… From Far and Wide …
Bob Leroux
For Bob Leroux, 2017 marks 50 Years as a Pilot; quite an accomplishment! Bob learned to fly in Hamilton, Ontario in 1967 when he was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. Bob’s first training flight was on July 4th, 1967 and his Flight Test for his Private Pilot Licence took place in a Piper Colt on August 10th, 1967. That was the year of the Golden Centennaires Air Demonstration Team, precursor to the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, 431 Air Demonstration Squadron.
Bob has had a career in aviation with Transport Canada as a Civil Aviation Inspector and now, although retired, he still flys his Piper Turbo Arrow IV based at Abbotsford, British Columbia.
To “give back” to the Air Cadet program, Bob plans to visit, where possible, the Air Cadet Summer Camps where this year’s young boys and girls are training to obtain their Glider Pilot Licence or their Private Pilot Licence, as Bob did 50 years ago. Bob hopes to encourage them to continue their flying and maybe even to pursue a career in aviation.
Bob is a member of the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association in Flight 83 at Abbotsford and hopes to meet with other COPA members along the way to share aviation stories, experiences and adventures. Perhaps some will join him for a portion of the journey. Bob is also a long-time member of the Abbotsford Flying Club and a member of the Abbotsford International Air Show Society.