Sharlot! You saw the Canadian Snowbirds? lol... cool!
I haven't seen them in many years, but during my time in the Canadian military, I know of a few pilots that were chosen to be Snowbirds. Pilots stay in that unit for 2 years, travelling all over to shows etc..
The actual airplane of the Snowbirds is a "Tutor". Certainly not an aircraft with a role for anything other than aerial stunts and shows. All of the pilots in the Snowbirds come from other units and aircraft that they pilot. Whether it's freight, fighters, helicopters.... whatever..
