The Red Arrows at Greenwood

Story and photos by John Chalmers,
posted December 2024
In late August, I spent a few days enjoying travel in Nova Scotia with a few family members. Part of the purpose of the trip was to visit my grandson, Ben Nixon from Fernie BC, posted as a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) firefighter at 14 Wing Greenwood. With me were Ben’s parents, Tara and Troy, and their son Harrison, all from Fernie, and another grandson, Gianluca, from Edmonton, like me. Tied in with that on the same day was attendance to see Air Show Atlantic at the base. It featured paratroopers, helicopters, static display of many RCAF, RAF and USAF aircraft ranging from jet interceptors to huge transport aircraft and privately owned aircraft. The air show included aerial participation by propeller and jet aircraft and an aerobatic glider. Opening the show was the Canadian Armed Forces Skyhawks parachute team falling from the sky with the flags of Canada.
The aircraft and the team were popular attractions both on the ground and in the air. The Red Arrows display on the tarmac was swarmed by attendees where pilots of the team were signing and handing out photos.
Shown with their BAE Systems Hawk T1 advanced trainer jet aircraft, the handout photo of the Red Arrows named all the pilots and their ranks with the Royal Air Force.
 The flip side of the handout photos was a picture of the Red Arrows support team known as The Blues. Information provided with the photo stated that there are more than 140 people in the team, and that “Their roles are diverse, ranging from engineers and survival equipment technicians to photographers, drivers, logisticians, operations staff, public relations experts and personnel support officers.”
As well as the Red Arrows, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds of 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, based in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, gave a splendid display of precision aerobatic flying. Like the Red Arrows, our Snowbirds are kept flying with support from the ground crew them. With aircraft from the United States Air Force, Air Show Atlantic had three air forces participating in the program.
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