Breadcrumb Trail Links
News
U.S. government shutdown has grounded Navy aerobatics team, but nine-member Snowbirds squadron can still perform
Published Oct 07, 2025 • Last updated 3 minutes ago • 2 minute read
snowbirds
Two Canadian Forces Snowbirds Tutor jets are seen parked during the Canadian International Air Show media day at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Aug. 28, 2025. The CF-18 Hornet in the background is similar to those flown by the Blue Angels. Photo by Ernest Doroszuk /Postmedia
Article content
The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels are traditionally the centrepiece of San Francisco’s annual Fleet Week — six F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jets performing aerobatic manoeuvres in tight formation, to the delight of crowds.
Advertisement 2
The Province
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.
Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.
The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.
Support local journalism.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.
Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.
The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.
Support local journalism.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
Enjoy additional articles per month
Get email updates from your favourite authors
Sign In or Create an Account
or
Article content
This year, the U.S. government shutdown has grounded those Navy flyers along with a host of other military craft. The Navy said in a statement to media this week that, unless the shutdown is quickly quashed, military personnel will not be able to participate in the event.
Article content
Recommended Videos
Article content
Meanwhile, the show must go on, and so America’s allies to the north will step in.
The Snowbirds, red-and-white Tutor trainer jets familiar to Canadians from their appearances at Toronto’s CNE airshow and other events across the country, will have pride of place in the Fleet Week show this coming weekend.
Fleet Week has taken place annually over the Columbus Day Weekend since 1981. The only year that saw the event cancelled was 2013, when a 16-day U.S. government shutdown overlapped with the event. This time, organizers decided to keep going with a reduced set of performances and fly-bys.
Canucks Report Banner
Canucks Report
Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Canucks Report will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
(The Blue Angels told the San Francisco Chronicle that their appearance is “paused” rather than “cancelled,” in the hopes that the government may be up and running again by Friday.)
This will be the second time in a month that the Royal Canadian Air Force has saved America’s bacon. Last weekend’s Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, Calif., had to go on minus the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds teams thanks to the shutdown.
But the nine-strong Snowbirds team stepped up as the headliners of the show, alongside some Royal Air Force planes and parachutists from the U.K., and a number of non-military teams and pilots not affected by the shutdown.
“Thank God Canada is not the 51st state yet,” Kevin Elliott, director of the show, told the New York Times, presumably in jest.
Advertisement 4
Article content
He added that the organizers had been scrambling to rearrange the lineup around the sudden no-shows, but was relieved that the Snowbirds could “show up and, in a sense, save the day.”
The Blue Angels are scheduled to appear in at least three more airshows over the next month: one in Georgia on the weekend of October 17; and two in Florida on October 25-26 and November 1-2. There are no plans for the Snowbirds to fly in any of those shows. National Post has reached out to the team for comment.
The U.S. government shut down on Oct. 1. The longest shutdown in the nation’s history was 35 days, and began in 2018 during Donald Trump’s first presidency.
Read More
[A U.S. airman directs a F-35 stealth fighter out of a hangar in Alaska in January 2022.
DND to start construction on new F-35 hangars despite review](https://nationalpost.com/public-service/defence-watch/dnd-f-35-hangars-review/wcm/58a9b8b5-3294-40bb-92b7-7ce51554d978?itm_source=rcaf&utm_source=read-more)
2. [The end result of a Canadian CC -150 Polaris that rolled away and collided with a parked French Air Force A400M on July 22, 2023 at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam. The Canadian aircraft will be scrapped.
Air Force plane to be completely scrapped after collision with French aircraft](https://nationalpost.com/news/rcaf-plane-collision-guam-scrapped?itm_source=rcaf&utm_source=read-more)
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here.
Article content
Share this article in your social network
Comments