WARBIRD U - 2012
Are you, like me, stuck in a dead end job? Has being third fry-cook at Marcel and Hughette's P'tit Patate Casse-croûte lost its original "job-appeal”? Does it say "Acting Second Assistant Filing Manager, Dormant Records and Forms" on your business card? Does your wife look at you over breakfast and just shake her head or roll her eyes? Was crashing the gate at the Ottawa Valley Beanie Baby Collectors Meet the last really exciting thing you did?
Or perhaps you have, over the past months, slept fitfully night after night wishing you could get answers to such questions as:
“Was that a twin choke SU carburettor at the base of the supercharger on that Merlin?”
“How do I get my Sabre to stop on a 7,000 foot rain-soaked runway?”
“Should I be worried about inadvertent, non-commanded wing-folding in my Corsair during 3G aerobatic manoeuvres?”
If you really need an answer to any of the foregoing interrogatives or if you have niggling questions that keep you sleepless, we have the educational program for you. The Vintage Wings of Canada Warbird University series of Technical Ground Schools will put the puff back in your jodhpurs, the jingle in your spurs and the jut back in your chin. Designed specifically for Vintage Wings warbird pilots (the most god-like pilots on the aviator pantheon), these courses are mandatory if they wish to fly our aircraft. You will learn what they must learn - technical systems, operation techniques, performance parameters, flying characteristics (both benign and deadly) and historical context combined with anecdotal stories from highly experienced test and warbird pilots.
Given that the University of Oxford is nearly nine hundred years old, it seems a tad premature to look back over the 22 months since we founded Warbird University with some sort of alma mater boola-boola college nostalgia. But the truth is, the first two semesters of Warbird U Technical Ground Schools were a resounding successes with students and teachers both learning tremendous lessons in the operation of vintage warbirds and the sharing of this knowledge with the world at large.
Studies by the Canadian National Institute for Suavity have shown a clear correlation between Warbird U graduates and better performance with the opposite sex. Further studies also indicate that Warbird U graduates have better luck in lotteries, are more likely to be selected for career advancements and significant compensation increases and have better results in golf. It's true..
Warbird University graduates are history makers - note WU sports department t-shirts in above photo. The material you will learn at a Warbird University technical ground school will prepare you should your country call upon you.
The 1938 graduating class of Warbird U - the Eight Cylinders of Power. Of these eight, six would become aces during World War Two including Flying Officer Harold Mortimer Balls, DSO, DSC, DFC and Bar (second from left) and Wing Commander Tristan de Longauy “Wiggy” Beecham, DFM, GC, DFC and six Bars (far right), both of whom were aces, fashion models, classical musicians, Olympic athletes, Nobel prize winners, multi-linguists, architects and post war air racers.
From the outset when pilot Rob Kostecka rolled out the first Ground School on the Harvard in 2010 and moved the bar for detail of instruction and quality of presentation past the detents to the maximum setting, the courses and responses have been nothing short of exhilarating for Vintage Wings of Canada and its partner the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.
Each Technical Ground School takes place at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum's new state of the art theatre and is two days packed with insights, information and anecdotes packaged in an easy to understand series of Powerpoints given by Canada's top aviators. Lunch and coffee breaks will be served each day with private tours of the Vintage Wings of Canada collection in Gatineau on the Sunday followed by cockpit check-outs. Each participant will receive a Warbird U Certfificate and a custom portrait of themselves in the cockpit of the course warbird.
As we all know, no course is a great course unless it is taught by talented and committed instructors. Now, imagine you could study Psych 100 under Sigmund Freud, get tutoring in Architecture Fundamentals from Christopher Wren, or have Madame Curie as your chemistry lab partner. The concept of the superstar instructor comes to life in each and every one of our Warbird U courses with perhaps the finest and most accomplished pilots in Canada. Here are the courses and their "Profs".
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The first day and a half is held at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum’s state-of-the-art auditorium.
We begin with presentations on aircraft systems, normal and abnormal/emergency procedures. Photo: Richard Lawrence
In attendance will be guest Second World War or Cold War veterans who can offer personal insights and often poignant vignettes and remembrances.
On the afternoon of the second day, we head over to the Vintage Wings hangar for a tour of the collection – and special demonstrations. Photo by Peter Handley
On the afternoon of the second day, we head over to the Vintage Wings hangar for a tour of the collection – and special demonstrations.
A special feature of the tour is the opportunity to sit in your warbird for a personal tour conducted by a VWC pilot.
Each course participant receives a “Hero Shot” in the cockpit of their warbird. In this case, your fellow students could be experienced pilots like Sabre pilot BGen Paul Hayes (left) or Harvard Pilot Edward Soye
Technical Ground School No. One
North American Harvard 4/T-6 Texan
Saturday January 28th and Sunday 29th, 2012
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
$200 for non-members/ $150 per Member of Vintage Wings, Canada Aviation & Space Museum, Rockcliffe Flying Club or Ottawa Flying Club
Aircraft Technical Systems
Engine, Hydraulics, Controls, Instrumentation & ArmamentAircraft Handling and Flying Characteristics
Aircraft History – historical Canadian significance of type
Thorough “walk-around” and cockpit familiarization
Private tour of Vintage Wings of Canada collection & facility
Meet and talk flying with Vintage Wings warbird pilots
Warbird Ground School Certificate
Professional cockpit photograph of you and your “warbird”
Rob Kostecka, your Harvard Ground School Instructor, is a highly qualified transport and warbird pilot with type ratings on the Airbus A320, A330, A340, A380, Boeing B757, B767, Bombardier CRJ, de Havilland Canada Dash 8 and North American B-25 among other types. Rob was a member of the international team which completed the Operational Evaluation of the massive Airbus A380. He is a Class 1 Flight Instructor and Class 1 Aerobatic instructor as well as a simulator and ground school instructor on various Transport Category aircraft. Rob flew for and instructed with various airlines – including Canada 3000 and Air Canada.
Technical Ground School No. Two
North American P-51D Mustang IV
Saturday February 11th and Sunday 12th, 2012
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
$250 for non-members/ $200 per Member of Vintage Wings, Canada Aviation & Space Museum, Rockcliffe Flying Club or Ottawa Flying Club
Aircraft Technical Systems
Engine, Hydraulics, Controls, Instrumentation & ArmamentAircraft Handling and Flying Characteristics
Aircraft History – historical Canadian significance of type
Thorough “walk-around” and cockpit familiarization
Private tour of Vintage Wings of Canada collection & facility
Meet and talk flying with Vintage Wings warbird pilots
Warbird Ground School Certificate
Professional cockpit photograph of you and your “warbird”
Your Mustang Ground School instructors are two of the most qualified fighter and warbird pilots in Canada.
John Aitken is one of the most highly experienced military and civilian test pilots in the country having completed test pilot training with USAF at Edwards AFB. Afterwards he served as test pilot in Canada and with USAF (Edwards AFB). John was senior pilot for Canada's New Fighter Aircraft (NFA) project (1977-78) helping then to select the CF-18 Hornet as Canada's new fighter aircraft. John was the former Chief Test Pilot with National Research Council at the Flight Research Laboratory in Ottawa. John was awarded “Trans Canada Trophy” (McKee Trophy) in 2006 - awarded by the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute to a Canadian citizen who has made an outstanding, contemporary achievement in aerospace operations.
Rob Fleck, the President of Vintage Wings of Canada is a highly experienced military fighter pilot, corporate pilot and airline pilot. During Rob' s ten year career in Canada’s Air Force, he flew the CF-104 Starfighter, CF-18 Hornet, Northrop CF-5 Freedom Fighter, Lockheed T-33 Silver Star and Avro CT-114 Tutor. Rob instructed on the CF-18 and authored the Flight Training Manual (“How to Fly”) for the CF-18. He was the first Canadian CF-18 “Top Gun” winner. He has a had a long and distinguished career in civil aviation as a manager and pilot.
Technical Ground School No. Three
Vickers Supermarine Spitfire XVI
Saturday March 24th and March 25th, 2012
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
$250 for non-members/ $200 per Member of Vintage Wings, Canada Aviation & Space Museum, Rockcliffe Flying Club or Ottawa Flying Club
Aircraft Technical Systems
Engine, Hydraulics, Controls, Instrumentation & ArmamentAircraft Handling and Flying Characteristics
Aircraft History – historical Canadian significance of type
Thorough “walk-around” and cockpit familiarization
Private tour of Vintage Wings of Canada collection & facility
Meet and talk flying with Vintage Wings warbird pilots
Warbird Ground School Certificate
Professional cockpit photograph of you and your “warbird”
Mike Potter, a former Royal Canadian Naval officer and Founder of Vintage Wings of Canada, has had a 40+ year passion for flying exotic aircraft. From high performance sailplane gliders to corporate jets to the powerful fighters of the Second World War, Mike is one of the most experienced warbird pilots in Canada and is perhaps the highest time current Spitfire pilot in Canada. Mike flies the Vintage Wings Spitfire, Corsair, Harvard, Mustang, Stearman, and Tiger Moth.
Rob Erdos, had a distinguished career in the Canadian Air Force as a helicopter pilot and test pilot having trained at the prestigious United States Navy test pilot school at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. Rob currently flies both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft as Chief Test Pilot with the National Research Council's Flight Research Laboratory. Rob flies Vintage Wings' Spitfire, Hurricane, Lysander, and Harvard.
Technical Ground School No. Four
Canadair-built North American Sabre 5
Saturday April 21st and April 22nd, 2012
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
$250 for non-members/ $200 per Member of Vintage Wings, Canada Aviation & Space Museum, Rockcliffe Flying Club or Ottawa Flying Club
Aircraft Technical Systems
Engine, Hydraulics, Controls, Instrumentation & ArmamentAircraft Handling and Flying Characteristics
Aircraft History – historical Canadian significance of type
Thorough “walk-around” and cockpit familiarization
Private tour of Vintage Wings of Canada collection & facility
Meet and talk flying with Vintage Wings warbird pilots
Warbird Ground School Certificate
Professional cockpit photograph of you and your “warbird”
Paul Kissmann, the Chief Pilot of Vintage Wings of Canada, has had a long and stellar career with the Canadian Air Force, flying the CF-18 Hornet and CF-5 Freedom Fighter. Paul is a Gulf War and Balkan War veteran, flying the CF-18. Kissmann was commander of 433 Squadron at CFB Bagotville, Québec and then, after graduating from the Empire Test Pilots' School at RAF Boscombe Down, he became a Test Pilot at the RCAF's Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE) at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta. Presently he is a test pilot at the National Research Council's Flight Test Laboratory. At Vintage Wings of Canada Paul flies the Sabre, Corsair, Kittyhawk and Harvard.
Dan Dempsey, the consummate Canadian jet display pilot, is presently the Hawk One F-86 Sabre team leader. Dan from a lengthy and stellar career, retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Royal Canadian Air Force after leading the Snowbirds during their 20th anniversary year. Dan flew the CF-104 Starfighter and CF-5 Freedom Fighteras well as instructed on the CT-114 Tutor. Following his time in the air force, Dan flew the Boeing 777 with Cathay Pacific Airlines as a training Captain. Dan presently flies combat support with Discovery Air's Top Aces and is one of Canada's top authors of Canadian military aviation history.
Technical Ground School No. Five
Blackburn Fairey Swordfish II
Saturday April 28th and April 29th, 2012
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
$250 for non-members/ $200 per Member of Vintage Wings, Canada Aviation & Space Museum, Rockcliffe Flying Club or Ottawa Flying Club
Aircraft Technical Systems
Engine, Hydraulics, Controls, Instrumentation & ArmamentAircraft Handling and Flying Characteristics
Aircraft History – historical Canadian significance of type
Thorough “walk-around” and cockpit familiarization
Private tour of Vintage Wings of Canada collection & facility
Meet and talk flying with Vintage Wings warbird pilots
Warbird Ground School Certificate
Professional cockpit photograph of you and your “warbird”
Rob Kostecka, your Swordfish Ground School Instructor, is a highly qualified transport and warbird pilot with type ratings on the Airbus A320, A330, A340, A380, Boeing B757, B767, Bombardier CRJ, de Havilland Canada Dash 8 and North American B-25 among other types. Rob was a member of the international team which completed the Operational Evaluation of the massive Airbus A380. He is a Class 1 Flight Instructor and Class 1 Aerobatic instructor as well as a simulator and ground school instructor on various Transport Category aircraft. Rob flew for and instructed with various airlines – including Canada 3000 and Air Canada. Rob flies the Havard as well as the Fairey Swordfish
John Aitken is one of the most highly experienced military and civilian test pilots in the country having completed test pilot training with USAF at Edwards AFB. Afterwards he served as test pilot in Canada and with USAF (Edwards AFB). John was senior pilot for Canada's New Fighter Aircraft (NFA) project (1977-78) helping then to select the CF-18 Hornet as Canada's new fighter aircraft. John was the former Chief Test Pilot with National Research Council at the Flight Research Laboratory in Ottawa. John was awarded “Trans Canada Trophy” (McKee Trophy) in 2006 - awarded by the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute to a Canadian citizen who has made an outstanding, contemporary achievement in aerospace operations.
Bob Childerhose, son of raconteur and Sabre pilot Chick Childerhose, is a gifted and highly experienced corporate jet pilot with deep time on the Dassault Falcon and Bombardier Challenger. At Vintage wings of Canada, Bob flies many radial engined aircraft such as the WACO Taperwing, Beech Staggerwing, de Havilland Canada Beaver and Fairey Swordfish. Bob, a gifted and natural tinkerer, immerses himself in the technicalities and idiosyncracies of vintage radial engines.
