{"id":359832,"date":"2024-11-25T09:21:43","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T14:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/?post_type=news&p=359832"},"modified":"2024-11-25T10:03:48","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T15:03:48","slug":"cf-18-demo-hornet-a-no-show-for-2025-season","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/news\/cf-18-demo-hornet-a-no-show-for-2025-season\/","title":{"rendered":"CF-18 Demo Hornet a no-show for 2025 season\u00a0\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There won\u2019t be a distinctively painted CF-18 Hornet soaring over airshows in 2025.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) informed the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) last week that a dedicated Hornet aerobatic aircraft will not be part of its demonstration program next year. Instead, the RCAF will showcase non-aerobatic tactical demonstrations with operational grey painted CF-18s from 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alta., and 3 Wing Bagotville, Que. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it embarks on a modernization program not seen since the second World War, RCAF is managing the transition to new aircraft across many of its fleets by curtailing participation in some training events. That transition will affect many of the personnel, including aircrews and maintainers, at operational and training squadrons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Derek Heyes Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe RCAF\u2019s fighter force is no exception as it transitions to the fifth generation CF-35A,\u201d the RCAF said in a statement, which the ICAS posted on Nov. 22, 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo commit more resources to this transition, for the 2025 Air Show season, the RCAF will not stand up its typical CF-18 Hornet Demonstration Team, but will instead showcase a small number of non-aerobatic tactical demonstrations.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese demonstrations will be carried out by our highly skilled and trained CF-18 pilots \u2026 operating grey paint scheme CF-18s from the inventory available at the time of each air show. To limit the impact on the fighter force, it was also decided that the CF-18s will only attend a limited number of Canadian air shows [during the 2025] season.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decision comes after a show season in which the Demo Hornet paint scheme celebrated the RCAF\u2019s centennial to airshow crowds across Canada, and in the U.S. and U.K. In July, the CF-18 Demonstration Team received two prestigious awards at the Royal International Air Tattoo in the U.K., including Best Livery and Best Solo Jet Display by Captain Caleb \u2018Tango\u2019 Robert. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Derek Heyes Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The announcement leaves the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and their aging CT-114 Tutors as the only dedicated RCAF aerobatics team. The Snowbirds of 431 Air Demonstration Squadron wrapped up their 2024 show season with their annual Home Closer event at 15 Wing in Moose Jaw, Sask., on Oct. 18. The team will mark its 54th<\/sup> year in 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe RCAF remains committed to showcasing the talent, expertise, and dedication of its members to the greatest possible extent and looks forward to continuing its long and enduring relationship with the air show community,\u201d the Air Force told ICAS.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No mention was made of a return of the CF-18 in 2026, when the RCAF expects to take delivery of its first four CF-35As to begin initial cadre training at the Pilot Training Centre at Luke Air Force Base. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Royal Canadian Air Force informed the International Council of Air Shows that a dedicated Hornet aerobatic aircraft will not be part of its demonstration program next year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":359837,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-359832","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-military","entry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/359832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=359832"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/359837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=359832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=359832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=359832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}