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The Pilot Project Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Bryan Morrison
Welcome to The Pilot Project Podcast, your source for stories and insights from pilots in the RCAF and mission aviation. Whether you're an aspiring aviator, navigating flight training, or simply fascinated by the world of military and mission aviation, this podcast is your guide. We sit down with pilots and aviation professionals to hear their thrilling experiences, lessons learned, and expert advice on resilience, training, and the skills needed to succeed in this exciting field. Strap in - we’re ready for departure!
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- 2 days ago59 min
Fighters: The Red Knight Part 1: Cold War Skies – Darwin “Tex” Deagnon
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 Introduction and Welcome Growing Up in Zehner, Saskatchewan Life in a Soldiers' Settlement Area First Flight with Dad in a Piper Cub The Story Behind “Tex” What Drew Tex to the Military? Memories of Flight Training The CF-100 Lead Sled Learning from Korean War Veterans A Memorable Training Flight Transitioning to the F-86 Sabre First Sabre Flight: Flying Solo First Flight in Cold War Europe Introducing New Pilots to Cold War Operations The Mission in Europe A Typical Day at Grostenquin Close Calls in Cold War Europe Becoming a Fighter Weapons Instructor Air Gunnery and Scoring From Operations to Instruction When Frontline Lessons Became Obsolete Live Weapons Training at Wainwright Guns, Rockets, and Bombs Was the Sabre a Good Gunnery Platform? Becoming the Red Knight Inside the Red Knight Routine Manoeuvres and Minimum Altitudes The Experience of Low-Altitude Aerobatics His Father's Influence on Flying Balancing Instruction and the Red Knight Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame Recognition Remembering the Fallen Red Knights How Pilots Coped with Loss Remembering Canada's Cold War Veterans Can Civilians Understand Wartime Experiences? Closing Thoughts and What's NextCONTINUE THE FLIGHTContinue 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=BangseatEXPLORE THE LOGBOOKDiscover more stories, experiences, and advice from RCAF and mission aviation pilots.https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodesRSS TAGSDarwin 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 Reme
- 1 weeks ago1h 4m
Fighters: The Road to Fighters Part 2: Into Combat – Andrew “Hazno” Faith
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 Introduction and Welcome Arriving in Italy for Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR Canada's Mission in Libya Enforcing the No-Fly Zone Under Fire: A Surface-to-Air Missile Returning to Combat After Being Targeted A Combat Mission from Start to Finish Flying as a Wingman in Libya The End of the War and Gaddafi's Death Coming Home from Combat The Mental Health Effects of Combat Recognizing the Warning Signs Lessons from Libya for Future Fighter Pilots From Combat Pilot to Flight Instructor Life on NORAD Quick Reaction Alert Preparing Students for Combat Operation IMPACT in 2015 Flight Safety Across Aviation Communities The Challenges of Returning Home Advice for a First Combat Deployment Closing Thoughts and What's NextCONTINUE THE FLIGHTContinue 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 VeilleuxEXPLORE THE LOGBOOKDiscover more stories, experiences, and advice from RCAF and mission aviation pilots.https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes
- 2 weeks ago56 min
Fighters: The Road to Fighters Part 1: From Hawk to Hornet – Andrew “Hazno” Faith
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 Introduction and Welcome Growing Up with the Dream of Fighters Air Cadets and Early Flight Training From the Hockey Rink to the Cockpit Why Military Aviation? Studying Petroleum Engineering The Story Behind “Hasno” Arriving in Moose Jaw The Fighter Mentality The Challenges of Military Flight Training An Unforgettable Altimeter Lesson Selected for the Hawk Flying His First Jet Waterskiing Behind the Aircraft From the Hawk to 419 Squadron A Reality Check Learning to Handle Setbacks The First CF-18 Flight From Training to Operations Life as a New Hornet Pilot Supporting the G8 Summit Short-Notice Deployment to Libya Leaving Family BehindCONTINUE THE FLIGHTFor more stories from RCAF fighter pilots, explore these conversations:The Jet Jockey Part 1 & Part 2 – Dan McWilliams:https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/search?query=jockeyThe Bangseat Part 1 & Part 2 – Rock Veilleuxhttps://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/search?query=bangseatEXPLORE THE LOGBOOKMore stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots:https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes
- 3 weeks ago1h 15m
PERFORMANCE & SAFETY: BUILT FOR PRESSURE Part 3: Bouncing Back from Failure – Zoran Stojković
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/kizoperformancewww.kizo.caCHAPTERS Introduction and Welcome Mental Performance Coaching Among Our Allies What's New in Mental Performance Coaching? The Future of Mental Performance in RCAF Training Preparing for a Debrief When You Think You've Failed Honest Self-Assessment vs. Beating Yourself Up Rebuilding Confidence After Failure Sustaining Performance: Do You Have to Earn Recovery? Knowing When to Push Harder and When to Rest Three Tips Before Arriving in Moose Jaw Habits to Start Building Now Your First Week at Moose Jaw Performance Advice Pilots Should Stop Following Where to Find Zoran's Resources A Message After Your Worst Flight How to Connect with ZoranCONTINUE THE FLIGHTCatch up on the first two parts of Built for Pressure:Part 1: From Elite Sport to RCAF Pilot Training – Zoran StojkovićPart 2: Practical Mental Performance for RCAF Pilots – Zoran Stojkovićhttps://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/EXPLORE THE LOGBOOKMore stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots:The Pilot Project Podcast episode archive:https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/
- Oct 6, 20261h 10m
PERFORMANCE & SAFETY: BUILT FOR PRESSURE Part 2: Mental Tools for the Cockpit – Zoran Stojković
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 Welcome and introduction Why students freeze during a test Preparing an Olympian versus preparing a pilot Can you perform well while feeling nervous? Tomorrow’s checkride: when to stop studying Building a useful pre-flight mental routine Making visualization and chair flying effective Adapting when the schedule or mission changes Performance cues and constructive self-talk Closing the gap between practice and cockpit performance Breathing as a performance tool while flying The OODA loop and helmet fires Recognizing when you’re falling behind the aircraft Resetting after a mistake in the cockpit Helping a student recover after a difficult flight Thanks and a look ahead to Part 3Explore the LogbookContinue 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.Help with the big three: like and follow us on social media, share with your friends, and follow and rate us five stars wherever you get your podcasts.Keep the blue side up!
- Sep 29, 20261h 6m
PERFORMANCE & SAFETY: BUILT FOR PRESSURE Part 1: From Elite Sport to RCAF Pilot Training – Zoran Stojković
What happens when you know how to do something, but pressure makes it difficult to actually do it?Certified Mental Performance Consultant Zoran Stojković has spent more than 15 years helping people perform under pressure, from professional athletes and Olympic hopefuls to RCAF pilot trainees.In Part 1, Zoran shares the path that took him from competitive tennis and high-performance sport to 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School in Moose Jaw. He explains what surprised him about the pressures facing student pilots, how he earned credibility as a civilian working inside military aviation, and why relationships became central to his work.We also hear how Zoran supported aircrew during Jaw South in Texas, how mental performance coaching became embedded in the flying environment, and what aviation taught him about the difference between high stakes and real stakes.CHAPTERS Introduction, welcome and bio What role did sport play growing up? Why can we perform in practice but struggle under pressure? When did mental performance become a career? What did Zoran get wrong when he started coaching? What kind of pressure are Olympians under? Helping a professional tennis player turn things around Going from athletes to pilots Walking into 2CFFTS for the first time What surprised Zoran about the pressure on student pilots? High stakes versus real stakes Earning credibility in aviation as an outsider What happens when pilots don’t buy into mental performance coaching? A pilot success story Deploying with Jaw South What is Jaw South, and where did Zoran fit in? Helping a student in crisis before a flight Making progress in a slow-moving institution Meeting Colonel Jeremy Hansen Advice for a student pilot before a testEXPLORE THE LOGBOOKMore stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots:The Pilot Project Podcast episode archive:https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes
- Sep 22, 20261h 13m
Special Ops: The Pioneers Part 4: From Moose Jaw to CANSOFCOM – Todd O’Malley
Colonel Todd O’Malley concludes our four-part journey through the evolution of Canadian tactical and special operations aviation. Todd returns to Moose Jaw, where he transitions from helicopters to fixed-wing flying, learns to instruct on the CT-156 Harvard and later becomes Commandant of 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School.He also recounts commanding B Flight at 427 Squadron, developing maritime counterterrorism capabilities and helping transform the unit from tactical helicopter support into a dedicated special operations aviation squadron. After more than a decade in civilian aviation, Todd explains what brought him back into uniform as Director Air and Space at CANSOFCOM. The conversation explores the rapid growth of uncrewed aircraft, counter-UAS and space capabilities, lessons emerging from real-world allied experience, and Todd’s advice for anyone considering special operations aviation. He closes by recognizing the mentors, colleagues and family members who made his remarkable career possible.CONTINUE THE FLIGHTEXPLORE THE LOGBOOKMore stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilotshttps://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes Introduction and Welcome Instructing at 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School Returning to Fixed-Wing Flying Converting from the Tutor to the Harvard Why Flight Instructing Is So Difficult The Most Rewarding Part of Instructing When Students Arrive Unprepared Returning to Fix a Missed Opportunity Returning to Moose Jaw as Commandant Being Both an Instructor and a Principal Influencing the Student Experience as Commandant Mentorship and Perspective The Weight of Ending a Student’s Training How Students React to Being Told They Are Done Why the Good Days Outweigh the Bad Returning to 427 Squadron in 2003 Commanding B Flight The Difference Between Elite and Elitist When 427 Squadron Began Drifting Apart Developing Maritime Counterterrorism Capabilities Standing Up CANSOFCOM Transforming Tactical Helicopter Aviation into SOF Aviation Why Todd Retired from the RCAF Lessons from Civilian Aviation Military and Civilian Workplace Cultures Returning to the RCAF The Director Air and Space Mandate How Canadian SOF Aviation Is Evolving Learning from Allies Special Operations in a Changing World Advice for Joining Special Operations Aviation Todd’s Remaining Career Goals Recognizing the People Behind His Career Closing the Series
- Sep 15, 202650 min
Special Ops: The Pioneers Part 3: Somalia, JTF2, and the Birth of SOF Aviation – Todd O’Malley
Colonel Todd O’Malley continues our four-part journey through the history of Canadian tactical and special operations aviation. In Part 3, Todd recounts flying the CH-135 Twin Huey in Somalia, where severe brownouts made every takeoff and landing dangerous, and an unexpected mission gave him his first experience supporting U.S. special operations forces.Todd also reflects on the Somalia Affair, its painful aftermath and the difficulty of returning home from a deployment overshadowed by scandal. He then takes us inside the earliest days of JTF2—from flying with the RCMP and becoming the unit’s first Air Liaison Officer to developing new helicopter insertion tactics at Dwyer Hill. The episode explores the people, missions and “refuse to lose” culture that helped transform a fragile domestic counterterrorism capability into the foundation of modern Canadian special operations aviation.CONTINUE THE FLIGHTEXPLORE THE LOGBOOKMore stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodesCHAPTERS Introduction and Welcome Somalia with 427 Squadron The Danger of Dustballs A Helicopter Crash in a Dustball A First Taste of Special Operations The Somalia Affair The Aftermath of the Somalia Affair Flying with the RCMP: The Road to SOF Aviation Becoming JTF2’s First Air Liaison Officer What Is Dwyer Hill? Witnessing the Beginning of Canadian SOF History How SOF Culture Changed After Somalia Overcoming Personal Challenges Flying Special Operations Missions with the RCMP Developing New Tactics Seeing Those Tactics Still in Use The “Refuse to Lose” Mindset Closing and a Preview of Part 4
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About The Pilot Project Podcast
Welcome to The Pilot Project Podcast, your source for stories and insights from pilots in the RCAF and mission aviation. Whether you're an aspiring aviator, navigating flight training, or simply fascinated by the world of military and mission aviation, this podcast is your guide. We sit down with pilots and aviation professionals to hear their thrilling experiences, lessons learned, and expert advice on resilience, training, and the skills needed to succeed in this exciting field. Strap in - we’re ready for departure!
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