THUNDER BAY – For Lt.-Col. Mike French, Operation Inspiration’s stop in Thunder Bay was a homecoming of sorts.
The commanding officer of 431 Demonstration Squadron, better known as the Snowbirds, said family ties makes him quite familiar with the city.
French, who on Monday afternoon led a nine-plane formation on a highly anticipated flyover of Thunder Bay, said he’s been to the Lakehead many times in the past. His father’s from Fort William and his grandmother lived here while he was growing up.
“It’s weird. I’ve never lived in Thunder Bay, but I always feel like it’s a bit of a homecoming when I come here, only because of how much time we spent out at Shebandowan or Kakabeka Falls with my relatives, with my Grandma here. We always used to come and visit as a kid,” French said, his team making a brief refuelling stop at Thunder Bay International Airport before continuing on to Winnipeg to resume the cross-country tour.
French said Operation Inspiration isn’t necessarily about the airplanes themselves as much as it is about raising people’s spirits during the COVID-19 lockdown.
It’s surpassed even his wildest imagination of what the tour could accomplish, drawing people outside their home to share in the experience.
“This is big, and it’s much bigger than even we anticipated. The reception we’re getting from Canadians online, and even at the airport in physically distanced groups, is amazing,” said French, wearing a navy blue face mask while being interviewed.
“It’s overwhelming for us, really. It’s a much bigger thing than we ever anticipated.”
A couple of dozen people lined the fence at the airport on Monday, with hundreds gathering a Hillcrest Park and Prince Arthur’s Landing hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous flying troupe.
Among the crowd at the airport were brothers Johnny and Kaleb Faiers.
Johnny, armed with his camera, was taking close-up shots of an 11 CT-114 Tutors, parked a short chip shot away on the tarmac.
“I’m not huge into aviation, but just the technology that goes into the planes and the formation and training, I just find it very interesting,” the 15-year-old said.
His younger brother, Kaleb, 12, thought it was pretty cool too.
“I’ve never seen a jet before – well up close,” he said. “I like how they fly so close together and don’t crash.”
The youngster said it was awesome that the Snowbirds were doing the tour.
“It’s really cool because everybody can’t go anywhere, so you can see it from outside,” he said.
The Snowbirds goal is to fly past as many residential neighbourhoods and hospitals as possible during each stop, which along the way has included Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Sault Ste. Marie, the latter of which enjoyed a show on Monday morning.
“We get to see the Maritimes. We get to see the Canadian Shield and now we’re heading out into the prairies and then into the Rockies and coastal mountains,” French said. “We’re very lucky in that sense because not a whole lot of Canadians get to do that and the certainly don’t get to do it in a week-and-a-half like we are.”
