The Canadian Forces Snowbirds’ long-awaited formation flight with the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s Avro Lancaster has been grounded—but not permanently.
Originally scheduled for June 22 at Hamilton’s John C. Munro International Airport, the historic pairing between eight CT-114 Tutor jets and the Mynarski Memorial Lancaster (FM213) fell through due to a technical issue keeping the Lancaster earthbound. A B-25 Mitchell stepped in as substitute lead aircraft for the formation pass over Niagara Falls, but organizers aren’t giving up. They’re determined to make the Lancaster flight happen before season’s end.
Organizers hope to reschedule the attempt for the Labour Day weekend Canadian International Air Show in Toronto, running September 5–7, 2026—a fitting venue, given the Snowbirds have headlined the CNE air show for over 50 years.
The Formation That Almost Was
The original plan was straightforward. The Snowbirds would form up with FM213 at approximately 2:25 p.m. over Hamilton Airport, then execute a multi-pass formation over Niagara Falls before returning for a meet-and-greet at the museum. Historically speaking, it would have meant everything: a direct lineage flight linking Canada’s modern aerobatic icon with the very aircraft type flown by the squadron’s institutional predecessors during World War II.
“They’ve been such great ambassadors to Canada for so many years,” said Dave Rohrer, president and CEO of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. “And for us to have them in the Hammer and take the time to come here, it means a great deal because our whole mission is to remember our military aviation heritage.”
Snowbird 1 Team Lead Major Maciej Hatta felt the same way. He noted the significance of celebrating the Snowbirds’ 55th anniversary season with such a prestigious partner.
A Rare Aircraft, a Rare Opportunity
The stakes are unusually high. Only two airworthy Avro Lancasters exist globally: FM213 in Hamilton and PA474, operated by the Royal Air Force’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby. Here’s the critical part—PA474 is currently undergoing an 18-month major maintenance overhaul and will miss the entire 2026 display season. That makes FM213 the sole airworthy Lancaster flying anywhere in the world this year—a window that won’t open again once repairs are complete across the Atlantic.
The Lancaster’s technical grounding is frustrating, to say the least. It also highlights just how fragile it is to operate a 1945 airframe. The museum has stewarded FM213 through near-disasters before, including a 1993 hangar fire that threatened the aircraft while it sat outside on jacks. Maintaining this piece of Canadian military heritage requires specialized expertise and constant vigilance.
Next Steps and Season Context
From Hamilton, the Snowbirds will continue their 25-date 2026 tour across six Canadian provinces and three U.S. states. The team operates eight CT-114 Tutors in signature four-foot wingtip formation, executing approximately 25-minute routines that remain among aviation’s most demanding precision displays.
This season carries particular weight. It marks the final year of operations for the Tutor jets before the Snowbirds transition to Swiss-made CT-157 Siskin II turboprops. The squadron is scheduled to retire the red-and-white Tutors this October following shows in California, though there’s been discussion about moving the final appearance to November’s Grey Cup in Calgary to honor the aircraft’s Canadian heritage.
No official announcement has confirmed the Lancaster/Snowbirds pairing at the Canadian International Air Show yet. Daniel Dempsey, founder and secretary of the Snowbirds Alumni Association, remains hopeful. “Hopefully we’ll see that,” he said of rescheduling the formation. “It would be great to see those Canadian aircraft soaring together.”
For spectators hoping to witness this rare convergence of warbird and jet precision team, keep an eye on updates from the Canadian International Air Show and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in the coming weeks.
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