The Roll Call

[Meatservo]

Well, looking back over my logbook, it's been just over 20 years since I took my first flight (September 20th, 1991) Sean Croft shows up for my entire PPL. Looking at my lesson progression, I don't think I was a difficult student (although I know I had some terrible jokes!) but I'm sure that there were some trying times - my instructing experience was that every student was good for one grey hair.

Thank-you.

If you're just talking jokes here, that one you told one day on the dock that shocked us all is still the filthiest, most reprehensible and tasteless jokes I have ever heard. Also one of the funniest. So, I'm going to say "North Shore", just because of that joke, which I shall never, even to this day, repeat.

Also, in seriousness, I'm gonna say Bruce Halleck

He was (still is, as of a couple of years ago anyway) one of a kind.

[bobcaygeon]

The former MRC crew, I was lucky enough to catch the tail end of their instructor careers

Bert Marcotte, "Knobby" Clarke, Ralph "the Hangman" Langemann, and "Butch" Foster.

How you transition from flying Voodoo's and Starfighters based in Lahr, West Germany in the 60's and 70's during the Cold War to teaching know it all kids in C172 their commercial and multi-IFR's is beyond me but they were awesome.

"Butch" Foster sticks out for me. From the 1976 Land yacht getting 6 mpg with bumper sticker "Save a tree, eat a beaver", the 3/4 scale handbuilt flying spitfire, the summer job flying A-26 waterbombers to the most memorable instructing quote "Yaw, Pitch, and Roll are like 3 kinky sisters, you f$%k with one, you have to f#$k with them all!!"

[esp803]

Ray Preston, you've done amazing things at Selkirk College. From home crafted simulations (which I still use) to lessons in aerodynamics, your teachings have kept me alive thus far in my career.

Cheers!

E

[Hiflyer2]

I have to say that my first 2 instructors on my PPL were the best!

Both Mel Laidlaw and John Nagy at Sudbury Aviation were excellent career type instructors and were awesome. It was great to do my first solo on skis and then do it over again a month later on floats!!

[spartacus]

Roy Mascotto
Joe Thompson
Ron McDonald.

[CYCG]

Ray Preston, you've done amazing things at Selkirk College. From home crafted simulations (which I still use) to lessons in aerodynamics, your teachings have kept me alive thus far in my career.

Cheers!

E

+1

[Canoehead]

Joe Thompson

Joe sent me solo, and I have this image burned in my head of looking down adjacent to what was then the runway 29 threshold in YAM, and seeing Joe standing there, hands on his hips (I had phenomenal vision) watching both circuits intently. Two circuits because like Joe said "one safe one might just be a fluke... I wanna see two!". Back at the old Clarm Aire shack, Joe waited with my prog book all filled out, including comments, critiques and sketches (great artist) of my solo flight. And everything he wrote in it was pure fact. A no-nonsense instructor who was passionate about passing on the passion...

[circle2land]

I have to say that my first 2 instructors on my PPL were the best!

Both Mel Laidlaw and John Nagy at Sudbury Aviation were excellent career type instructors and were awesome. It was great to do my first solo on skis and then do it over again a month later on floats!!

Glad to hear someone mention John Nagy. I agree. This guy was by far the most knowledgeable instructor I ever had. I was a snot nosed kid when I started flying with him, and he became a great mentor to me through the years. Thanks!