Page 10 - June 2020

Aerobatic Teams of the RCAF
Tigers
Did you know that the Royal Canadian Air Force
has a proud heritage of aerobatic teams going The "Tigers" were a European-based aerobatic team of the
back to 1929. Royal Canadian Air Force.
Through the years, these teams have evolved to In August 1953, No. 439 (Tiger) Squadron formed a four-ship
today’s operating team known as Canada’s aerobatic team flying Canadair F-86 Sabre aircraft.
“Snowbirds”.
The team's first official airshow was part of the Battle of
Follow with us as we take a step back through Britain memorial for Canadian personnel at the station in
history to see how the RCAF has been bringing North Luffenham.
Canadians a proud sense of ownership to their
The Tigers aerobatic team was disbanded in May 1954.
daring and sometimes fatal displays.

Siskins

The first official aerobatic display team of the
Royal Canadian Air Force were the "Siskins".
They were formed in 1929 in connection with Fireballs
celebrations marking of 10th anniversary of the The "Fireballs" were yet another European-based aerobatic
first successful non-stop trans-Atlantic flight display team from the Royal Canadian Air Force.
accomplished by Alcock and Brown in a twin- The team was first created in 1954 and with its distinctive
engine Vickers Vimy airplane.
all-red Canadair F-86 Sabre aircraft participated in various
The team was composed of 3 biplane fighters, shows in Europe.
Armstrong - Whitworth Siskin IIIAs, and the The Fireballs aerobatic team's paint scheme lasted for a
team performed displays until 1932.
very short period only, as a superior officer eventually
decided that people might mistake the team for being
"Communist" and ordered the red paint stripped off.

Blue Devils

The "Blue Devils" display team were first
founded in 1949 at the St. Hubert station from
the staff of No. 410 Squadron.
This was the first Royal Canadian Air Force Sky Lancers
aerobatic team to employ jet aircraft – De
The "Sky Lancers" were another European-based aerobatic
Havilland Vampire fighters.
display team from the Royal Canadian Air Force.
In 1951, the team converted to the Canadair- In 1955, 2 (F) Wing, based at RCAF Station Grostenquin in
built F-86 Sabre, but at the end of that year the
France, created an aerobatic team known as the "Sky
Blue Devils aerobatic team was disbanded.
Lancers".
The team flew Canadair F-86 Sabre aircraft, performed 20
shows in the 1955 season.