Flightline UK, a digital website published in Britain, reported on Friday, Nov. 22 that the RCAF has announced it will be standing down the CF-18 Hornet Demonstration Team for the 2025 airshow season. The Hornet, each year sporting a new and unique paint scheme, has been a fan favourite at airshows across the continent and beyond.
The website quotes an RCAF statement as follows:
“The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is on the cusp of a period of modernization not seen since the Second World War. This will impact nearly every fleet of aircraft and all members of the organization. The RCAF’s fighter force is no exception as it transitions to the fifth generation CF-35A.
“To commit more resources to this transition, for the 2025 Air Show season, the RCAF will not stand up its typical CF-18 Hornet Demonstration Team, but will instead showcase a small number of non-aerobatic Tactical Demonstrations. These demonstrations will be carried out by our highly skilled and trained CF-18 pilots from Squadrons in Cold Lake and Bagotville, operating grey paint scheme CF-18s from the inventory available at the time of each airshow. To limit the impact on the fighter force, it was also decided that the CF-18s will only attend a limited number of Canadian air shows [during the 2025] season.
“The RCAF remains committed to showcasing the talent, expertise, and dedication of its members to the greatest possible extent and looks forward to continuing its long and enduring relationship with the air show community.”