Siskins

This article is about an aerobatic flying team. For other uses, see Siskin (disambiguation).

The Siskins
Active	1929–1932
Country	Canada
Branch	Royal Canadian Air Force
Role	Aerobatic flight demonstration
Size	Varied, but usually a three-aircraft show
Garrison/HQ	Borden, St. Hubert, Trenton
Aircraft flown
Fighter	Armstrong Whitworth Siskin

The Siskins, officially the Siskin Exhibition Flight, were a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) aerobatic flying team that was established in 1929 at Camp Borden, Ontario. They were named after the bird family Siskin. It was the air force's first official aerobatic team. Flying three Armstrong Whitworth Siskin biplanes, the Siskins quickly built a reputation for performing daring maneuvers. The Siskins flew more than 100 air shows over three years before being disbanded in 1932 when the Great Depression forced the RCAF to reduce operations.

Siskins' Squadron Leader E.A. McNab would later earn recognition as the first RCAF pilot to win the Distinguished Flying Cross during the Second World War.

References

• Dempsey, Daniel V. A Tradition of Excellence: Canada's Airshow Team Heritage. Victoria, BC: High Flight Enterprises, 2002. ISBN 0-9687817-0-5.
• Milberry, Larry, ed. Sixty Years—The RCAF and CF Air Command 1924–1984. Toronto: Canav Books, 1984. ISBN 0-9690703-4-9.