Word has come down today that following the 2026 airshow season, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Snowbirds team will be stood down pending a new aircraft. Most likely the Pilatus PC-21.
I grew up watching the Snowbirds fly the Canadair CT-114 Tutor aircraft. However, these days the CT-114 is irrelevant to anything other than the Snowbirds.
My feeling is that if an air force is to have an aerobatics team, it should use an aircraft that represents something most people who join the force will have to work with regardless of where they go from there.
Turboprop aircraft are definitiely the way most air forces are going with training.
The Swiss made Pilatus PC-21 is the most likely choice of new aircraft for the Snowbirds.
I’ve seen the PC-21 perform and it’s definitely no slouch. It will serve the Snowbirds well if that is ultimately what they choose as their next mount.
Here’s some photos of a few European turboprop based teams I’ve had the pleasure of seeing.
Pickled Wings 