It's blue sky and summery and I have an appointment in Debert with the Snowbirds. The Canadian Forces Demonstration team is performing. I had heard about the Snowbirds a few weeks earlier in the news. But the experience is completely new for me.
It was my first airshow and I really love it!
Seeing them on TV, I thought: “That would be cool.” But live is different.
It was a long way to Debert and when we passed the street to the parking area we see lot of people who want to see the show. There is music and there's a voice coming through a speaker describing what is happening. One helicopter flies overhead, then a big jet streaks past.
There is suspense in the air. People hope everything goes well but you can’t say that this is safe job. This mixture of feelings, both excitement and fear, is intense. When the machines start it is very loud. They become louder and louder and when they start to fly the excitement takes over from the fear. Sometimes I lose track of the small jets. It is really hard to find them in the blue sky with scattered clouds because they turn into little white points once they have passed by. But then they come back, flying very low. Amazing! I don’t know why, but there is a very positive energy in the air. I’m feeling so happy while I’m watching the stunts. The pilots' planes soar, making hearts and loops so perfect. How does it work? I’m a big Harry Potter fan and one of the stunts looks like the Death Eaters taking flight. The exhaust comes out of the planes a dark brown/grey color. Death Eaters are black, I know, but you will see what I mean in the video. Very cool.
I don't know whether it is the smell of burning fuel, the sounds of flying or the welcome sunshine but it seems to give people wings of their own. This is one of the best assignments ever.
Maria's tour around Nova Scotia:
