Snowbirds thank Team Malmstrom for past support with incentive flights; foster long-lasting relationships

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Eydie Sakura
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MOOSE JAW, Saskatchewan --  Eight people from Malmstrom and one Montana Air National Guardsman flew with the Canadian Forces Snowbirds aerial demonstration team at the 15 Wing here Oct. 11. 

The 15 Wing commander, Col. R.D. Foster, and the Snowbirds team invited a small group, ranging from a colonel to an airman, up to Canada to thank them for their efforts in the crash recovery May 18, 2007, when Snowbirds 2 pilot, Capt. Shawn McCaughey died during a practice flight at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., prior to their two scheduled shows at the base's open house. 

"We were really excited about having [Malmstrom Airmen] up here," said Maj. Cory Blakely, Snowbirds 3 pilot and executive officer. "We received such a tremendous outpouring of support and emotion not only from the people of Malmstrom, but from the people of Great Falls as well [after the plane crash]." 

The Snowbirds aviation system technicians, consisting of mostly enlisted airmen, spent the morning preparing their U.S. Air Force guests for their incentive flight later that afternoon. Each passenger who was flying in the Snowbirds' CT-114 Tutor aircraft received extensive training on their life support equipment and the egress systems for the aircraft. 

"Getting the flight suits fitted and putting on all the gear required for flying, and sitting in a cockpit was very exciting," said Staff Sgt. James Bialczak, MANG 120th Fighter Wing firefighter. "It was really cool to see how the ejection seats work from the pilot's perspective, and it was especially interesting for me because I usually have to deal with [airplanes] from a responder's perspective." 

The team from Montana witnessed the Snowbirds' aerial acrobatic performances first-hand in the Tutor aircraft more than 4,000 feet in the air. The flight lasted about one hour and the day turned out to be successful and fun for both pilot and passenger. 

"The flight today was excellent," Major Blakely said. "There was a good chance we weren't going to be flying because the weather was not ideal, but we were able to do exactly what we wanted to do; that's show our guests from Malmstrom what we do, such as the different flight formations, a tour around Moose Jaw and what the Snowbirds are all about." 

Claudia Gaudreault, Captain McCaughey's fiance', was able to fly in the Snowbirds 2 aircraft and said it was a blessing to be able to fly in his position in the nine-ship formation with current pilot Capt. Paul Couillard. 

"[The flight] was awesome and beautiful; it felt like I had Shawn [Captain McCaughey] with me," she said. "He was there with me. It was important to do the flight because now I can understand what he loved most, which was flying. The flight was something I will never forget, and afterward I felt so relaxed and at peace. I said to my friend, 'I can finally breathe now.'" 

Sergeant Bialczak said it was emotional going through the flight and he took the time to take it all in and enjoy the ride. 

"The flight was an adrenaline rush," the firefighter said. "It was an amazing opportunity to be in the sky with the Snowbirds. Everywhere I looked there was a wing, a nose or a tail only three or four feet in each direction from my plane, and wow, these guys are amazing pilots. You don't know how they do that stuff when you see the show, but now we got to see up close and personal how it's done." 

The incentive flights were just a way for the Snowbirds and the 15 Wing to say, "Thank you" to the U.S. Airmen who stepped-up and supported the team during a time of loss. 

Major Blakely said after the crash happened, it was very healthy for the Snowbirds to stay at Malmstrom longer than they had to and ended up staying three nights. 

"By the time we got back to Moose Jaw, we all had been able to deal with the situation and we are stronger for it," the Snowbirds 3 pilot said. "In fact, you can say that our season has been that much more successful because of all the support. We appreciate Malmstrom's support when we went through the tragedy, and we all carry with us the 341st Space Wing commander's coin she gave us. We carried [the coin] in our pockets and we certainly sang the praises of Malmstrom and Great Falls where ever we go."