The Pilot Project Podcast

What happens when a Canadian fighter pilot accidentally crosses the Iron Curtain? And what does it take to become one of the RCAF's legendary solo jet demonstration pilots?
In Part 1 of our conversation with former Royal Canadian Air Force pilot Darwin “Tex” Deagnon, we travel back to the early days of Canadian jet aviation, from his childhood in rural Saskatchewan to flying the F-86 Sabre on the front lines of the Cold War.
Tex shares memories of growing up in a soldiers' settlement community, taking his first flight with his father in a Piper Cub, and earning his wings at just 19. He recalls training alongside instructors with Korean War experience, his first solo flight in the Sabre, and arriving in France to fly with 430 Squadron at RCAF Station Grostenquin.
We explore the realities of NATO fighter operations in Cold War Europe, including a frightening encounter that took Tex's formation into East German airspace. He explains the challenges of fighter weapons instruction, the demands of air-to-air gunnery and ground attack, and how quickly lessons from the front lines could become obsolete.
Then we turn to one of the defining chapters of his career: becoming Canada's Red Knight in 1965.
Tex takes us inside the world of solo jet aerobatics, describing the manoeuvres, altitudes, and concentration required to perform in front of thousands of spectators. He also reflects on the influence of his father, the recognition of the Red Knight program by Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame, and the extraordinary pilots who helped build its legacy.
As Remembrance Day approaches, our conversation takes a more reflective turn. Tex remembers the Red Knights who lost their lives, discusses how pilots coped with loss, and shares his thoughts on the sacrifices of Canada's Cold War veterans and the challenges of understanding wartime experiences.
In Part 2, we'll follow Tex beyond the Red Knight, exploring his remarkable civilian flying career, adventures in the Canadian Arctic, and a reunion with an aircraft he first flew more than 67 years ago.
CHAPTERS
(00:00:00) Introduction and Welcome
(00:03:38) Growing Up in Zehner, Saskatchewan
(00:06:12) Life in a Soldiers' Settlement Area
(00:07:10) First Flight with Dad in a Piper Cub
(00:08:07) The Story Behind “Tex”
(00:08:58) What Drew Tex to the Military?
(00:10:59) Memories of Flight Training
(00:13:28) The CF-100 Lead Sled
(00:14:15) Learning from Korean War Veterans
(00:16:02) A Memorable Training Flight
(00:16:57) Transitioning to the F-86 Sabre
(00:18:15) First Sabre Flight: Flying Solo
(00:19:03) First Flight in Cold War Europe
(00:21:02) Introducing New Pilots to Cold War Operations
(00:21:23) The Mission in Europe
(00:21:43) A Typical Day at Grostenquin
(00:23:49) Close Calls in Cold War Europe
(00:25:52) Becoming a Fighter Weapons Instructor
(00:27:40) Air Gunnery and Scoring
(00:28:43) From Operations to Instruction
(00:30:25) When Frontline Lessons Became Obsolete
(00:31:41) Live Weapons Training at Wainwright
(00:33:09) Guns, Rockets, and Bombs
(00:34:11) Was the Sabre a Good Gunnery Platform?
(00:35:08) Becoming the Red Knight
(00:38:51) Inside the Red Knight Routine
(00:39:41) Manoeuvres and Minimum Altitudes
(00:41:40) The Experience of Low-Altitude Aerobatics
(00:43:27) His Father's Influence on Flying
(00:43:42) Balancing Instruction and the Red Knight
(00:45:13) Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame Recognition
(00:46:34) Remembering the Fallen Red Knights
(00:50:14) How Pilots Coped with Loss
(00:51:26) Remembering Canada's Cold War Veterans
(00:54:00) Can Civilians Understand Wartime Experiences?
(00:57:28) Closing Thoughts and What's Next
CONTINUE THE FLIGHT
Continue exploring the history of Canadian military aviation and the people who flew some of its most iconic aircraft:
• The Jet Jockey Part 1 & Part 2 – Dan McWilliams - https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/search?query=Jet+Jockey
• The Bangseat Part 1 & Part 2 – Rock Veilleux - https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/search?query=Bangseat
EXPLORE THE LOGBOOK
Discover more stories, experiences, and advice from RCAF and mission aviation pilots.
https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes
RSS TAGS
Darwin Deagnon, Tex Deagnon, Red Knight, RCAF Red Knight, Royal Canadian Air Force, RCAF, Canadian Military Aviation, Canadian Aviation History, Cold War, Cold War Aviation, Cold War Veterans, Iron Curtain, East Germany, NATO, NATO Air Operations, 430 Squadron, RCAF Station Grostenquin, France, F-86 Sabre, Canadair Sabre, CF-100 Canuck, T-33 Silver Star, Fighter Pilot, Fighter Aviation, Fighter Weapons Instructor, Air Gunnery, Ground Attack, Military Flight Training, Jet Aerobatics, Solo Jet Demonstration, Airshow Pilot, Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame, Remembrance Day, Canadian Veterans, Military Remembrance, Aviation Podcast, The Pilot Project Podcast, Skies Magazine

What does it feel like to fly a CF-18 Hornet into combat for the first time? What happens when the fighting is over, but the experiences stay with you?
In Part 2 of our conversation with Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew “Hazno” Faith, we pick up where we left off: arriving in Italy with almost no warning, preparing for combat operations over Libya, and putting years of fighter pilot training to the test.
Andrew takes us inside Canada's contribution to Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR, from enforcing a no-fly zone to flying strike missions against Gaddafi's forces. He describes the reality of flying into hostile airspace, the moment his aircraft was targeted by a surface-to-air missile, and what it takes to climb back into the cockpit knowing the danger is real.
Andrew opens up about the challenges of returning home, the psychological and moral effects of combat, and the difficulty of transitioning from high-stakes operations to everyday family life. We explore why fear is a normal part of combat, why courage doesn't mean being fearless, and what military organizations can do to better prepare their people for the experience.
We also discuss his transition into instructing with 419 Squadron at CFB Cold Lake, the importance of preparing young fighter pilots for operational service, life on NORAD quick reaction alert, and his later experiences supporting Operation IMPACT in 2015.
From the intensity of combat to the responsibility of training the next generation, this episode explores what it really means to become (and remain) a fighter pilot.
CHAPTERS
(00:00:00) Introduction and Welcome
(00:01:55) Arriving in Italy for Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR
(00:07:33) Canada's Mission in Libya
(00:11:59) Enforcing the No-Fly Zone
(00:13:34) Under Fire: A Surface-to-Air Missile
(00:17:20) Returning to Combat After Being Targeted
(00:20:58) A Combat Mission from Start to Finish
(00:25:39) Flying as a Wingman in Libya
(00:27:05) The End of the War and Gaddafi's Death
(00:27:50) Coming Home from Combat
(00:32:44) The Mental Health Effects of Combat
(00:35:49) Recognizing the Warning Signs
(00:38:18) Lessons from Libya for Future Fighter Pilots
(00:39:56) From Combat Pilot to Flight Instructor
(00:47:03) Life on NORAD Quick Reaction Alert
(00:49:14) Preparing Students for Combat
(00:53:14) Operation IMPACT in 2015
(00:56:43) Flight Safety Across Aviation Communities
(00:58:07) The Challenges of Returning Home
(00:59:35) Advice for a First Combat Deployment
(01:01:19) Closing Thoughts and What's Next
CONTINUE THE FLIGHT
Continue Andrew “Hazno” Faith's story and explore more firsthand accounts of RCAF fighter aviation:
• Fighters: The Road to Fighters Part 1: From Hawk to Hornet – Andrew “Hazno” Faith
• The Jet Jockey Part 1 & Part 2 – Dan McWilliams
• The Bangseat Part 1 & Part 2 – Rock Veilleux
EXPLORE THE LOGBOOK
Discover more stories, experiences, and advice from RCAF and mission aviation pilots.
https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes

What does it take to go from watching CF-18 Hornets fly overhead as a kid to becoming a fighter pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force?
For Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew “Hazno” Faith, that dream began on a school playground in Saskatchewan. In Part 1 of our conversation, we follow his journey through RCAF pilot training, from the Harvard II in Moose Jaw to the Hawk and Fighter Lead-In Training (FLIT) at 419 Squadron, and finally into the cockpit of the CF-18 Hornet.
Along the way, Andrew shares the unforgettable flying lesson that changed his approach to safety, the challenges of learning to think and react at fighter-jet speeds, and how his early confidence was tested as he progressed through training.
We also explore the culture and camaraderie of military aviation, the transition from student to operational fighter pilot, and the sudden call to deploy to Libya in 2011, when Andrew had to leave his young family behind with almost no warning.
In Part 2, we'll explore his combat experiences in Libya and Iraq, along with his later work training the next generation of fighter pilots.
Chapters
(00:00:00) Introduction and Welcome
(00:03:37) Growing Up with the Dream of Fighters
(00:05:35) Air Cadets and Early Flight Training
(00:06:12) From the Hockey Rink to the Cockpit
(00:08:40) Why Military Aviation?
(00:10:35) Studying Petroleum Engineering
(00:13:43) The Story Behind “Hasno”
(00:15:53) Arriving in Moose Jaw
(00:18:47) The Fighter Mentality
(00:22:06) The Challenges of Military Flight Training
(00:24:55) An Unforgettable Altimeter Lesson
(00:29:11) Selected for the Hawk
(00:30:26) Flying His First Jet
(00:31:16) Waterskiing Behind the Aircraft
(00:31:54) From the Hawk to 419 Squadron
(00:34:16) A Reality Check
(00:34:49) Learning to Handle Setbacks
(00:36:41) The First CF-18 Flight
(00:39:09) From Training to Operations
(00:41:24) Life as a New Hornet Pilot
(00:42:45) Supporting the G8 Summit
(00:43:56) Short-Notice Deployment to Libya
(00:52:27) Leaving Family Behind
CONTINUE THE FLIGHT
For more stories from RCAF fighter pilots, explore these conversations:
The Jet Jockey Part 1 & Part 2 – Dan McWilliams:
https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/search?query=jockey
The Bangseat Part 1 & Part 2 – Rock Veilleux
https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/search?query=bangseat

EXPLORE THE LOGBOOK
More stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots:
https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes

You've just had the worst flight of your course. Your confidence is shaken, and tomorrow's flight could determine your future. How do you bounce back?
In the conclusion of our three-part Built for Pressure series, mental performance consultant Zoran Stojković explains how RCAF student pilots can recover from failure, approach difficult debriefs, rebuild confidence, and distinguish honest self-assessment from destructive self-criticism.
We also explore how Canada's allies are developing mental performance programs, how technology could improve pilot training, and why recovery is essential to sustained high performance.
Finally, Zoran shares practical habits to develop before arriving in Moose Jaw, advice for the first week of training, and a message for anyone questioning whether they belong after a difficult flight.
Find Zoran at:
https://www.instagram.com/kizoperformance
www.kizo.ca
CHAPTERS
(00:00:00) Introduction and Welcome
(00:02:40) Mental Performance Coaching Among Our Allies
(00:09:04) What's New in Mental Performance Coaching?
(00:18:07) The Future of Mental Performance in RCAF Training
(00:24:41) Preparing for a Debrief When You Think You've Failed
(00:31:00) Honest Self-Assessment vs. Beating Yourself Up
(00:38:06) Rebuilding Confidence After Failure
(00:47:39) Sustaining Performance: Do You Have to Earn Recovery?
(00:53:24) Knowing When to Push Harder and When to Rest
(00:57:07) Three Tips Before Arriving in Moose Jaw
(01:00:42) Habits to Start Building Now
(01:02:20) Your First Week at Moose Jaw
(01:04:20) Performance Advice Pilots Should Stop Following
(01:06:46) Where to Find Zoran's Resources
(01:08:29) A Message After Your Worst Flight
(01:11:34) How to Connect with Zoran
CONTINUE THE FLIGHT
Catch up on the first two parts of Built for Pressure:
Part 1: From Elite Sport to RCAF Pilot Training – Zoran Stojković
Part 2: Practical Mental Performance for RCAF Pilots – Zoran Stojković
https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/
EXPLORE THE LOGBOOK
More stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots:
The Pilot Project Podcast episode archive:
https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/

What happens when you know the material cold, but freeze during a flight test?
Mental performance consultant Zoran Stojković returns for Part 2 of PERFORMANCE & SAFETY: BUILT FOR PRESSURE, where we explore practical tools for RCAF pilot training; from pre-flight routines and chair flying to performance cues, breathing and recovering after a cockpit mistake.
Drawing on Zoran’s work with student pilots, pro athletes, and Bryan’s flying experience, they discuss recognizing when you’re falling behind the aircraft, practicing resets before you need them, and helping students recover after a difficult flight.
Chapters
(00:00:00) Welcome and introduction
(00:01:08) Why students freeze during a test
(00:07:00) Preparing an Olympian versus preparing a pilot
(00:08:36) Can you perform well while feeling nervous?
(00:15:26) Tomorrow’s checkride: when to stop studying
(00:18:48) Building a useful pre-flight mental routine
(00:22:46) Making visualization and chair flying effective
(00:29:04) Adapting when the schedule or mission changes
(00:32:43) Performance cues and constructive self-talk
(00:41:55) Closing the gap between practice and cockpit performance
(00:44:13) Breathing as a performance tool while flying
(00:51:50) The OODA loop and helmet fires
(00:54:33) Recognizing when you’re falling behind the aircraft
(00:59:49) Resetting after a mistake in the cockpit
(01:03:14) Helping a student recover after a difficult flight
(01:06:13) Thanks and a look ahead to Part 3
Explore the Logbook
Continue from Part 1: PERFORMANCE & SAFETY: BUILT FOR PRESSURE Part 1: From Elite Sport to RCAF Pilot Training – Zoran Stojković.
Explore Zoran’s work: His Built for Pressure podcast and Kizo Performance resources are discussed throughout this episode.
Ask about the visualization resource: Zoran invites listeners to contact him through Kizo Performance on Instagram about resources, including the visualization template discussed in the interview.
Have a question, a guest suggestion or an idea for a future episode? Contact thepilotprojectpodcast@gmail.com or find us on social media @podpilotproject.
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Keep the blue side up!