The Royal Canadian Air Force has announced its summer schedule and North Bay is on the list for Wednesday, June 13th, Armed Forces Day in the City
The demonstration will take place at the North Bay Waterfront.
The RCAF selects a theme for each year for its CF-18 air demonstration team and 2018 will feature the 60th Anniversary of NORAD, with which North Bay plays a special role, says the website.
The mission of the Canadian NORAD Region is to provide aerospace surveillance, identification, control and warning for the defence of Canada and North America.
Throughout the year, NORAD will hold several events aimed at highlighting the importance of honouring the past, guarding the present, and protecting the future.
NORAD is a combined, bi-national military command established by an agreement in 1958 between Canada and the United States to monitor and defend North America. NORAD is supported in Canada by the Canadian NORAD Region, headquartered in Winnipeg, and the Canadian Air Defence Sector at 22 Wing North Bay.
"As the Commander of the Canadian NORAD Region, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase the important NORAD mission and our important bi-national partnership through the 2018 National CF-18 Demonstration program,” said Major-General Christian Drouin, the commander of 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region. “The men and women of NORAD work diligently to keep watch over our countries and to protect the air sovereignty of North America. Twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, no matter what - we have the watch."
Meanwhile, Parry Sound will be hosting the Snowbirds the same day the CF 18's are here.
The Snowbirds fly the Canadair CT-114 Tutor, a Canadian-built jet that was used by the Canadian Forces as a basic pilot-training aircraft from 1963 until 2000.
The actual number of shows flown by the Snowbirds varies slightly each year. On average they will fly approximately 60 air shows at 40 different locations across North America.
This year, Armed Forces Day will take place on Wednesday, June 13th at the North Bay Waterfront with celebrations starting at 10:30 a.m. for the school-aged children and then again starting at 6 p.m. for the community.
