline for deliveries is unclear, but he noted that the fleet will ultimately grow to nine aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The PC-21 is one of the world\u2019s most advanced military training aircraft and is already operated by several air forces, including those of Australia, France and Spain. Designed to bridge the gap between basic trainers and front-line fast jets, it combines turboprop operating costs with handling characteristics intended to mimic modern fighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Spanish-Air-Force-Pilatus-PC-21-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"Spanish Air Force Pilatus PC-21\" class=\"wp-image-41153\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Spanish-Air-Force-Pilatus-PC-21-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Spanish-Air-Force-Pilatus-PC-21-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Spanish-Air-Force-Pilatus-PC-21-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Spanish-Air-Force-Pilatus-PC-21.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Pilatus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Powered by a 1,600 shp Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PT6A engine, the aircraft can reach speeds of around 370 knots and is equipped with a fully digital glass cockpit, head-up display and embedded simulation systems. The type is primarily used for advanced pilot training, replacing older jet trainers in several countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the Snowbirds, the move represents a major shift away from the jet-powered Canadair CT-114 Tutor, which has defined the team\u2019s appearance and sound since 1971.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; margin:20px 0; font-size:15px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\n  <thead>\n    <tr style=\"background-color:#205054; color:#ffffff;\">\n      <th style=\"padding:12px 14px; text-align:left; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\">Specification<\/th>\n      <th style=\"padding:12px 14px; text-align:left; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\">Pilatus PC-21<\/th>\n    <\/tr>\n  <\/thead>\n  <tbody>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\"><strong>Aircraft type<\/strong><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\">Advanced turboprop trainer<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr style=\"background-color:#f6f9f9;\">\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\"><strong>Canadian designation<\/strong><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\">CT-157 Siskin II<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\"><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\">Pilatus Aircraft<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr style=\"background-color:#f6f9f9;\">\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\"><strong>Engine<\/strong><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\">Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PT6A-68B turboprop<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\"><strong>Power output<\/strong><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\">1,600 shp<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr style=\"background-color:#f6f9f9;\">\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\"><strong>Maximum speed<\/strong><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\">370 kt \/ 426 mph \/ 685 km\/h<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\"><strong>Maximum operating altitude<\/strong><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\">38,000 ft<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr style=\"background-color:#f6f9f9;\">\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\"><strong>Range<\/strong><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\">Up to 1,333 km \/ 720 nm<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\"><strong>Rate of climb<\/strong><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\">Approx. 4,000 ft\/min<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr style=\"background-color:#f6f9f9;\">\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\"><strong>G limits<\/strong><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\">+8g \/ -4g<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\"><strong>Crew<\/strong><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\">Two, tandem seating<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr style=\"background-color:#f6f9f9;\">\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\"><strong>Key cockpit features<\/strong><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px 14px; border:1px solid #d9e3e4;\">Glass cockpit, HUD, HOTAS controls, embedded simulation systems<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n  <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n<p>The PC-21 offers several advantages. It is significantly newer, safer and cheaper to operate than the ageing Tutors, while also providing better reliability and easier maintenance support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Importantly, it is already in Canadian service as the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) programme selected the PC-21 platform for pilot training, simplifying logistics and support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new fleet will be based at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and is expected to become operational in the early 2030s. Canada said the Snowbirds will ultimately rebuild to their distinctive nine-aircraft formation.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div class=\"flex flex-wrap items-center justify-start -mx-2 mt-6\">\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/snowbirds-future-doubt-tutor-fleet\/\"  class=\"btn-ocean  mx-2 my-2  flex items-center flex-row \">\n                                        <span class=\"sr-only\">Related: Is Canada trying to cancel the RCAF Snowbirds?<\/span>\n                    <span>Related: Is Canada trying to cancel the RCAF Snowbirds?<\/span>\n                <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-6-xl-font-size\">Canadian Snowbirds not cancelled, just temporarily paused<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While Canada can look forward to safe, new aircraft for the Snowbirds, the demise of the Tutor will mark the end of an era for the display team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Originally entering RCAF service as a jet trainer in 1963, it&#8217;s been flying for the Snowbirds since 1971.  Over 55 years, the team has performed more than 2,700 air displays for more than 140 million people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c2026 will mark the final air show season for the CT-114 Tutor aircraft prior to the fleet\u2019s retirement,\u201d the RCAF said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Canada-Snowbirds-demonstration-team-in-the-tutor-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"RCAF Canada snowbirds display team tutor aircraft are due to retire\" class=\"wp-image-41150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Canada-Snowbirds-demonstration-team-in-the-tutor-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Canada-Snowbirds-demonstration-team-in-the-tutor-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Canada-Snowbirds-demonstration-team-in-the-tutor-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Canada-Snowbirds-demonstration-team-in-the-tutor-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Canada-Snowbirds-demonstration-team-in-the-tutor-640x360.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: RCAF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The maths is difficult to ignore. With the Tutors retiring in 2026 and the replacement fleet not expected to become operational until the early 2030s, the Snowbirds appear set for a significant operational pause while the new team is rebuilt around the PC-21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This isn&#8217;t so unusual; other demonstration teams have paused operations while transitioning to a different platform. The RCAF says it will support airshows and public engagement opportunities with other aircraft and personnel in the meantime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For now, the Snowbirds are grounded. But far from being cancelled, Canada has just assured their future for many years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div class=\"flex flex-wrap items-center justify-start -mx-2 mt-6\">\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/defence-aviation-news\/\"  class=\"btn-stealth  mx-2 my-2  flex items-center flex-row \">\n                                        <span class=\"sr-only\"> Get the latest defence aviation news here on AGN.<\/span>\n                    <span> Get the latest defence aviation news here on AGN.<\/span>\n                <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        \n\n\n<p><em>Featured image: RCAF<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Canada will retire the CT-114 Tutor after the 2026 airshow season, with the Snowbirds set to transition to the CT-157 Siskin II, based on the Pilatus PC-21, in the early 2030s.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":41151,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[84,29,14,6],"tags":[1181,11521,10626,8931,6172,2340],"class_list":["post-41149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-defence","category-defence-security","category-most-read","category-trending-articles","tag-canada","tag-ct-114-tutor","tag-display-team","tag-pilatus-pc-21","tag-rcaf","tag-royal-canadian-air-force"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Canada\u2019s Snowbirds to swap jets for turboprops as Tutor retires<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Canada will replace the Snowbirds\u2019 CT-114 Tutor jets with the CT-157 Siskin II, based on the Pilatus PC-21, after the 2026 season.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/canada-pilatus-pc-24-snowbirds\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Canada\u2019s Snowbirds to swap jets for turboprops as Tutor retires\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Canada will replace the Snowbirds\u2019 CT-114 Tutor jets with the CT-157 Siskin II, based on the Pilatus PC-21, after the 2026 season.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/canada-pilatus-pc-24-snowbirds\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"AGN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-19T19:23:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-19T19:23:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Canadian-air-force-snowbirds-demonstration-team.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1602\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Joanna Bailey\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Joanna Bailey\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\\\/news\\\/canada-pilatus-pc-24-snowbirds\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\\\/news\\\/canada-pilatus-pc-24-snowbirds\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Joanna Bailey\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d520abeb2e9eafc75ecb7aa1abe032b4\"},\"headline\":\"Snowbirds grounded? 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