Team Leader Said Additional Practice And Training Is Needed

The stand down of the Canadian Snowbirds has forced the cancellation of at least two airshows in the U.S. and Canada.

The team placed a message on Facebook Tuesday saying that it needed to return to Canada for additional practice and training. The team is expected to return to performing in June.

But without the Snowbirds, which was the headline act for the shows, cancellations began to be reported. Television station WHEC reports that the promoter of the 2017 Rochester International Airshow pulled the plug on the event, which was scheduled for Wednesday, May 17. 

The CBC reports that the Windsor Airshow, which was planned for later this month, has also been scratched without the headline act. Organizers said it was a better path to forego this year's show, and start planning for 2018.

However, the Rhode Island National Guard Open House and Air Show, scheduled for May 20 and 21, will go on without the Canadian team, according to television station WPRI. Rhode Island National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Janeen Miller announced Monday in a statement that the show "will feature many outstanding performers including the much anticipated newcomer, Randy Ball flying a Soviet Era MiG-17. Adding to the dynamic combined arms display, this year the audience will be awed by the nation’s premier attack helicopter, the AH-64 Apache and the venerable CH-47 Chinook helicopter as it transports a Rhode Island National Guard 155 millimeter howitzer to show center.

"We are also excited to welcome back award winning performers Sean D. Tucker, Mike Goulian, Rob Holland, the Geico Skytypers, the Jack Link’s Screamin’ Sasquatch and the Shockwave Jet Truck. Our military demonstrations include the USAF F-16 Viper Demo, the USN F/A-18 Super Hornet, and the USMC AV/8B Harrier," Miller said in the statement.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.facebook.com/CFSnowbirdsFC