Snowbirds returning to Penticton this summer

PENTICTON – The Canadian Forces Snowbirds are returning to Penticton after a one year absence.

The Penticton Snowbirds Committee has announced the popular precision aerobatic team would be returning to the city on Wednesday, Aug. 9.

The Canadian Forces team last performed over Penticton on Aug. 5, 2015.

Snowbirds Committee chair Fred Trainor says the committee managed to “up the bar a bit” this year in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday and the 70th Peachfest with the addition of CF-18 Hornet fighter also coming for a demonstration.

Trainor says they are 90 per cent certain the Canadian Forces Skyhawks Precision Parachute Team will take part.

"They haven’t sent their schedules yet, so they haven’t confirmed officially, but we’re pretty sure they’ll be able to come."

He says the pilots are well looked after when they arrive in Penticton, and will get a wine tour and barbecue prior to their Wednesday performance.

The committee has worked hard over the past two decades to attract the precision aerobatic team to Penticton. Trainor says seven of the committee’s nine members have been on the committee for 20 years.

In that time, they’ve managed to bring the Snowbirds to the Peach City eight times. Trainor says they try to get the team to coincide with Peachfest, but any date they can get them they’re happy.

“It’s a lot of work to get them here. They are a pretty popular group,” Trainor says, adding the committee is lucky to have the financial backing of Peters Bros. Construction to support them in their bid to attract the aerial experts.

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