Fred Deadman
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Snowbird pilot dies in crash at Montana air show
Updated Fri. May. 18 2007 8:18 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A Canadian Forces Snowbird plane has crashed during a rehearsal for two air shows this weekend in Malmstrom, Montana, killing the pilot.
A coroner has been called to the scene at Malmstrom Air Force Base, and a press conference is expected in Moose Jaw, Sask. where the Snowbirds are based.
The jet was flying in formation with five other planes from Canada's renowned aerobatics team.
According witness Greg Dart, the plane plummeted at about 4 p.m. at the south-end of the base.
"There were a number of planes flying in formation, and had they just completed a heart- shaped figure in the sky," he told CTV Newsnet.
"It looked like they were getting ready to disassemble. We saw three planes do a little loop and it almost looked like they were coming right at us. The two lead planes split, and the third plane looked like it reared up a little bit and then just plummeted straight into the ground."
Dart said he could feel the force of the impact.
The team was preparing to perform Saturday and Sunday in Great Falls, Mont. at Malmstrom's open house and sport auto-rama.
Lieut. Jeff Noel, a spokesman for 15 Wing Moose Jaw, said all the pilots were team veterans.
"They did recently accept three new pilots into the program but those pilots wont be flying with the program until next year."
The last Snowbirds plane crash happened on Aug. 24, 2005 when Capt. Andrew Mackay lost control of his jet in a rural area west of Thunder Bay, Ont.
Mackay ejected from the jet before the crash and wasn't hurt.
The Snowbirds fly CT-114 Tutor jets, an aircraft designed in Canada and used by the team since 1971. The Canadian Forces had used the same plane for basic pilot training since 2000.
The jets have a top speed of 750 kilometres per hour with their signature smoke tanks attached, and weigh 7,170 pounds.
With files from The Canadian Press
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