The Pilot Project Podcast

What was it like to live in Germany on a NATO base during the Cold War as a teenager? What does it feel like to follow in your dad's footsteps and achieve your dreams to become a jet pilot? What was it like to instruct at "The Big 2" Moose Jaw when there could be up to 30 CT-114 Tutors flying at once? Today we sit down with Cold War fighter pilot Dan "Alf" McWilliams. Dan has a ton of fighter and instructional experience and is a wealth of knowledge and interesting stories. Today's interview will partly focus on some stories from his book, "Tutor Tales".You can find his books at:Tutor TalesSupersonic Stories

Join Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, Commander of the RCAF, as he shares insights on leading the Royal Canadian Air Force. He tackles the current state of the RCAF, addressing challenges in recruitment and modernization amid rising geopolitical tensions from adversaries like Russia and China. Kenny discusses the path towards a 2035 operational readiness goal, the evolution to 5th generation capabilities, and the importance of investing in both technology and personnel. He also highlights the significance of military family support and educational advancements in air and cyber warfare.

What does it take to complete Canada's "Top Gun", the Fighter Weapons Instructor Course? What is it like to deploy to Bosnia or take part in the bombing campaign in Kosovo with real air-to-air and ground-to-air threats? What does it take to coordinate strikes in Afghanistan? How are we shifting from a counter-insurgency to peer-to-peer warfighting mentality? Today we have Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, Commander of the RCAF on the show to discuss all these things and much more. Eric has 2900 flying hours, 2200 of which are on the CF-188 Hornet. He has been there and done that at the pointy end as well as from a command perspective. Join us today for a great discussion on his career as we lead up to a discussion on the RCAF as a whole!

What did it take to get the Pasisade Fires under control in LA County, California in the winter of 2025? How does aerial firefighting compare in Quebec and California? In this final part of our 2 part series on aerial firefighting, we sit down once again with aerial firefighter Pascal Duclos. Pascal has been fighting fires across Canada and the United States for many years, but this year he encountered conditions he had never previously seen. Tune in today to hear about bringing the LA County fires under control, as well as comparing firefighting in California and Quebec!

What was it like to deploy to Los Angeles and fight the infamous fires of the winter of 2025? What does it take to hit the fires with precision every time? How difficult is it to scoop from a heavy sea state on the ocean, or from tight quarters in a California reservoir? In this episode we sit down with aerial firefighter Pascal Duclos. Pascal has been fighting fires across Canada and the United States for many years, but this year he encountered conditions he had never previously seen. Tune in today to hear about what it takes to be an aerial firefighter, as well as fighting the fires of LA County!

What modernization projects and new aircraft is the RCAF getting? Why does the RCAF need a warfighting focus moving forward? Major-General Chris McKenna has over 2600 flying hours and is currently the Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, or 1 CAD. In this episode we'll talk about the exciting new modernization projects and aircraft that are coming online in the near future (or are already here) like the MQ9B SkyGuardian and the CF35A Lightning, as well as the new focus on warfighting for the RCAF, with a particular focus on lethality, interoperability, and survivability. Finally, we'll take some questions from the audience! Tune in today!

What is it like to deploy as the Task Force Commander for a violent mission in Mali? What difficulties does working with the UN bring? What is it like to be the Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, or 1 CAD, and have 5 different official jobs? What modernization projects and new aircraft is the RCAF getting? Major-General Chris McKenna has over 2600 flying hours and is currently the Commander of 1 CAD. In this episode we'll talk about his time in Mali, his time as the Commander of 1 Wing and his current position as Commander 1 CAD. We'll also begin our talk about the amazing new modernization projects and aircraft that are coming online in the near future (or are already here)! Tune in today!

What is it like to deploy to Kandahar City, Afghanistan with JTF2 as a young officer in the RCAF? What about to return flying the CH-147D Chinook? Major-General Chris McKenna has over 2600 flying hours and is currently the Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, or 1 CAD. In this episode we'll talk about his early flight training, his deployments to Afghanistan, as well as his time as the Commanding Officer of 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron flying the CH-147F Chinook. Tune in today!

Mike Reyno is a renowned air-to-air photographer and publisher who shares thrilling stories from his aviation career. He recounts surviving a mid-air collision with the Snowbirds and his time with the Aurora crew for Op Sharp Guard. Reyno discusses the evolution of aviation journalism, moving from magazines to launching an aviation podcast network. He emphasizes the unique versatility of helicopters in various operations and reflects on the importance of teamwork and storytelling in the Canadian aviation landscape.

Tune in to this episode for an exciting announcement about the podcast! Following that, we will sit down with renowned air-to-air photographer and publisher Mike Reyno. What is it like to work extensively with the RCAF conducting air-to-air photography with every Squadron in the RCAF? What does it take to get the perfect shot - and what gets you noticed by a publisher? We will talk about this and much more on today's episode of The Pilot Project Podcast.