Murray Wood: The fascinating phenomenon of people's laps
Who knew one's lap was so interesting? Murray Wood wonders: Do those folks really think we don't know they're texting be...
For most Canadians, the roar of the Snowbirds flying overhead brings back memories of summer air shows, colourful formations and looking up at the sky.
But for Dennis Beselt, those memories are a little different.
Read more:
- Snowbirds’ Tutor jets will be displayed, used for training after retirement
- Former Snowbirds leader reflects on team’s 55-year legacy
- ‘A big loss’: Moose Jaw weighs possible future without Snowbirds
He was one of the pilots behind the controls, spending four years with Canada’s famous aerobatic team, including two as its leader.
And now, more than three decades later, he’s back in Moose Jaw alongside generations of former Snowbirds pilots and team members to celebrate 55 years of flying and say goodbye to the iconic CT-114 Tutor jets.
“It’s a very special weekend for everybody,” Beselt said.
“There’s almost 500 alumni that are here for the three days, and there’s somebody from every one of the teams for all 55 years here.”
Some of those former team members are now aged in their mid-90s.
The reunion was organized to celebrate the Snowbirds’ legacy as the team prepares for a multi-year hiatus and the retirement of the aircraft that have carried it through more than five decades of performances.
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds flying an inverted formation. (DiscoverMooseJaw file photo)
From watching the Snowbirds to flying with them
For Beselt, becoming a Snowbirds pilot was a childhood dream.
Growing up in Calgary, he remembers travelling through Moose Jaw with his parents on family vacations and watching the Tutor jets flying overhead.
“I always wanted to be a pilot since I was a little kid, and I can remember coming through here with my parents because we vacationed in Manitoba, and you’d see the tutors flying around, and it certainly was inspirational for me,” he said.
He eventually returned to Moose Jaw for pilot training in 1978, earned his wings, and stayed on as an instructor before joining the Snowbirds.
Beselt flew as Snowbird 3 in 1981 and 1982 before returning as team leader in 1987 and 1988.
Of all the experiences he had flying across Canada, one stands above the rest.
“The most special day that I had was I was the lead in 1988. I’m from Calgary, and we opened the Olympics in Calgary in 1988,” he said.
“So I think, from a memory point of view, that’s probably one of the biggest events that I was involved in.”
For someone who grew up dreaming of becoming a pilot, it was an experience he never imagined.
“Obviously it was a dream of mine, and I’m lucky enough to be one of those guys where the dream came true,” he said.
The Snowbirds will fly their final hometown show in the CT-114 Tutor jets on July 11. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)
Saying goodbye to an old friend
Friday marked another historic moment for the Snowbirds as the team performed its final full aerobatic demonstration with the Tutor jets at 15 Wing Moose Jaw.
The aircraft are scheduled for one final flyover at the Grey Cup in Calgary on Nov. 15 before their retirement.
For Beselt, saying goodbye to the planes he spent so many years flying isn’t easy.
“The Tutor is fantastic,” he said. “It’s a spectacular little machine, and everybody always jokes you should have one in your garage.”
The jets have been in service for more than 60 years, including 55 years with the Snowbirds.
The federal government announced in May that the aircraft would be replaced by the CT-157 Siskin II, with the Snowbirds expected to resume demonstrations in the early 2030s.
But Beselt has some concerns about what the lengthy break could mean for the team.
“I think we’re going to lose something by not having a jet like this when it comes to North American flying,” he said.
He also worries about losing the experience and knowledge passed down between generations of pilots.
“A lot of what the team does from year to year is handed down from year to year,” he said. “So you’re not always experimenting with new stuff, and I think unfortunately we’re going to lose some of that in the time frame.”
Despite those concerns, Beselt remains optimistic.
“We really, really hope that come three or four years from now we’re back here again, and the Snowbirds are back in the air.”
While the future of the Snowbirds remains on his mind, Beselt is making the most of the reunion.
He’s returned with his family, taking time to drive around Moose Jaw and revisit places he remembers from his younger years.
“It’s fantastic,” he said.
“Moose Jaw was always a fantastic place for us to live when I was younger. It’s a nice place to come back to, and the base has lots of memories for me.”
The weekend’s celebrations included a gala Friday evening and a more casual gathering Saturday at the Western Development Museum.
Beselt said alumni planned to put on their old flight suits and jackets for one more opportunity to reminisce together.
For a pilot whose childhood dream began with watching the Snowbirds fly over Moose Jaw, it’s a chance to celebrate the people, the aircraft and the memories that made that dream possible.
And while the Tutor jets are preparing for retirement, Beselt hopes the Snowbirds’ story is far from over.
Read more:
