# Snowbird down. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 18, 2020, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowbird-down/854010 "2020-05-18T02:22:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowbird-down/854010/21 "2020-05-18T23:42:01Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > **Moderator Warning** > > I don’t know why you thought posting something snarky and insensitive would be appropriate in a thread about one person dying and another being severely injured. > > This is an official warning for being a jerk. Seriously dude? ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowbird-down/854010/22 "2020-05-19T15:30:41Z")
Some additional points: The correct spelling of the pilot’s name is apparently MacDougall. Some sites (e.g. NYT) have reported that this accident happened during an aerobatic demonstration, but that was not the case. The two planes were the coordinating team, which arrives first at any new site to set things up for the aerobatic team that arrives later. They were on their way from Kamloops to their next site (which I haven’t yet been able to pinpoint). Reviewing the video, it looks as if the pilot responded to the spin entry by lowering the nose and completing a roll to bring the plane upright - necessary for any good chance at a successful ejection. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowbird-down/854010/23 "2020-05-19T16:13:44Z")
> [@pool](#): > > Seriously dude? Moderating: I think I can speak for the dude and say he was being serious. Do not continue the discussion here. If you have a problem with moderation take it to ATMB. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowbird-down/854010/24 "2020-05-19T19:28:38Z")
Thank you all. It sounds like the pilot did a lot of things right after an unexpected issue at low altitude. I regret the loss of Capt. Casey. A hard day indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowbird-down/854010/25 "2020-05-21T02:28:24Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > The design is 55 years old, but the individual A/C might be more of a newer vintage and its been noted that the Tutors have been upgraded over the years. > > That being said, its about time we started to replace them with a newer design. Unless a compromise can be found that would allow for a zero zero ejection system to be installed, then it would be my choice to stand down the birds. Manufacture of the Tudors started in 1963 and ended in 1966. They have been updated over the years, but the basic airframe is over 50 years old. They were replaced as a training aircraft in 2000, and there are still a large number in storage for use by the Snowbirds and for some experimental flights. There is ongoing discussion about replacement aircraft, but no action as yet, with planned avionics upgrades allowing the Tudors to fly for another decade. IMO the current CT-155 Hawk trainers would be perfect replacements, but the RCAF would probably need to double their existing fleet to support the Snowbirds in their current form. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowbird-down/854010/26 "2020-06-02T20:08:33Z")
News report is that the crash may have been caused by a bird strike. > **[Air Force report points to bird strike as possible cause of fatal Snowbirds...](https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/canada/air-force-report-points-to-bird-strike-as-possible-cause-of-fatal-snowbirds-crash-1.4963482)** > > The May 17 crash that killed a member of the Snowbirds team and injured a pilot may have been caused by a bird, an investigator revealed Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowbird-down/854010/27 "2020-06-02T20:06:59Z")
News report is that the crash may have been caused by a bird strike. > **[Air Force report points to bird strike as possible cause of fatal Snowbirds...](https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/canada/air-force-report-points-to-bird-strike-as-possible-cause-of-fatal-snowbirds-crash-1.4963482)** > > The May 17 crash that killed a member of the Snowbirds team and injured a pilot may have been caused by a bird, an investigator revealed Monday. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowbird-down/854010.md?page=1)