[MilCom] SNOWBIRD 12 Fly-by Sept 4/05

[rob.berezowski at sasktel.sk.ca]

Greetings everyone,

SNOWBIRD 12, a two ship formation, conducted a fly-by of Taylor Field, 
Regina, Saskatchewan, to open the CFL football game between the 
Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (the Labour Day 
weekend classic). Game time was 5 pm local time, 2300 UTC. 

SNOWBIRD 12 Flight (consisting of SNOWBIRD 12 and SNOWBIRD 14) arrived 
about 2245, and went into a hold north of the city. The two aircraft did 
left and right hand orbits over the north end of the city. This was nice, 
as it allowed me to step out into my backyard with my PRO-43 to watch and 
listen. Air to Air was on 272.100, with a co-ordinator at the stadium 
using a portable radio of some sort also on 272.100. I could barely pick 
up the person at the stadium. SNOWBIRD 12 was talking to Regina Tower on 
118.6.

Initially, SNOWBIRD 12 asked to hold at 3000 ASL, as that was the fly-by 
altitude. Well, very shortly after they started their hold, they requested 
an altitude of 4500 ASL due to heavy sea gull activity at 3000. I could 
see the gulls from the back yard. Boy, those birds were high. I don't know 
why they were flying so high, I cannot ever remember seeing gulls that 
high up before. 

Once the national anthem started playing at the field, the ground 
co-ordinator passed that information to SNOWBIRD 12 on 272.100. The 
aircraft then moved into a line astern formation, did a final turn, and 
passed right over my house. Shortly after passing over the house, the 
smoke was turned on and the fly-by started. As far as I know, the timing 
of the pass over Taylor Field went well.

Afterwards, SNOWBIRD 12 was cleared to return to Moose Jaw, following the 
Trans-Canada Highway back, at 6500 ASL. Once arriving at Moose Jaw, they 
also did a fly-by of the Moose Jaw Municipal airport. Not sure what the 
occasion was there, most likely related to the Saskatchewan Provincial 
Centennial celebrations. After the fly-by at the Municipal airport, the 
two SNOWBIRDS landed at CFB Moose Jaw.

Oh, I almost forgot. The Sask Roughriders beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 
45-29.


Rob Berezowski
Regina, Saskatchewan



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