Community.
And for good reason: that’s what the return of the air show is all about, a chance for Moose Jaw, the entire province and beyond to have a chance to reconnect with the local airbase while checking out some of the best airborne acts and entertainment in the world.
That’s why when things kick off on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. and the first performances take to the air at 12 p.m., everyone involved in getting things to this point will be aiming to put on the best show possible.
“I’m from Saskatchewan and I grew up going to these shows, so it’s something that I’m very emotionally charged about coming back,” Wickett said. “The support we get out here at 15 Wing and from the local community is amazing, so we really wanted to take the opportunity to give back and let the community connect with us out here at the base.
“So hopefully we energize the community and also offer some motivation for people who want to into the aviation in the Canadian Forces and want to connect with it.”
If the response is any indication, they’re going to have the opportunity to do just that – Wickett estimated a crowd of close to 20,000 people is expected both days, with work to ensure the safety of everyone involved one of the priorities leading up to the first performance.
That all starts with marshalling the mass of humanity, something Wickett is certain the crew at 15 Wing will be ready to for.
“This is what we do,” he said. “We want to show people that we have the ability to put on large scale exercises and operations and this lets us demonstrate that. A lot of times the community doesn’t get a chance to see what the military does up close because of the nature of our work, but this is one opportunity where they get to see our organization, our teamwork and our professionalism demonstrated in front of them.”
Then there’s the performances themselves. Every step has been taken to ensure that the show will be as safe as possible for both performers and crowd, with a large buffer zone set up well in front of the fans so that should the worst happen, there will be little chance of involving anyone on the ground.
“We have one of the best airbosses in the industry in Canada who is going to be leading the air show performance throughout the weekend, and we also have a lot of experienced personnel,” Wickett added before pointing out that some of the individuals involved – including David White, the aforementioned airboss – have decades of experience under their belts.
Performers during the weekend include aerobatics specialist Brent Handy and his Pitt Special, the Canadian Forces CF-18 demonstration team, Kent Pietsch and his Jelly Belly aerobatics plane, former World Aerobatics Championship competitor Gord Price and his YAK 50, the U.S. Air Force Vipers F-16 demonstration team, Yellow Thunder and their vintage Harvard planes, Kyle Fowler and his unique Long EZ stunt plane, Rob ‘Scratch’ Mitchell and his T-33 Shooting Star fighter jet, Bernie Vasquez and his World War II-era fighter, and Warren Pietsch flying the iconic Supermarine Spitfire fighter.
Closing out the show will be the act almost everyone will be coming to see, the Canadian Forces 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, better known as the Snowbirds – with patrons of Sidewalk Days on Friday having a chance to see the iconic red and white Tutor jets fly over in a pair of passes during the afternoon.
While parking will be available, patrons are encouraged to take advantage of the bus service to and from 15 Wing both Saturday and Sunday.
For more information or to buy tickets, check saskairshow.ca.
