The SkyHawks kick off their season in California

The SkyHawks are set to kickoff another season mesmerizing and entertaining audiences on April 16 and 17 at the March Air Reserve Base Airshow in California. This season also marks the 45th anniversary of the CAF’s only Parachute Team.

The SkyHawks team consists of 16 highly-skilled regular and reservist CAF members. This season, the team will travel across Canada and the U.S. to perform in various air shows, sporting events and festivals, totalling 30 venues.

“The SkyHawks are excellent ambassadors for Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces. Their precision and teamwork showcases how well-prepared the Canadian Armed Forces is to meet today’s domestic and international challenges. For 45 years, The SkyHawks have represented Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces in communities across the country and throughout the world, and we are very proud of their accomplishments,” said Harjit Sajjan, Minister of Defence in a press release.

The SkyHawks was established in 1971. Over the years they’ve performed at more than 5,000 venues attracting over 75 million spectators. The team has been based out of Trenton, Ontario for close to 20 years as part of the Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre.

Parachuting skills enable the CAF to quickly respond to local or national emergencies like search and rescue missions, sending humanitarian aid to remote areas or allowing for rapid insertion of personnel in different operations.

A complete list of venues and schedule will be updated on The Skyhawks Facebook page and website in the coming weeks.

Visit the SkyHawks Facebook

Photo courtesy of:

Canadian Forces Photos – Forces canadiennes photos Flickr

Canadian Forces Skyhawks Parachute Team

MCpl Mathieu Friolet and our well-known instructor “J-P” are flying a 2-Stack formation January 30, 2014 over Perris Valley, California.

– Picture by Craig OBrien