Canada 20 Dollars Silver Coin 1997 Canadair CT-114 Tutor
Aviation Commemoratives
Obverse: Profile portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II created in 1990 and notable for the grand jewelled tiara and a beautiful string of pearls, this royal effigy was designed by Canadian artist Dora de Pedery-Hunt.
Lettering: ELIZABETH II D·G·REGINA · 1997 ·
Reverse: The Canadair CT-114 Tutor & Snowbirds Logo and RCAF Snowbirds Canadair CT-114 Tutor's in a classic Formation in the background. This coin is enhanced with a 24-karat gold cameo representing a former vice president of Canadair, Edward Higgins.
Lettering: CANADA 20 DOLLARS RRC
Engraver: Ross Buckland.
Edge: Reeded & Plain Sections.
Diameter: 38 mm.
Weight: 31.103 g.
Material: Silver.
Fineness: 0.925.
Denomination: 20 Canadian Dollars.
Produced By: Royal Canadian Mint.
SNOWBIRDS
With their aerial acrobatics of loops, rolls and awe-inspiring formations, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds are arguably the world's pre-eminent aerial demonstration squadron. Their nine distinctive red and white aircraft often flying with wing tips about four feet (1.2 metres) apart - dazzle millions ofspectators each year with their displays of perfection in formation aerobatic flight.
The only team in North America to fly with nine jets in close formation, the Snowbirds perform more than 50 different dynamic, precise and exciting formations during their acclaimed shows, including the Canada Goose, the Maple Leaf and the Double Diamond, which is the tightest flown, fastest rolled, and most agile formation in the Snowbirds' repertoire. Around the world, the Snowbirds' precision, agility and expertise in these remarkable aerobatic manoeuvres are legendary and have captivated spectators and inspired millions the world over.
The Canadair CT-114 Tutor (company model CL-41) was the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), and later Canadian Forces, standard jet trainer, between the early 1960s and 2000. Designed and built by Canadair, it was ordered in September 1961.
The Tutor served as the Canadian Forces primary jet trainer until it was replaced by the CT-155 Hawk and CT-156 Harvard II in 2000. The CL-41G model supplied to Malaysia was built as a ground-attack aircraft. The Tutor is currently still used by the Snowbirds aerobatics team.
Design and development
The CL-41 design was the product of the Canadair Preliminary Design department. The design incorporated a turbojet-powered, low-wing aircraft with a tricycle undercarriage and a T-type tail assembly. The flying controls are manual with spring tabs. The cabin, fitted with a rear-hinged canopy for both crew members, can be pressurized to a differential of 3 psi (20 kPa), the equivalent of about 2,000 m of altitude. It was designed to be a side-by-side trainer for providing elementary jet flight training and other training to an advanced level. The prototype first flew on 13 January 1960.
One critical area of design was the positioning of the vertical stabilizer (fin). The CL-41 was intended to demonstrate spin recovery. If the fin is too far forward, a spin cannot be initiated, but if it is too far aft, recovery becomes impossible. Model tests were done to find the optimum position. The original Tutor wind-tunnel model had a cruciform tail, which was revised to the T-tail design by removing the portion above the horizontal stabilizer.
Operational history
In September 1961 the Canadian government ordered 190 examples of the production variant, CL-41A for the RCAF as the CT-114 Tutor. The Tutor served for over thirty years as a primary trainer. In 1976, the Canadian Forces modified 113 remaining aircraft with upgraded avionics and provisions for two belly-mounted 41 US gal (155 l) external fuel tanks.
Canadair also developed an armament training and light attack variant, the CL-41G, with an uprated engine and underwing hard points to allow the carriage of external stores (up to 4,000 lb (1814 kg) of weapons) and drop tanks. In March 1966, the Royal Malaysian Air Force ordered twenty (serials M-22-01 to M22-11) examples of the CL-41G-5 Tebuan (which means Wasp in the Malay language) aircraft as counterinsurgency (COIN) aircraft. The Tebuan entered service in Malaysia in 1967, serving for over twenty years, before being phased out in June 1986 and replaced by the Aermacchi MB-339A.
One other variant was developed, the CL-41R which was fitted with an F-104 Starfighter nose as a proposed electronic systems trainer for future RCAF CF-104 pilots. The R model never went into production.
Aerobatics
In 1967, ten Tutors were modified for use as a formation aerobatic aircraft by the RCAF (and later the unified Canadian Forces) display team, the Golden Centennaires to celebrate Canada's centennial year. The display team was disbanded after the 1967 season. In 1971 a formation team was formed at 2CFFTS (Two Canadian Forces Flying Training School) at CFB Moose Jaw. In 1972 the name "Snowbirds," was chosen and in 1978 the team gained squadron status as 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, who continue to perform at air shows and special events including the annual flypast on Canada Day over the capital city, Ottawa.
Modifications for the Snowbirds include: a smoke generating system, a unique paint scheme for added crowd appeal, and a highly tuned engine to enhance engine response in low level flying.
General characteristics
Crew: two
Length: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 4 in (11.07 m)
Height: 9 ft 4.5 in (2.86 m)
Wing area: 220 sq ft (20.44 sq m)
Empty weight: 4,840 lb (2,195 kg)
Loaded weight: 7,348 lb (3,333 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 11,000 lb (5,000 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Orenda J85-CAN-40 turbojet, 2,650 lbf (11.8 kN)
Performance
Maximum speed: 486 mph (782 km/h)
Range: 944 miles (1,520 km)
Service ceiling: 44,500 ft (13,560 m)
Rate of climb: 4,220 ft/min (21.4 m/s)
Armament
CL114 carry external fuel tanks
Snowbirds
Officially known as the Canadian Forces 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, the Snowbirds are Canada's military aerobatics or air show flight demonstration team whose purpose is to "demonstrate the skill, professionalism, and teamwork of Canadian Forces personnel". The squadron is based at 15 Wing, near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The Snowbirds are the first Canadian air demonstration team to be designated as a squadron.
The show team flies 11 CT-114 Tutors—nine for aerobatic performances, including two solo aircraft, and two as spares, flown by the team coordinators. Approximately 80 Canadian Forces personnel work with the squadron full-time; 24 personnel are in the show team that travels during the show season. The Snowbirds are the only major military aerobatics team that operates without a support aircraft.
The Snowbirds continue the flying demonstration tradition of previous Canadian air force aerobatic teams, which include the Siskins, the Blue Devils, the Golden Hawks, and the Golden Centennaires.
Canadian Coins
Canada 20 Dollars Silver Coin 1997 Canadair CT-114 Tutor