foxtrot11 said "In addition to the whole tragic event, is all the naysayers who tout grounding this team due to the "age" of the planes.
That is an un-informed and un-educated comment.
I work in aviation and can tell you aircraft, especially in Canada, are the best maintained "vehicles" there are out there. There is not a part on any aircraft that is not inspected, re-calibrated, or repaired numerous times in a given year. Each pilot goes into the air every time realizing it is their responsibility to check and recheck anything pertinent to flight.
One thing I find surprising, most pilots I have spoken to are of the believe that an air crash is ALWAYS the pilots error. I don't agree with that myself but have chosen not to get into philosophical fights with my boss and his buddies who are all of the opinion even if the pilot has a heart attack and crashes, that somehow is his fault...but that is another story.
Many components are on a 50 or 100 hr schedule - meaning they are replaced or refurbished after 50 or 100 hrs of use. The inspection schedule is rigorous. You show me any car or even transport truck that is that well maintained....
Most people would be stunned to know that a good majority of the helicopters and small planes out there are quite "old" by normal standards. At my place of work, we have four helicopters (A-Stars and Jet Rangers) that are all from mid 1970 to early 80's. We also have a piper Navajo and a smaller plane that are from early 80's.
So the argument that the Snowbirds are too old to fly is incorrect. Now the cost to maintain and fuel them, that is outrageously high - but this is an elite group that brings joy and camaraderie to Canadians, so I guess you have to weight that out against the cost.
Just wanted to set that straight - just because they are OLD doesn't mean they are unsafe. Tragic weekend to be sure.... "
you posted that. How many own vehicles from the 1960's? While not the same as aircraft with 50 hr and 100 hr checks, it's still an old vehicle. Without maintenance they would not be running today. These Snowbird jets are pampered and well maintained. But sadly all the pampering and maintenance can't prevent things like bird strikes. Sometimes things happen beyond reasonable control.
Heck, a F-22 Raptor crashed last week and that's far newer than the Tutor jet.
As long as there is no terminal damage like stress/fatigue cracks, corrosion in critical components, they can fly for a long time.
Eventually the Tutor will have to be replaced as the Snowbirds aircraft. Right now, there's nothing more iconic as a Canadian designed and built Candair Tutor as the Snowbirds aircraft.