Dave Hadfield comes from an iconic family when it comes to Canadian aviation. With eight pilots and counting in the family, Dave enjoyed a successful career as an airline pilot retiring on the Boeing 777. When not making ocean crossings, Dave has also become an experienced warbird pilot, flying several variations of DeHavilland Moths, the Westland Lysander, P-40 Warhawk, Hawker Hurricane, P-51 Mustang, and (Mike's all time favourite aircraft) the Supermarine Spitfire.

Listen in as Mike picks Dave's brain on what it's like to fly the WWII era fighters, learn how the Spitfire handles, and how Dave and his team safely demonstrate these aircraft to the public.

Learn more about Dave by visiting his website: Hadfield.ca

YouTube: youtube.com/@davehadfield5906

Stay tuned after the credits for a snippet "On Track" from the album Climbing Away, written by Dave Hadfield available on Bandcamp.

Episode 10 is dedicated to the memory of the crew of Jazz flight 646, Captain Antoine Forest and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther.

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Edited & Produced by Jason Rosewell

Captain Damar Walker started out like any other prospective airline captain in aviation. With a goal and dream in mind he started flight training in hopes of one day flying jets. Now, after a challenging and rewarding pathway through the Royal Canadian Air Force flying the C-130J Hercules, Captain Walker commands the Airbus A319, A320, & A321 for a living. In this episode, we learn what challenges Damar encountered in his career, how he manages his flight deck, and how he gives back to his community through volunteerism.

Find Damar on instagram @dlx_pilot

To find out more about the Urban Pilot's Network reach out to Damar at [email protected] or urbanpilots.net 

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Edited & Produced by Jason Rosewell

Do you dream about flying? Ever wanted to become a pilot? “How do I become a pilot?” is a question professional pilots get all the time. Whether you want to become a professional pilot or just fly for fun, getting your Private Pilot Licence (PPL) is where most start!

In this episode, Mike and his good friend Melissa talk about how to go about getting your flight training started, finding the right flight school and instructor, the steps your training will take, equipment you might need and other advice to make you successful.

Some notes from the show:

• The Familiarization (Fam) Flight is also commonly called the Discovery Flight

• A PPL student is trained to be a visual flight rules (VFR) pilot. This means they have to have reference to the ground at all times, not the horizon. Although when learning to fly, the horizon is used as your reference point for the attitude of the aircraft.

• Minimum flight hours required to hold a PPL is 45 hours which shall include a minimum of 17 hours dual, 3 hours dual cross country, 5 hours instrument, 17 hours solo, of which 5 hours must be solo cross country.

• On average, most students will take an average of 60-80 hours or more to complete their flight training. This is due to weather delays, instructor or aircraft availability, frequency of flight lessons, commitment to training etc.

• 40 hours of ground school must be completed before writing the Transport Canada written exam

• A Category III medical is required to hold a PPL

• To acquire a PPL, the candidate must be at least 17 years of age. This means they must be 17 to hold the license, but can fly solo at 14 years old.

Contact your local flight school for more information about learning to fly!

Follow us on Instagram at @mikeinthefront

Edited & Produced by Jason Rosewell

Nav Canada is Canada's air navigation service provider. They deliver air traffic services, design and maintain essential airspace systems, and ensure the safe movement of aircraft. How? with skilled and dedicated air traffic controllers like Adam Berrill.

Adam is an arrival and departure controller for Toronto Pearson International Airport and handles everything from small business jets to super heavy Airbus A380s. Listen to Mike and Adam chat about how Adam got started, what it's like to be an air traffic controller, and how to join Nav Canada's team.

For up-to-date information on becoming an air traffic controller, visit: https://www.navcanada.ca/en/careers/air-traffic-controller.aspx

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Questions or comments about the podcast? Contact us at [email protected]

Please consider leaving us a rating and/or review!

Edited & Produced by Jason Rosewell

A life well lived in airplanes. Mike sits down to talk with his tailwheel mentor retired Captain Ted Climenhaga. Listen in as Ted recounts his flying career from 1960s RCAF flying in the CF-100 Canuck and CF-101 Voodoo during the Cuban Missile Crisis to flying most of the classic airliners of the new jet age, including the Boeing 747. Ever heard of a 747 doing a touch and go? Ted has done it!

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Questions or comments about the podcast? Contact us at [email protected]

Please consider leaving us a rating and/or review

Edited & Produced by Jason Rosewell

Red eye to Rome anyone? Mike chats with Steve Zago from Lost Aviator Coffee about how two furloughed airline pilots started a business by pivoting to roasting coffee in the face of a global pandemic. Now, almost six years later, with two locations in Guelph, Ontario, Lost Aviator serves coffee infused with the passion for aviation to the local community and all over the world.

For 10% off coffee and merchandise visit Lostaviatorcoffee.com and use code “MIKEINTHEFRONT” on checkout.

Follow us on Instagram at @mikeinthefront

Questions or comments about the podcast? Contact us at [email protected]

Mike sits down with his friend and experienced aviator, Bill McBride to talk about Bill’s experience in flying almost 50 different types of aircraft. Bill shares his experience as a warbird pilot, ferry pilot, airshow organizer, and volunteer. Bill and Mike also discuss what it means to volunteer in your community and Bill gives his advice for those who are looking to get involved.

Bill has checked out in close to 50 aircraft and flown in over 70 types. Here’s a list of some of the aircraft that are discussed, flown in, or flown by Bill himself:

Fleet Canuck, Piper: PA-12 Super Cruiser, PA-18 Super Cub, PA-22 Tri Pacer, PA-25 Pawnee, PA-28 Cherokee/Arrow, PA-31 Navajo, Stinson 105 Voyager, Fairchild 24, Fairchild Cornell, DHC-1 Chipmunk, T6 Harvard, P-47 Thunderbolt, Fairey Firefly, Avro Anson, Beech 18, Rockwell Aero Commander, McDonnell F-101 Voodoo.

Safe to say Bill is an experienced aviator!

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Questions or comments about the podcast? Contact us at [email protected]

Please consider leaving us a rating and/or review

Edited & Produced by Jason Rosewell

Music intro by Tyler Wilson

Artwork by Achilles Concepcion

Welcome to Episode 03 where we discuss how Mike accomplished a career long goal of getting checked out in the North American T6 Harvard. This was a journey that was over a decade in the making and introduced Mike to some of his most influential mentors in the warbird world.

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Questions or comments about the podcast? Contact us at [email protected]

Please consider leaving us a rating and/or review

Edited & Produced by Jason Rosewell

Music intro by Tyler Wilson

Artwork by Achilles Concepcion

In episode 02, Jason Rosewell joins us from Infinite Flight to talk about the world of mobile flight sim, airplane ownership, and the humbling experience of learning by making a mistake. 

Follow us on Instagram at @mikeinthefront

Questions or comments about the podcast? Contact us at [email protected]

Please consider leaving us a rating and/or review

Edited & Produced by Jason Rosewell

Music intro by Tyler Wilson

Artwork by Achilles Concepcion

In our first episode, Mike introduces himself, the origin of "Mike in the Front", the goals of the podcast and what to expect as he shares his passion for aviation

Follow us on Instagram at @mikeinthefront

Questions or comments about the podcast? Contact us at [email protected]

Please consider leaving us a rating and/or review!

Edited & Produced by Jason Rosewell

Music intro by Tyler Wilson

Artwork by Achilles Concepcion