A Chat with Corporal Josh Robillard (SKYHAWKS) on the Atlantic Canada International Air Show in Summerside (2015)

Joey (Q): Just wondering when did you first got interested in performing in the Air Show?

Josh (A): I started sky diving about six years ago.  I started civilian side, that means I started doing it as a sport. It was only recently that I got interested in doing it with the military. I had known of the SKYHAWKS for quite a few years. It has always been a dream to build and format Airshows. This past year I had the opportunity to apply for the team and its been a ride ever since.

Joey (Q): Who did you idolize growing up and did you have a family member that was involved in the airshow?

Josh (A): Like most kids growing up in Canada, you know we have our hockey heros. There wasn't anyone specific. I have always been a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. I have not had any family members involved in the airshow. One of my uncles was part of the old airborne regiment and that had peaked a lot of interest.

Joey (Q): How much training goes into each and every airshow performance? 

Josh (A): Prior to the start of the season the entire team under goes what is called the main trainning camp and we do this in April down in California. During this five week period we do approximately 150 to 200 trainning jumps with a world class coach.  Prior to even applying for the team we all have to be qualified parachutist so we are already bringing a skill set to the team and this training camp brings us up to standards needed to perform in front of large shows and land in small areas.

Joey (Q): What kind of security is behind every air show?

Josh (A): That is the responsibility of each individual venue. We are strictly performing a dynamic aerobatic parachute routine. 

Joey (Q): What kind of show can they expect this year?

Josh (A): The show is kept fairly similar from year to year.  We have a very large base of knowledge and experience that we build upon and this helps ensure the most dynamic and as safe a show as possible.

Joey (Q): How does it make you feel when you are performing in an airshow for new fans?

Josh (A): The shows are always an amazing experience. You know, everything from the kids reactions to the applause,  it's an amazing experience to be doing something I love that people appreciate.

Joey (Q): What kind of maneuvers will you be doing and are any of them new ones?

Josh (A) : During the main training camp, we are taught all the individual performances and formations. At the end of the camp we're designated a certain formation which we will fly the entire season and, once again, the consistency of applying the same formation allows for a much better show.  Myself,personally,  I am part of the tri-by-side. It's a three man formation. It basically looks like three canopies side by side. Once we are over the crowd we down play it straight at the ground and brake apart at the last minute and land safely.

Joey (Q): What made you want to dedicate your life to being an Air Show pilot?

Josh (A): Basically we are on a team for a year so the team is actually made up of all kinds of service men on the force. They are made up of army, navy, airforce, all different trades. Once the season is done, I go back to my regular job as a Vehicle Technician.

Joey (Q): What does it feel like when you are flying in the air?

Josh (A): The best way to explain it is the ultimate feeling of freedom.

Joey (Q): Do you have any rituals you do before your performance?

Josh (A): There is what they call the SkyDiver's handshake and it is a palm slap, followed by a fist pump prior to exiting every jump. Every member of the team does this handshake with each other. It is probably the most notable type of ritual.

Joey: Thank you very much Josh and all the best in future endeavours!

Reporter: Joey Blacquiere 

A Chat with Lt. Matthew Strong on the Atlantic Canada International Air Show in Summerside (2015)

ATLANTIC CANADA INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW August 22 – 23 2015

Joey: Lt Mathew Strong when did you get interested in performing in airshows?

Lt. Matthew Strong: I guess, at a young age. I started going to airshows when I was a kid. My dad use to take me to airshows and I really enjoyed it. Ever since then, I have been really interested in aviation. I was an Air Cadet growing up as well. I joined the military about five years ago and the opportunity came up to become involved with the aviation team and I am really enjoying it.

Joey: Who did you idolize growing up and did you have a family member in the air force?

Lt. Matthew Strong: My father was in the air force for thirty two years and just retired last year. I am pretty proud of that. As for who I idolized, I guess when I was a kid there use to be a guy named Capt. Steven “Bunt” Nierlich and he was a kind of idol.

Joey: When it comes flying the CF-18 Hornet, how much training goes into each and every performance?

Lt. Matthew Strong: So our pilot and groundcrew practice for two and a half weeks at the beginning of the season. It's every day, two times a day, two flights a day and there is also the training our pilots go though just to become a Hornet pilot a CF-18 Hornet, that training takes about five years from start to finish.

Joey: How does it make you feel when you are performing in an airshow for new fans?

Lt. Matthew Strong: I am not the pilot. Our pilot feels like he is giving back to the community. The entertainment value of the performance he provides really makes him feel good. It feels good for him to interact with Canadians and put on a good show! The rest of the team is really proud of him too! We all are very proud to be in the military and to serve Canadians. We really enjoy that.

Joey: What kind of maneuvers will you be doing and did you learn any new ones?

Lt. Matthew Strong: At the start of the season he had to learn some new moves but he mastered those and he learned them very well. All the moves he does are all scripted out and they practice them a lot and he is really good at what he does!

Joey: What made you want to dedicate your life to an airshow?

Lt. Matthew Strong: Serving Canada and serving Canadians is something I've always aspired to do with my life and I am really proud to do it.

Joey: How does it make you feel when you are flying?

Lt. Matthew Strong: I am not a pilot myself but it's an exhilarating experience and CAPTAIN DENIS ''CHEECH'' BEAULIEU tells me that it's an extremely exhilaratingexperience. There's a lot of adrenalin when you go fast. When you are doing a lot of those maneuvers it's pretty physically demanding on him but he's pretty good at what he does.

Joey: Do you practice any rituals before your performance?

Lt. Matthew Strong: CHEECH likes to listen to Metallica before each performance when he is at the other airport in Charlottetown. Before this show when he was getting dressed, he was listening to their black album, then he rocked out in the air.

Reporter – Joey Blacquierre