The Pilot Project Podcast

Special Ops: The Pioneers Part 1: Becoming a Canadian Tactical Helicopter Pilot – Todd O’Malley

Colonel Todd O’Malley begins a four-part journey through the history of Canadian tactical and special operations aviation. Now Director Air and Space at CANSOFCOM, Todd l

Snowbirds: The Boss Part 3: Inside the Snowbirds - Maciej "Match" Hatta

What does it take to lead one of the world's premier military aerobatic teams? In the final chapter of our three-part series, Major Maciej "Match" Hatta takes us inside

Test Pilot: The Boss Part 2: USAF Test Pilot School - Maciej "Match" Hatta

After flying the CF-18 Hornet in combat and completing his first tour with the Snowbirds, Major Maciej "Match" Hatta set his sights on one of military aviation's most dem

Fighters: The Boss Part 1: Becoming a Hornet Pilot - Maciej "Match" Hatta

Before he became Snowbird 1, Major Maciej "Match" Hatta spent years fighting for the chance to fly. In Part 1 of this three-part series, Match shares the story behind hi

Special Ops: The Evolution Part 3: Leading 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron – Chris Bray

Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Bray concludes our three-part series with a rare look behind the curtain of Canadian Special Operations Aviation. As the Commanding Officer of 42

Special Ops: The Evolution Part 2: Forging the Culture of 427 Squadron – Chris Bray

Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Bray is the Commanding Officer of 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron, the Royal Canadian Air Force unit supporting the Canadian Special Ope

Special Ops: The Evolution Part 1: Becoming a 427 Squadron Special Operations Aviator – Chris Bray

Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Bray is the Commanding Officer of 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron, the Royal Canadian Air Force unit supporting the Canadian Special Ope

Logbook: First 100 Part 2: The Weight - The Stories They Carry

Every military aviator carries stories that stay with them long after the aircraft shuts down. To mark the milestone of 100 episodes, we're looking back at the moments t

Logbook: First 100 Part 1: The Climb - The Making of Military Aviators

New listener? Start here! For 100 episodes, The Pilot Project Podcast has explored the world of military and mission aviation through the people who have lived it. In P

Snowbirds: The Pause Part 2: The Retirement of the Tutor and the Future of the Snowbirds - Maryse Carmichael

Retired Lieutenant-Colonel Maryse Carmichael returns to discuss the Snowbirds, the retirement of the CT-114 Tutor, the planned operational pause, and the future of one of

Snowbirds: The Pause Part 1: Flying the CT-114 Tutor and Becoming the First Female Jet Demonstration Pilot - Maryse Carmichael

Before she commanded the Snowbirds, Maryse Carmichael was a young Air Cadet from Quebec City with a dream of becoming a military pilot. That dream would eventually make h

Episode 104: The Greener Grass: Flying the Cormorant in Gander, Flying the Airbus H145 with STARS, and returning to the RCAF to instruct on the Bell 412 Outlaw Part 3 - Troy Clarke

In Part 3, Captain Troy Clarke discusses flight instruction, standards flying, STARS Air Ambulance operations, and his decision to return to the RCAF after leaving milita

Episode 103: The Greener Grass: Flying the Cormorant in Gander, Flying the Airbus H145 with STARS, and returning to the RCAF to instruct on the Bell 412 Outlaw Part 2 - Troy Clarke

Captain Troy Clarke shares incredible stories from his time flying the CH-149 Cormorant with 103 Search and Rescue Squadron, including North Atlantic rescues, fatigue les

Episode 102: The Greener Grass: Flying the Cormorant in Gander, Flying the Airbus H145 with STARS, and returning to the RCAF to instruct on the Bell 412 Outlaw Part 1 - Troy Clarke

Captain Troy Clarke shares his unconventional path into aviation, from growing up in rural Newfoundland to navigating early flight training struggles, 9/11’s impact on th

Episode 101: The Instructor Series: Instructing at 3CFFTS on the Bell 412 Outlaw and Op Lentus during the 2025 Manitoba Wildfires - Niels Olson

After his time on the Sea King, Niels Olson moved into instructing at 3 CFFTS. In Part 3, he shares what it’s like teaching new pilots, working in Standards, and support

Command: The Future Force: Building a Fifth Generation Air Force - Jamie Speiser-Blanchet

As the first woman to command the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet is leading the service through one of the most significant periods o

Episode 99: The King:Flying the CH-124 Sea King and life at sea with the Royal Canadian Navy Part 2 - Niels Olson

In Part 2 of this conversation, Captain Niels Olson takes us inside his first deployment as a CH-124 Sea King pilot with 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron - and the realit

Episode 98: The King:Flying the CH-124 Sea King and life at sea with the Royal Canadian Navy Part 1 - Niels Olson

Captain Niels Olson didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a military pilot. In fact, while living next to CFB Chilliwack as a kid, he remembers watching soldiers train and

Long Range Patrol: The Poseidon SEEDCORN Part 2: Flying the P-8 Poseidon with the RAF and Building Canada's Future Fleet - Dylan Gilje-Allan and Matt Chretien

In Part 2, Capt Dylan Gilje-Allan and Capt Matt Chretien take listeners inside Canada's P-8 Poseidon SEEDCORN program and their transition from the CP-140 Aurora to opera

Long Range Patrol: The Poseidon SEEDCORN Part 1: Aurora Operations, Op NEON and Selection for the P-8 - Dylan Gilje-Allan and Matt Chretien

Canadian SEEDCORN pilots Capt Dylan Gilje-Allan and Capt Matt Chretien join us to share their journey from military flight training to operational flying on the CP-140 Au