The CF-18 tucks into the slot with the Snowbirds during Spring Training in Comox. Click on photo to see a gallery of 24 images of the two teams shot from a CF-18 chase plane.
While much of the country shivered in an unmercifully extended winter, the sun was shining, the flip flops were out and the skies over Vancouver Island were filled with the smoke and thunder created by the RCAF’s best in late April and early May.
Spring training is a tradition at CFB Comox where the only snow is on the mountain peaks and the generous military training areas allow the Snowbirds and CF-18 demonstration teams to tweak their routines before hitting the show circuit.
This year, Canadian Aviator contributing photographer Ken Lin had the rare opportunity to take the back seat of CF-18 for an air-to-air photo session with both teams and the images are incredible.
Lin, who has been a Snowbirds photographer for more than a decade, said the flight was an experience of a lifetime that left a lasting impression.
“I’m a bit beat up fighting the G force on my camera,” Lin said in an email to Canadian Aviator. “Thank goodness for the anti-G suit.”