Argyle grad joins famous aviation team By lan Noble News Reporter CHILLY Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, may not be as warm as Vancouver, but it’s got a few pluses for pilots like Snowbird Mike Ayling. “It’s fairly clear and there’s no mountains to run into,” said the former North Vancouver resident. “It’s good flying weather.” So that’s why you'll find the Argyle graduate outside in -30 C weather, flying the prairie city’s friendly skies. ‘Ayling, a Canadian Armed Forces captain, flies at the back of the pack for the venerable Snowbirds, a Canadian flying institution. Each summer, the pilots and their Canadian-built jets “entertain Canadians coast to coast and their southern _ neighbors. For the 26-year-old Ayling, the chance to be part of the nine-jet air show is a _ dream come true. ; “Pve got a lot of aspira- ‘ tions,” he told the News from his Moose Jaw home. : “This was at the top of Ow: the fist. This is pretry much the pinnacle of any jet pilot's career in Canada. “You can’r get much ber- ter than this.” Avling said he’s the youngest pilot in the Snowbird program this year. He got there on a combina- tion of flying ability, public relations acumen, and per- sonality after a two-week, 12-flight trial. When he got the call, Ayling was shocked. “YP onever really allowed myself the luxury of believ- ing I could get on the ream.” Now he flies at the rear of the Snowbird pack, and he’s pretty impressed by the cight planes he sees in front of him. During shows, Ayling and his plane-mates fly at 300 to 400 miles per hour (482 to 644 km/h) with three feet separating their wings. Still, Ayling said his occu- pation is a safe one. “It's all we do day in and day out so we get profi- cient,” said Ayling, adding he’s been flying the red-and- white Snowbirds for three weeks now and he’s getting more comfortable. The first time up with the Snowbirds, he thought there were 2 lot of planes in a very small area. But any apprehensions about flying in formation have vanished. Now it’s basi- cally a game of follow the "180 W. Esplanade | 987-9911 | SNA Me Prairie Naturais® leader. The only downfall is if the leader makes a mistake, thev all make a mistake. Not surprisingly, much trust is required to fly a Snowbird. Although his flying with the team is improving, things can always be done better, said Avling. “We have to be extremely competitive to get as far as we've gotten So we're very self-critical,” said Ayling. He trains in three intense hour-long flights a= day. When he walks to his plane, he feels the frozen prairie air, but that doesn’: stop him from sweating when he's fly- ing due te a combination of mental and physical factors. “It takes every ounce of your concentration every second you're up there,” said Avling. Ayling reached his goal after four vears of flying. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1989 with the intention of wetting his pilot's license. Although he’s ecstatic about being part of the Snowbirds, Ayling looks for- ward to the day that he flies an F-18, the Canadian mili- tarv’s highest performance airplane. Mt flies at speeds just shy of 1,400 miles per hour (2,253 km/h), said Ayling. For a young man on che fast track, there isn’t.a better wav to travel. This year, the merchants of Park & Tilford Centre give you the opportunity to make your Christmas wishes come truc. Enter EACH WEEX for your chance to win $500.00 worth of merchandise and serice of ycur choice from our merchants. It's easy. Complete your wish list below and deposit your entry for cach contest draw in the ballot bux. located at the Garden Entrance. The contest begins Nov. 30 ishes can include any product or service offered within the Park & Tilford Centre.’, , ° Simply list your wishes, where they are and how much they cost. Wi (excluding GST & PST). Helpful Hint: A Buck or Tico (s a sure way to make up.” j Make sure the combined total of all your wishes totals $500 exactly those last few dollars. Sunday, December 1, 1996 — North Shore News — 13 Photo submitted HOME-grown pilot Mike Ayling is getting his kicks in the Moose Jaw sunshine, flying Snowbirds. and nuns to Dec. 22. There wil! be three draw cates — Dec. g, 16 & 23 — and winners will be contacted on those dates... Don'l forget to submil a separate wish list each week. All: .. entries received before Dec. 22 will be eligible to win cur. ' Grand Prize draw of $1,000 Shopping Spree at Park’& . Tilford Centre. Entry forms are also available at a merchant ©. a location. - : Each entry will be eligible for owr grand prize draw $1,000 SHOPPING SPREE AT PARK & TILFORD CENTRE 1. Separate entry form for exch weclly drew. ane entry pet perinn 2. Minimune 6 retailen per lie, Cexchading Save-On-Fuod: and Ceneples Cinemas) 3-Total maar be $500 exactly, exduding GST & PST. j cone EE es me AD ee CS ee ey ee ee eS ee Ss Fee Ce ee ee Spectacular Gardens — Enter to Win a Healthy Christmas Gift Stop by any of our store locations listed below and enter to win a Mountain Bike for Christmas. no purchase necessary, Graw date Dec. 23/96 t A visit to Park & Tilford Gardens és a Christmas Tradition Name ; ; Free Admission & Parking Sere OS Foods c soreness eee : For further information 984-8200 Day & New Year t Day: Address ...........-6-- . Postal Code ..