Episode 77: The Veteran Series: Cold War Remembrance and the famous flight in the MiG-29 Part 2 - Bob Wade
In Part 2 of this Remembrance Day special, Major (Ret) Bob Wade - Cold War fighter pilot, instructor, and former CF-18 demo pilot - takes us into the jet age of the 1980s. Wade describes the transition from the CF-104 Starfighter to the CF-18 Hornet, his time shaping Canada’s early Hornet tactics, and the challenges of bringing a new fighter into service. He recalls intercepting Soviet bombers during Arctic NORAD alert operations and running forward deployments in the far North with 441 Squadron. Then, Wade tells the incredible story of the day he became the first Western pilot to fly a Soviet MiG-29, after escorting the aircraft through Canadian airspace to the Abbotsford Airshow. With insight, humour, and humility, Wade reflects on Cold War flying, the changing technology of fighter aviation, and what remembrance means to those who served in uniform.
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Episode 76: The Veteran Series: Cold War Remembrance and the famous flight in the MiG-29 Part 1 - Bob Wade
In this Remembrance Day special, Major (Ret) Bob Wade - a Cold War Snowbird, CF-104 Starfighter, and CF-18 pilot - recounts his remarkable beginnings in Canadian military aviation. From growing up west of Edmonton and being inspired by the Golden Hawks, to earning his wings in 1969 and instructing on the CT-114 Tutor at Moose Jaw, Bob describes the high-tempo jet-training world of the 1960s. He shares how the Snowbirds were born from a few instructors with a passion for formation flying and a supportive base commander who defied orders to keep the team aloft. Along the way, he reflects on how military culture, mentorship, and sacrifice shaped his generation of RCAF aviators.
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Episode 75: The Tandem Rotor: Inside CH-147F Chinook Operations with 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron Part 2 – Ian Wookey
In Part 2, Ian Wookey takes us inside daily flying with 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, sharing what it’s like to operate the CH-147F Chinook in challenging environments. He talks about crew coordination, tactical missions, mountain flying, and the training and experience required to upgrade from First Officer to Aircraft Commander in Canada’s heavy-lift helicopter community.
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Episode 74: The Tandem Rotor: Inside CH-147F Chinook Operations with 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron Part 1 – Ian Wookey
In Part 1, pilot Ian Wookey walks us through the formative years that made him a Chinook aviator - from varsity life at RMC and initial flight training on the Grob, to the intensity of the Harvard II course in Moose Jaw and the humbling challenge of helicopter phase training. Ian reflects on early on-the-job roles, an unexpected deployment to Afghanistan with a special operations aviation detachment, and how those experiences shaped his choice to fly rotary-wing aircraft. He closes by describing the nerve-wracking moment of selection for the CH-147F Chinook and what it felt like to join 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron.
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Episode 73: The LIFT: Lead-In Fighter Training in Italy and flying the CF-18 Hornet and the T-346 Master Part 3 - Eli
In Part 3 of our LIFT series, new RCAF pilot Eli shares his path from RMC to flying the T-346 Master in Italy’s International Flight Training School.He talks about early training on the Grob and Harvard II, a unique posting to CFS Alert, and the challenge of fast-jet training in Sardinia. From dogfighting, radar intercepts, and close air support to the physical and mental demands of becoming a fighter pilot, Eli gives us a rare student’s perspective on preparing for the CF-18 Hornet.If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to earn your wings and fly fighters for Canada, this is the episode for you.
The Pilot Project Podcast is an aviation podcast that aims to help new pilots learn what it takes to succeed in the world of flight, to help people in the flight training system learn what they may want to fly, and to give Canadians and the world a peek into life on the flight deck in the RCAF. We want to help pilots succeed and thrive! We interview real RCAF pilots for their exciting stories as well as the lessons they've learned along the way. We'll learn their tips to develop resilience and the tools it takes to make it in flight training.
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