29 May 2024
SUPERIOR — The Canadian Forces Snowbirds are coming to the Twin Ports.
The team of nine will perform a free aerial event, Air Spectacular, over Lake Superior on July 31.
Ryan Kern, president of the Kern and Kompany event production company, announced the upcoming air show at the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center on Wednesday, May 29.
“This has probably been the hardest-kept secret that we’ve had at Kern and Kompany in probably our 25-year history,” he said, as the company just finished staging the air show at the Duluth International Airport.
The free event is one of four taking place coast to coast to celebrate 100 years of the Canadian Air Force. Consul Colin McLeod from the Consulate General of Canada in Minneapolis called the decision to bring the Snowbirds to Duluth a symbol of the close security and defense relationship the area has with Canada.
“We think of our friends to the north as extended family,” said Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert. “We see Ontario license plates in Duluth all the time … we also know that Canada by far is our No. 1 trading partner and of course, we have the world’s longest undefended border in the world.”
The Snowbirds last performed in Duluth in 2008. Their aerial acrobatics are on par with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy Blue Angels, organizers said.
“Those of us with long memories will remember seeing the Snowbirds out over Lake Superior, a unique phenomenal event, and then they turn around and see the hillside lined with every viewing spot possible of people in our community getting the chance to see a free air show,” Reinert said.
Enbridge Energy is sponsoring the Air Spectacular. “Many of our employees are veterans or currently serve in the armed forces,” said Laura Bridell, Enbridge manager of community engagement for the Midwest region.
McLeod has seen the Snowbirds perform numerous times. “It never gets old seeing them soar over you,” the Canadian consul said.
Fireworks tend to bring the community together, said St. Louis County Commissioner Annie Harala. She hopes this Snowbirds performance will do the same. “We’re going to get to see our community crowd,” Harala said.
“This really is about Duluthians. This really is about people who live here year-round having a chance to see something spectacular,” Reinert said.
Spectators can watch from various points along the lakeshore, hillside, Canal Park and more. The best viewing spots are highlighted at duluthairspectacular.com.
“Duluth is a natural bowl, so you will be able to see the air spectacular pretty much anywhere in the central part of Duluth,” Kern said. “The cool thing about this particular event is if you’re up in skyline, it’ll be a unique view because you’ll actually be able to look down onto the aircraft that are flying below you. So that is like the cool factor times 10.”
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds announcer will be broadcast live over the radio during the performance, which is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and the event will be live-streamed, according to organizers.
Air Spectacular logistics
Setting up an aerial show over water brings new challenges. Kern said they plan to deploy nine autonomous, self-powered buoys. Four will mark the box, the show area blocked off from the public for safety. Others will serve as a sight line, which pilots will use to orient themselves when they’re flying upside down. There will also be run-in buoys, which pilots have to stay outside of coming into the show space.
Traditionally, buoys are anchored in the ground for such shows, Kern said. Using an autonomous buoy system is relatively new.
“We’re excited to see that technology work,” Kern said. “And the other cool thing about that is other airshows across the country are watching Duluth now to see how these autonomous buoys work.”
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