Aircraft, Cars, Shooting, Skiing and more......

In the beginning - At the age of 12, with dreams of FGR.2 Phantoms and CF-104 Starfighters floating through my head, I joined 24 Sqn Royal Canadian Air Cadets.  This was the start of a journey that can only be described as the pursuit of a dream.

While a cadet I shot small-bore rifle, worked hard and won the award for top junior cadet in my second year.  That was followed by an airframe technical scholarship, a gliding scholarship and a fixed-wing power scholarship.  At age 17 I found myself with a PPL(G), a standard PPL with 60 hrs and night rating.  I've been flying ever since.

1991 - With Gulf War images fresh in everyone's mind, I left my home on the family ranch in Alberta, Canada and flew to the United Kingdom on a one way trip.  In November I received my first interview at an RAF recruiting office and then attended the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre at RAF Biggin Hill.

I obtained an RAF bursary as a pilot and started my BEng (Hons) in Aero Eng at Loughborough University.  As part of the deal, joined East Midlands Universities Air Squadron and began my Elementary Flying Training on the Bulldog T.1.

1996 - Having finished University, I started Initial Officer Training at RAF College Cranwell and was commissioned in 1996.

Wings - I graduated from the Defense Helicopter Flying School on July 16, 1999 and was awarded my RAF pilot's brevet.  One of the best days of my life.

Present - Having trained at DHFS Shawbury and the Puma HC.1 OCF at RAF Benson, I am now approaching the end of my first tour on 230 Sqn "NATO Tigers". 

The Future - I have many goals, and if I don't achieve them all in my lifetime, I'll die in the process of pursuing one of them.  Here are a few in chronological order (and probability!):

1. Fly my RAF 2000 2.5 GTX FI Gyroplane across the North Atlantic by way of Greenland and Iceland
2. Build a Wilksch CITEC Diesel powered Van's RV-8 and fly it around the world
3. Do some Rotary Trials work
4. Fly the bush after leaving the RAF, either fire fighting or otherwise
5. Start my own aviation engineering and restoration company after leaving the RAF; fly summer fire season, restore aircraft during winter
6. Restore and fly a Canadair Sabre Mk.6
7. Fly the Avro CF-105 Arrow that the Arrow Alliance is trying to rebuild

I'd also like to find time to get married and have a family somewhere in there, but she'll have to be the most patient woman in the world, or crazy.  People often ask why I haven't managed to get married yet.  The answer is simple; I only intend to get married once, and I haven't met the right one yet.

Send mail to 66Mustang@snook99.freeserve.co.uk with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: May 12, 2004