TORONTO — The Canadian Forces Snowbirds dazzled air show patrons for three days in Toronto, after taking to the skies for the first time since they were grounded by a crash last month in northern Ontario.

The red-and-white jets thrilled thousands of fans with manoeuvres including loops, solo passes and nine-plane formations after they were allowed to participate in the Canadian International Airshow just hours before it was to begin Saturday.

"It was spectacular. We had perfect weather and large crowds; the pilots were thrilled. We could not have asked for anything more,'' Colleen Swinder, a spokeswoman for the air show, said of the team's performance.

The Snowbirds had been grounded after Capt. Andrew Mackay's Tutor jets crashed in a rural area west of Thunder Bay, Ont., on Aug. 24.

Mackay ejected from the jet before the crash and wasn't hurt, but the cause of the crash has not been determined.

He was back in the cockpit for the Toronto shows.

The aerobatic team will head to Halifax next, and then to shows in Reno, Nev., and Fort Worth, Texas, later this month.