Edmontonians will be treated to a special flyby arrival Thursday afternoon by the Snowbirds. The aerial demo team will be in town after being invited by the Edmonton Airshow for this year’s program.

This will be the first time the team will fly in in full formation over the city in more than 15 years. Special permission had to be obtained from the city for the low-level pass.

The last time the team performed in the city was in 1990 at CFB Edmonton. This time around, the team will be flying in commemorative CT-114 Tutor jets with the Canada 150 paint scheme.

On Thursday, weather permitting, around 4 p.m. the full formation “smoke on” will begin as a north to south pass then finish up east to west.

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Later that evening for Military Appreciation Night, there is a free concert with Kim Mitchell at the south Alberta Legislature grounds.

The airshow runs this weekend, Aug. 19 to 20. Tickets are still available online.

Dean Heuman of the Edmonton Airshow says “north of 30,000” people are expected to take in the aerial spectacle this weekend and says the special city Park N’ Ride is the best option for spectators to arrive at Villeneuve Airport.

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