Some of those who turned their eyes skyward to gaze at the haze of smoke that has drifted into the Shuswap from Albertan wildfires may have seen a military aircraft circling above.
According to public affairs staff for 19 Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), a CC-115 Buffalo was in the area on Wednesday, May 29, conducting routine training.
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According to the RCAF information page on the Buffalo, it is well-suited for its search and rescue role in the mountainous terrain of Western Canada. The twin-engine turboprop is 24 metres long and can take off and land on rugged terrain in areas as short as a soccer field.
The six CC-115s based at CFB Comox are responsible for a search and rescue zone stretching from the B.C.-Washington border to the Arctic, and from the Rocky Mountains to 1,200 kilometres out over the Pacific Ocean.
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This is not the first time Buffalos flying from Comox have used the Shuswap as a training ground. In April, a Buffalo was used for practice parachute drops involving Search and Rescue Technicians at the Salmon Arm airport before landing to pick them up.
@SalmonArm
jim.elliot@saobserver.net
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