Ex-Swiss Hawks for Snowbirds?

A Canadian company is involved in the idea.

ARINC Engineering Services, LLC, and its Canadian partner Venga Aerospace announced this week they have started technical discussions with the Swiss Air Force in a bid to provide modern replacement aircraft for Canada's famed precision military flying team, the Snowbirds...

In an important step to the program first announced in September, a team including pilots and engineers from ARINC and Venga has just completed a fact-finding trip to Switzerland. While there, they inspected Hawk trainer aircraft available from the Swiss Air Force, as well as maintenance and modification documents for the planes.

The Snowbirds currently fly older Tutor trainer aircraft (below) designed in the 1960s. ARINC and Venga have proposed replacing the Tutors with Hawk trainers from the Swiss. Eighteen Hawks would be acquired from the Swiss, their cockpits would be upgraded, and they would be delivered to the Snowbirds under a 20-year lease including a comprehensive maintenance program.

"Our Hawk leasing proposal will not only enable the Snowbirds to fly newer, safer and better-performing aircraft, but at a cost not exceeding their current operating budget," stated Venga President Hirsh Kwinter.

The Canadian Forces are familiar with Hawk trainer aircraft, and currently use them to train military pilots. But acquiring brand-new Hawks for the Snowbirds—at a cost of $20 million (USD) per plane—is out of the question considering budget priorities for the Canadian Forces.

"The 18 Hawk trainer aircraft we are considering have been meticulously maintained by the Swiss," stated Chris MacIntire, ARINC Engineering Services Senior Director for training programs. "We expect to employ 35-45 people for maintenance and support at the Snowbirds' home base in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan."

As Aero-News reported, Venga and ARINC submitted a cost analysis based on a Tutor-to-Hawk comparison, following the Canadian Forces' Cost Factors Manual. Their results indicate a turnkey lease proposal for 18 Hawks should cost the Snowbirds no more than continuing to maintain the old Tutor planes—and the Snowbird team would benefit greatly. The newer and more capable Hawks offer many operational and safety advantages, including zero-zero ejection seats, newer cockpit avionics, and longer range...