The Huron Expositor, 1997-02-19, Page 211-TIti HURON litx*OSITOR. rJMIYMJ ter S1 7
Close-up
This Snowbird won't fly south
BY DAVID SCO'rr
Expositor Editor
A Snowbird has landed at
Seaforth Legion Branch 156.
Ron and Sharon Stephan of
.Seaforth recently donated a
Snowbirds uniform, helmet
and other paraphernalia to the
local Legion branch from
their son Bob, operations
officer at CFB Moosejaw,
who flew team lead (number
one position) and was the
Snowbirds commanding offi-
cer in 1991 and '92.
He served five years in total
with the Snowbirds, also
known as 431 Air
Demonstration Squadron.
Bob. a major with the
Canadian Armed Forces,
flew the number eight and
nine position (premier solo
and opposing solo) during his
stints.with the nine -plane pre-
cision flying squadron in '82-
83 and '89.
Postings for the squadron
are for two years. (In 1989 he
took over for a pilot who was
unable to complete his sec-
ond year). Half the team also
changes every year. says his
father Ron. That way there's
still half a squadron of expe-
rienced pilots who can train
the newcomers. Tryouts tor
the Snowbirds are held every
October for the new half.
They select the crews and
train all winter, says Ron.
They practise over water at
CFB Comax in British
Columbia' and in April,
they're performance schedule
begins.
Rigorous Schedule
"They're on the road for six
months or more of the year.
It's hard on the families."
said Sharon. That's one of the
reasons postings are only two
years.
It's a rigorous schedule for
anyone travelling with the
Snowbirds. There's 85 shows
a year from April until
Thanksgiving across 'North
America from.Yellowknife to
Texas. Ron says the squadron
is bombarded w,ith show
requests every year but yvill
make appearances almost
anywhere on the continent.
including remote spots like
Inuvik, Northwest Territories.
where only a small audience
may gather for the show.
Being a Snowbird is more
• than a' full-time job with all
the receptions and meetings
the public, said Sharon. "P.R.
(public relations) is a•big
thing. Just because you're a
hot pilot doesn't mean you're
going to be a Snowbird." said
'Ron.
Bob first joined the forces
in 1977. Hc'carned his wings
in 1979. He is married and
' has a six-year-old son.
He is an experienced fighter
pilot with tours on the CF -5
Freedom Fighter with 434
and 419 Tactical Fighter
Squadrons at CFB Cold
Lake. He is a graduate of the
Fighter Weapons Instructors
Course and also had a three-
• and -a -half year posting at
Colorado Springs, one hour
south of Denver, at Peterson
Air Force Base, headquarters
of NORAD (North American
Air Defence), where he set
up flight exercises.
Bob, who turns 40 in
March, still regularly flies.
He's in charge of flying oper-
ations at CFI) Moosejaw and
does a lot of aircraft testing,
said his father. The CFB
Moosejaw airport has more
takeoffs and landings a day
than Pearson International in
Toronto.
About the Planes
There's nine planes in the
formation but 11 in total. The
two extra planes arc flown by
administrative officers who
arrive in advance of the
squadron to make arrange-
ments and often do commen-
tating for the Snowbitds at air
shows. Snowbirds ,numbers
10 and 11 serve as back-ups
in case of problems.
The aircraft are two -beater
Canadian CTI14 Tutor jet
trainers which double as
demonstration and transport
aircraft, carrying team mem-
bers, ground crew and all
equipment to show sites.
The leader's job involves
doing just. about "every -
And
he
winner
is
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PHOTO BY DAVID SCOTT
PROUD PARENTS - Ron and Sharon Stephan stand in front a display designed by Frank
Phillips at Seaforth Legion Branch 156 that celebrates the Snowbirds and features a uni-
form and flight helmet from their son Bob, who flew with the Snowbirds for five years.
"Every show the
pilots can lose
three to four
pounds just from
stress"
thing," says Sharon.
"Weather checks before the
show, everything."
"It's just like being the
manager of a firm."
says Ron.
The couple has seen many
air shows over the years. "Air
shows were our life." said
Sharon. "We'd go to anything
in the area."
Were they ever worried
about their son's safety''
"Their training is so ,
intense. They take all emer-
gencies into consideration.
Every formation they do is
planned on the ground," said
Sharon.
That doesn't mean being a
Snowbird is stress -free.
"Every show the pilots can
lose, three to four pounds just
from stress. They fly about
three feet apart, " said Ron.
The Snowbirds celebrated
their 25th anniversary in
•1996. They're one of only a
few nine -plane precision
squadrons in the world.
France and Great Britain also
have similar squadrons. The
American Blue Angels and
Thunderbirds arc five -plane
teams.
No Stranger to•Planes
Ron took' a few flying
lessons in the 1940's but
never got his pilot's licence.
"It was expensive. It was $8
an hour then. Now it's about
$ 135."
He' was too young to join
the forces so he worked for
1)c Havilland in Toronto
which manufactured Anson,
Mosquito and Tiger Moth air-
craft during World War i1. in
1945 he did engine mechan-
ics for five years with the
Royal Canadian Navy Air
Section.
His wife Sharon jokes'that
Ron lives his pilot's life vic-
ariously through Bob.
Legion Display
"1 told Frank (Phillips) we
had a uniform and we talked
about doing a Snowbirds dis-
play. He does a marvellous
job with all his displays,"
said Ron.
"We've always admired
what Frank has done here (at
Branch 156). I've never seen
Legion displays like this,"
said Sharon.
Both are pleased with the
Snowbirds display which
honours their son.
"It's amazing what he did.
Frank did a helluva job," said
Ron. "It's something a little
more modern," said Sharon.
It is the hope of Bob's par-
ents and Phillips that the new
display :will ,attract the atten-
tion of younger members,
who were born after the
Second World War.
FORMER SNOWBIRD LEADER - Major Bob Stephan, son
of Ron and Sharon Stephan of Seaforth, was leader of the
Canadian precision flying squadron 'Snowbirds' from 1991-
'92. He has worked at NORAD headquarters in Colorado
and presently is operations officer at CFB Moosejaw.
(Photo submitted by Ron Stephan).
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HEATING DEALERS. ALL OTHER OFFERS NOT APPUCA LE.OFFER VALID
JANUARY 27, 1997 TO MARCH 15, 1997. THERE ARE NO SETUP FEES OR
EARLY PAYMENT PENALTIES FOR FINANCING.
• REPRESENTS ENERGY SAVINGS WHEN COMPARING ELECTRIC
BASEBOARD OR FORCED AIR FURNACE WITH A HIGH -EFFICIENCY NATURAL.
GAS FURNACE. ANY APPLICABLE TAXES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE
CALCULATIONS. NATURAL GAS PRICES AS OF NOVEMBER 1996.
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• Rx Central Keating's Pharmacy.
•
67 Main St. Seaforth 527-1990
Keating's Valentine's Winner was Lois Bailey
The Huron Expositor apologizes for the spelling mistake in last week's
paper.
IBC
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
We have extended our hours for
the RRSP season.
OPEN
FOR -YOUR CONVENIENCE
Wednesday Feb. 26
Thursday Feb. 27
Friday Feb, 28
Saturday March 1
9:30 am to 9:00 pm
9:30 am to 9:00 pm
9:30 am to 9:00 pm
9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Call today for an appointment
or drop in...
Canadian Imperial
Bank of Commerce
519-527-0100
Main Street
Seaforth
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