The Canadian Forces Snowbirds are back in the sky after what was termed an operational delay following an accident last October. That means the show schedule will be delayed by about a month.

Lieutenant-Colonel Mike French explains that one of the pilots had to eject, leaving the plane to crash land in a field. French calls it the best possible outcome from a bad day.

Since then, investigators have been combing the CT-114 Tutor fleet to make sure the planes are safe. French says they were given the green light to returned to operation in December, although the investigation is ongoing.

Usually the show season begins in May, but this year it will begin in June. French explains that every year 3 new Snowbirds join the team, so training begins anew each year and it takes awhile for everything to gel.

This year is the 50th anniversary for the Snowbirds and a special maneuver is in the works to recognize it.

French says each position on the team has its own demons to slay. For example solo positions do head-to-head crosses at about 1-thousand km/h, within about a wing span of each other and that needs pretty specific, skilled training. Inner pilots have to do inverted formation flying, in other words flying upside down.

The closest Snowbirds shows are in Cold Lake, Alberta, July 18th and 19th and in Edmonton, August 15th and 16th.