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Matthew Laity

12/27/2019

What is your name?
Matthew Laity

Instagram Name (If Applicable):
@matthew.laity

What is your occupation?
Dairy Farmer

What is your home airport?
CYPK

What year did you start flying?
1992

Where did you learn to fly?
PPL - Altair Aviation @ CYPK & CPL - Coastal Pacific @ CYXX

Why did you start flying?
After high school I thought I’d like to take a year off and possibly ride a motorcycle across Europe. My parents were not so cool with that and made sure I chose something in post secondary. Flight school seemed the way to go. I‘ve always had an interest in space and flight. I'm so glad I did even though I didn't pursue flying after graduation. The training has taught me so many other skills. Now that I've dusted off my licence I'm also glad to have that solid background and training. Next up for me is Multi and IFR.

What airplane did you learn to fly in?
C150 for a bit, then mostly C172

What airplane do you fly now?
DA20 and C172

What is your favorite kind of flying or place to fly to?
My favourite is taking someone up for their first flight in a small plane and sharing in the thrill of flight.

What is your favorite feature on the BCGA website?
Airport restaurants😉. I'm a fan of the $100 burger

In a few words describe what the BCGA is to you:
It's been a great community with inspiring pictures and stories keeping flight fun and safe

Other interests:
Electronic repair - Open source hardware and software - Piano

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Rob Prior

12/14/2019

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What is your name?
Rob Prior

What is your occupation?
Mechanical Engineer / Industrial Designer /
Web Designer

What is your home airport?
Victoria (CYYJ)

What year did you start flying?
Sometime after 1971... I was too small to remember it. Started my license in 1996.

Where did you learn to fly?
Unofficially, Delta Airpark. Officially, Boundary Bay Airport.

Why did you start flying?
My father was a pilot, and I grew up hanging around Delta Airpark where there were always lots of interesting airplanes and flyouts to interesting places. I always liked being able to just get in and go somewhere new with a wide variety of airplanes and people.

What airplane did you learn to fly in?
Unofficially, Fleet Canuck, Piper J-5 Cub, Jodel, Emeraude. Officially, Cessna 150.

What airplane do you fly now?
Vans RV-6 (own), Cessna 150 (father's), and Rutan Vari-Eze (borrowed)

What is your favorite kind of flying or place to fly to?
Formation and Aerobatics are my favorites, Formation for keeping my hand-eye-foot coordination sharp, and Aerobatics for learning (and using) more of the performance envelope of my aircraft. Most recently i'm enjoying the challenge of flying a new airplane type (Rutan Vari-Eze) and thinking it might be fun to add other more diverse airplane types to my experience list.

What is your favorite feature on the BCGA website?
The Airstrip Map, and as a related item, the Private Airstrip Access Program.

In a few words describe what the BCGA is to you:
A flying club without the overhead of a normal flying club.

What other aviation organizations / clubs are you affiliated with?
Recreational Aircraft Association (National and Chapter 85, Delta)
Canadian Owners and Pilot's Association (National and Flights 6 (Victoria) and 175 (Langley)
General Aviation Safety Committee, Volunteer Reporting Working Group

Do you have a business or work at a business that you would like other members to know about (Provide Name & Link):
www.100LL.ca - Aviation Fuel Prices in Canada

What is your favorite quote?
"You've never been lost until you've been lost at Mach 3..."

Other interests:
Cycling, Swimming, Juggling, Web Design

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Dave McElroy

12/7/2019

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What is your name?
Dave McElroy

Instagram Name (If Applicable):
@davemcelroy8

What is your occupation?
Retired

What is your home airport?
CYVK Kelowna

What year did you start flying?
Late sixties

Where did you learn to fly?
CYXC Cranbrook

Why did you start flying?
Because at age 6, when I saw my first airplane up close, I was absolutely fascinated that this machine could actually FLY!

For the first time in my life I had some disposal income and signed up for flying lessons.

What airplane did you learn to fly in?
C150

What airplane do you fly now?
RV6. Have flown 29 other types including Harvard.

What is your favorite kind of flying or place to fly to?
Long distance flying to faraway places; have done lots of that.
Also formation and aerobatic flying.

What is your favorite feature on the BCGA website?
News & Events

In a few words describe what the BCGA is to you:
Community of those of us who are lucky enough to fly - or aspire to fly - ove some of the most beautiful country in the world - Super, Natural British Columbia.

What other aviation organizations / clubs are you affiliated with?
AOPA, BCAC, Kelowna Flying Club, COPA

Do you have a business or work at a business that you would like other members to know about (Provide Name & Link):
Kelowna Flying Club (President)
www.Kelownaflyingclub.com

Other interests:
Inspiring young people of all ages to imagine bigger lives for themselves. And paying it forward.

Anything else you would like to share with your fellow members:
People ask me why I love flying. Let me count the ways.

I love how flying stimulates all my senses. I love the sights, sounds, smells and the touch(es) of manipulating the controls and systems of an aircraft in flight.

I love all flight phases - from startup, taxiing, taking off, climbing, descending, landing, taxiing in and shutting down. It’s all magical - every time - even though I’ve done it many thousands of times.

I love flying in close formation with other aircraft flown by experienced airmen. More magic.

I love putting an aircraft through its paces while flying aerobatics. More magic.

I love taking off and landing 2-3 hours later in a totally different environment. Sometimes the people speak a different language, wear different clothing, have a different climate and have very different customs and ethics. But they ALWAYS welcome private aviators.

Who else but pilots gets to do this stuff?

Did I mention I love flying?

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Matthew Laity

Rob Prior

Dave McElroy

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