Even with as much time as they spend flying and preparing to fly, the 431 Air Demonstration Squadron still enjoys the opportunity to pass on the love of their profession to youngsters wherever they go.
And for the kids, well, how awesome is it when you get a chance to hang out with the Snowbirds? And even learn a thing or two about how flight works in the process?
Such was the idea behind the Vanier Flight Camp at Vanier Collegiate on Thursday morning, as Grade 6 students from the Holy Trinity Catholic School Division took part in a paper airplane flying contest with instruction from none other than the Snowbirds themselves.
“Vice principal (Terry) Marak, we’re friends from back in the day and we had just finished our spring training in Comox, so we just got back and had an opportunity to do this,” said Snowbird 1 and Team Lead Maj. Denis Bandet. “
“It’s something that’s part of what we do, engaging and working with the public and promoting the Snowbirds… maybe someone who’s a part of something like this develops a love of flight and flying and that leads to big things down the road for them. If that’s something we can be a part of, then we know we done our jobs.”
The pilots almost seemed to have as much fun as the students themselves while designing, folding and building the paper airplanes, some of which ended up capable of easily flying the length of the Ned Andreoni gymnasium.
The idea for the Flight Camp came out of a joint project between Vanier and the Grade 6 elementary classes, who happened to be wrapping up a unit dedicated to flight and felt such a project would be ideal for their students.
“You know what, when you have world-class entertainment like the Snowbirds provide for us, for them being able to be here with the kids is so amazing,’ said Marak. “It gives kids another outlook, it gets them really interested in other things that are happening and it’s fantastic that they’re here with us today.
Marak felt much the same way as Bandet when it comes to passing on an educational activity that could lead to major things down the road.
“You want to get these kids as interested as possible in all the activities they can do in their life, and what a great exposure for them to be here with the actual Snowbirds,” Marak said. “We’re fortunate enough that it’s their home base and they can come out and be a big part of the community here.”
The camp comes with an added bonus – many of the students will be bussed out to 15 Wing on Friday to witness the Snowbirds’ home opener show. In other words, the guys and gals in the red jumpsuits they were interacting with on Thursday will be in the cockpits performing death-defying maneuvers near the speed of sound for them a day later.
If that’s not awesome, what is?
“The kids are super excited to be out there and watch their first performance of the year,” Marak said. “I think it’s just great. It promotes the Snowbirds, they’ll be excited to tell their parents and it grows exponentially so much more.”
