Canadian Snowbirds

[Muffin]

Does anybody have any confirmed frequency information for the Canadian Snowbirds Flight Demonstration Team?

I know they utilize 116.0MHz VHF and have also been heard on 242.6MHz UHF.

They are at the Abbotsford International Airshow in Southwestern British Columbia this weekend and are going up at 15:30. Sure would be nice to listen in over the weekend!

 

[Muffin]

As an aside they will also be performing on Vancouver Island next weekend at the Comox Airshow which is a military base for aircraft on the west coast of Canada (check out some of the performers: Displays | Comox Air Show) which would make for some extremely interesting military flight comms

 

[Ronaldski]

With monitoring times and bob grove going into retirement I suggest you download and save as the pdf may not not available afterwards-
http://www.monitoringtimes.com/0312airshowguide.pdf

 

[ka3jjz]

Feel free to write something up if you can find any freqs for that airshow. I'm sure the ScanBC wiki would welcome it, as would we....Mike

 

[nyair1]

Does anybody have any confirmed frequency information for the Canadian Snowbirds Flight Demonstration Team?

I know they utilize 116.0MHz VHF and have also been heard on 242.6MHz UHF.

They are at the Abbotsford International Airshow in Southwestern British Columbia this weekend and are going up at 15:30. Sure would be nice to listen in over the weekend!

They were by my area a month or so ago doing some pictures over Niagara Falls and they were using 272.100 I have heard traffic on that freq also when passing by in the airspace.

 

[Muffin]

Thank you! I will try that frequency again. They have used 272.1 in prior years but lately have only used it to and from the airshow and then dissappear to somewhere else during the show with the re-grouping taking place sporadically on 116.0MHz.

 

[Muffin]

Just assembled my antenna array and was able to confirm the Canadian Snowbirds at the Abbotsford Airshow using the 272.1 MHz frequency for their in-air demonstration of grace under pressure

 

[FoeHammer]

I have heard them on 272.1 quite a few times ,...116.0 seems odd to me , isnt that near where ILS/ADF beacons operate?

 

[Muffin]

I attended the Abbotsford Airshow today and am able to confirm that indeed the Canadian Snowbirds were doing their in-air flight demonstration comms on 272.1 MHz. The two soloists (Snowbirds 8 and 9) were coordinating their efforts on 116.0 and were making some pretty candid comments in the process!

The CF-18 Hornets checked in with their show boss on their private UHF frequency and were asked to speak to the Tower on their VHF radio on 119.4 MHz. After receiving their take off clearance from the Tower the show boss then gave them a "discreet" channel of 119.15 MHz to perform their in-air demonstration and simulcast some of their comms to the audience on the localized FM transmitter including from Hornet 1 part way through the show where he yelled into the radio "Yeeehaaa!!! This is fun!!!". The show boss coordinated their landing back on their own private UHF frequency based on the runway being clear after the Canadian Snowbirds take off.

Sweet Show Guys!!!! See you in Comox next weekend!

 

[moonbounce]

I have also listened to them on 333.3 Mhz. They seem to use this frequency before arrival and after departure for plane to plane comms.

Moonbounce

 

[wtp]

just a question

muffin did that list i sent help?

 

[jsoergel]

Presets from a cockpit photo:

G 243.0 GUARD
1 275.8 MJ GND
2 295.6 MJ TWR
3 310.8 MJ TWR
4 227.6 MJ TERM
5 234.4 MJ CLNC DEL
6 318.8 MJ ARR
7 378.5 MJ ARR
8 381.3 MJ ARR
9 289.4 MJ ARR
10 374.1 MJ ARR
11 ----- SNOWBIRDS [freq not printed] - 272.100?
12 ----- SNOWBIRDS [freq not printed] - 246.500?
13 ----- SOLO'S [freq not printed] - 242.600?
14 333.3 SNOWBIRDS
15 257.8 MJ ATIS
16 308.8 BASE OPS
17 236.6 TWR COMM
18 266.3 WPG CTR
19 279.8 QR ARR
20 344.6 METRO

There is no VHF freq card, but you should try 116.000, 123.150, and 123.325.

 

[jimlawrence]

I have heard them on 272.1 quite a few times ,...116.0 seems odd to me , isnt that near where ILS/ADF beacons operate?

It is indeed but they've used it for years as a voice freq. I heard them using it during the airshow at CYSC years ago.

 

[moonbounce]

I just heard them at the St Thomas airshow this year on 116 Mhz, and I have heard them on previous occasions. Trust me they are on 116 Mhz during the show and sometimes when leaving the show to go to the next city/airshow.

Moonbounce

 

[IdleMonitor]

They were by my area a month or so ago doing some pictures over Niagara Falls and they were using 272.100 I have heard traffic on that freq also when passing by in the airspace.

I was out camping in the middle of nowhere last year Canada Day weekend and just happen to see 2 jets flying side by side. Did a quick search on some MilAir frequencies and pinged them off on 272.1 givng the direction of travel I believe they were on there way to Ottawa for a fly over.

Just 2 pilots chatting with each other as they flew on by the lake I was at.

I would say while at the show. Put your portable on search mode in the vhf air band as well as the uhf MilAir band and I would think you would have no problem pinging off all comms. Keep it in search mode and store them as you find them if you can.

 

[Muffin]

Hi guys - Thanks for all the feedback! Just a word of note...while I did not hear the Snowbirds on 333.3 MHz, that just happened to be the frequency that the CF-18 Hornet checked in on and was using along with the 119.15 MHz frequency at the Abbotsford Airshow. I have been an attendee for numerous years and this is the first time that I have actually heard any comms on the 333.3 MHz frequency

 

[Muffin]

Abbotsford Airshow 2015

Just spent a couple of days at the Abbotsford Airshow and am happy to confirm the following....

Snowbirds - Main - 272.1
Snowbirds - Silos - 116.0

Tower 119.4, 121.0 and 295.0
Ground 121.8
ATIS 119.8

Airshow Discreet 120.0
F22 Raptor 374.025
F22 Raptor / Spitfire Demo 124.89
CF18 Hornet 1 & 2 333.3

Coast Guard Demo. 363.0

Security 464.6375, 464.5375, 469.2125

St John Ambulance 162.3, 165.84

Abbotsford Fire 154.890. 155.685


A word of note: Heard one of the performers talking on FRS channel 1 complaining that some part had fallen off his aircraft and he wasn't sure if it was during his flight or during movement on the ground...several other comms were also monitored on the FRS radio too!

Hope this helps!

Comox Airshow this coming weekend!!!!

 

[VE7CFF]

Thanks for the updated info

 

[Muffin]

The 2016 Snowbirds Schedule is out for those who didn't know. Looks like Spring Training at 19 Wing Comox takes place the last 2 weeks of April with a final receiving of the crew on April 28th signing autographs etc then off to their first shows for May. Only 2 showings in BC this year - Nanaimo (Fly for Child) and Abbotsford - both in August.

Happy scanning / watching!!

Muffin

 

[Muffin]

2017 Abbotsford Airshow

Sadly the USN Blue Angels will not be performing at this year's Air show but according to their official website they are booked to be here next year - fingers crossed!

Last year's airshow saw the BREITLING team performing on 136.950 and the majority of their comms were all en Francais.

Snowbirds are back on 272.1 and 116.0 and will be performing at the airahow for three days then performing over the White Rock pier on Wednesday evening August 16th.

I will be out at the grounds on Thursday for the pre-practices and will post findings here Thursday evening.