| Canadian Forces Parachute Team (CFPT), The Sky Hawks, 1977-1979
The Canadian Forces Parachute Team, The Sky Hawks
Data current to 21 March 2020.
 (Author Photo)
Canadian Forces Parachute Team, the Sky Hawks, Chinook helicopter exit over Drop Zone (DZ) Buxton, Alberta, 1978. The author looked up to catch John Glover on the left, Rick Guthrie in the middle, Pat Turpin on the right and Al McGee in the rear on a formation exit from the CH-147 Chinook. There were no slow pokes on this exit, nice clean and tight formation! (Author Photo)
Sky Hawk team crests worn on our jumpsuits 1977-1980.
The Canadian Forces Parachute Team, the Sky Hawks, is Canada’s only military parachute demonstration team. It has been representing Canada and the Canadian Forces for more than 47 years, providing parachute demonstration jumps to over 73 million spectators worldwide under the team’s signature Canadian flag parachutes. Bringing their parachutes in close proximity to build formations in the sky, the team puts on a spectacular show. Performing these aerobatic parachute formations requires a high level of skill and courage; and is known as Canopy Relative Work.
Supported by the Canadian Army, the Sky Hawks are currently based out of Trenton, Ontario, at the Canadian Forces Land Advanced Warfare Centre. There, they train alongside soldiers who help defend our territory and sovereignty through a wide variety of domestic and overseas missions. Both Regular and Reserve, the team members are from various occupations of the Army, Navy, and Air Force and bring a wide range of experience to their performances.
It is with great pride that they continue to showcase the professionalism, dedication and team work it takes to be part of Canada’s military. (Internet: http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/land-terre/skyhawks/at-pe-eng.asp)
 
Sky Hawk History
  (Photos courtesy of Gerry Vida)
Two of the early Sky Hawk team crests worn on their jumpsuits 1971-76.
In June of 1969 an unofficial team comprised of sport parachute qualified members of the Canadian Airborne Regiment was formed under the authority of the Commanding Officer. The Team performed its first show on the 14th of June 1969, at the Mobile Force Fire Power Demonstration at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, Ontario. At that time the team was known as the Canadian Airborne Regiment Parachute Team.
By October of 1970 the team was referred to as the Canadian Forces Parachute Team. Under this new title, the team attended the World Parachuting Championships in Fontainebleau, France, where they brought home the silver medal in the Team Accuracy event.
In 1971, the team came under command of the Canadian Airborne Centre (CABC) and was officially formed by National Defence Headquarters in August of that same year. The following month saw the title “Sky Hawks” bestowed upon the team by the Commanding Officer of CABC.
Captain (Retired) Gerry Vida recently gave this account of the origin of the team to present and past members of the team:
"My take on the roots of the Sky Hawks: The Sky Hawks morphed from military jumpers who were active sky divers in local civilian parachute clubs across Canada. Eventually these enthusiasts flocked to the newly formed Canadian Airborne Regiment (Edmonton) circa 1968. With permission from the Regiment's commander Col Don Rochester they formed the regimental parachute demonstration team. Eventually the Team administration was consolidated within the parachute training wing of the Canadian Airborne Centre (CABC). The team continued as an ad-hock "pick up" team drawn from the many sub-units of the Regiment and CABC. In 1971 the team became a more or less permanent organization and acquired the now famous handle the Sky Hawks, which was introduced by the then Commanding Officer LCol Stu Northrup. Ten years later after mountains of service papers, hat in hand presentations to the brass at NDHQ/FMCHQ and friends of anything airborne the Team was recognised and allocated a Canadian Forces Organisational Order (CFOO). This assured permanence with eight (8) members and the much sought after annual budget. The rest is history as the Sky Hawks are now in their 47th year of operation."
Between the inception of the name “Sky Hawks” and the team’s 42nd anniversary season in 2013, many changes have taken place. The most notable change took place in 1977 when the team traded the Para-Commander round parachute for the more maneuverable Ram-Air square parachute. This advance in team equipment allowed for more dynamic and crowd-pleasing performances. One part of the team which has not changed, is the Signature of the Sky Hawks: the Canadian Flag parachute.
CFPT member landing at Ontario Place during the Toronto International Air Show, 1979.
On the 19th of September 1982, the Sky Hawks performed the world's most northerly demonstration jump at Canadian Forces Station Alert on the northern tip of Ellesmere Island.
In August of 1996 the CABC moved along with the Sky Hawks from Edmonton to their new home base in Trenton, Ontario. At this time the Canadian Airborne Centre underwent restructuring and was renamed the Canadian Parachute Centre.
Ten years later the Canadian Parachute Centre was renamed The Canadian Forces Land Advanced Warfare Centre (CFLAWC) which began the transformation into a Centre of Excellence for Land Advanced Warfare while remaining home unit to the Sky Hawks.
Each year they perform at events across North America and around the world thrilling audiences with their aerobatic parachute formations in the sky. Having performed to over 73 million spectators worldwide the team is proud to once again fly their signature Canadian flag parachutes this season. (Internet: http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/land-terre/skyhawks/history-histoire-eng.asp)
Author’s story
For three of the Canadian Forces Parachute Team’s show seasons the author had the great privilege of earning a spot on the Sky Hawks, serving as a team member from 1977 to 1979, and as a backup member in 1980 and 1981. In the photo, the author has a helmet equipped with a communications microphone and cable. The microphone was plugged into the radio system on the Douglas CC-129 Dakota to guide the aircraft onto the drop point. The jumper unhooked just before exiting.
 (Author Photo)
Our primary jump ship, nick-named "Myrtle the Aluminum Turtle", was one of the Douglas CC-129 Dakota (Serial No. 12950) transport aircraft. Myrtle was flown by the No. 402 Squadron Air Reserve crews to Edmonton from their home base in Winnipeg for our jump training and a great number of exhibition jumps.
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Dakota group waiting for the “show” to start, left to right: Cpl Rick Guthrie, 2Lt Hal Skaarup, Cpl Al McGee, Sgt Wayne Johnson, Cpl Daniel Plourde, Cpl John Glover, 1978. (Ron Polling Photo)
 (Gerry Vida Photo)
In this photo the author is wearing three parachutes on an exit from a Dakota over Drop Zone (DZ) Buxton, north of Edmonton, Alberta in 1977. The top mounted parachute on my back is a "cutaway" parachute used for demonstration jumps. The jumper would fall in formation with another parachutist, open high while the other jumper opened slightly lower but still high, and then he would hang on to a built-in handle on one of the canopy risers. He would cutaway/release the parachute to collapse it and hold on to it for ten seconds, so that it would look like a "streamer" from the ground. The jumper would then let go of the handle, back-loop and open his canopy just under the other jumper, although both parachutists would still be at a safe altitude. Both jumpers would be trailing smoke grenades attached to boot brackets on their feet to make it easier for the crowd on the ground to see.
 (DND Photo)The training jumps in 1977 began in February and were conducted over clear but cold and snowy DZ Buxton, north of Edmonton, Alberta. In this photo the author is shown exiting from the ramp of a C-130 Hercules, with Captain Phil Campbell diving to meet me. Phil was the CFPT Team Leader in 1977. The CFB Edmonton Base Photographer took the photos.
 (Author Photo)The author took this photo of Major John Hasek under one of the Sky Hawk Para Commander canopies over Edmonton in 1977.
The author first met members of the Sky Hawks in 1973 while jumping as a sport parachutist in New Brunswick, and later in Nova Sotia and Manitoba. The team leader at that time was Warrant Officer Simon Fairfax Wykham-Martin and he had an interesting way of landing, in that as he touched down under his round - and in those days "high-performance" Para-Commander canopy (shown above), he cutaway from the parachute and walked away from the canopy before it hit the ground. I made my first jump in June 1972 with Joe Chow at Perth, Ontario. As a young Militiaman with brand new jump wings earned in August 1975 at the Canadian Airborne Centre in Edmonton, I desperately wanted to be part of the team. Warrant Officer Gerry Vida told me early on that if I attended the training camp I would make more jumps in a day with them than I did in a month as a sport parachutist - and he was right. It took the persuasion of LCol J.R.J. Gil Bellevance in Edmonton and the support of a great number of people in Halifax including Captain Kent White and applications in 1975 and 1976 before I was given the opportunity to try out for the team in March 1977. By that time I had a few hundred jumps and my own square canopy, a Strato Cloud. The team was just converting to ram-air canopies, and so it was that I found myself on my first military demonstration jump at Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan within a few days of arriving at the CFPT, located at the Canadian Airborne Training Centre commanded by LCol Don S. Manuel. There are no easy roads to winning a slot on the team, but I had excellent coaches and won the prize.
 (Photo by Jean Simard)
 (Photo by Jean Simard)
The author as a Lieutenant in freefall wearing the black flight suit the team members wore throughout the 1977 team season.
 (Phot by John Glover)
In this photo the author is wearing one of the first red flight suits the team acquired in 1978.
 (Author Photo)
View of an MFP jump from inside a C-130 Hercules. When the ramp opened it was like watching a barn door opening in front of you. The view was even more interesting when we had two other Hercules in trail formation following us to the drop zone, and on static line jumps you could make out the other two aircraft pulling up alongside in V formation so we could all exit at the same time - very rare if ever done these days. On a Canadian Airborne Regiment training exercise over CFB Borden, Ontario in 1987 we had twelve Hercules carrying more than 600 paratroopers dropped by static line in four three-plane waves with weapons and equipment. We did a combat extraction two hours later - aircraft came in to land, taxied to the end of the runway and turned slowly around. You jumped onboard by group, and if you missed the plane as it turned around, it took off without you and there was a 25 km hike north to a vehicle pickup point. Needless to say, everyone was on board after the tenth plane came in and the other two came back to Petawawa empty. You are unlikely to see that again in Canada in the near future.
 (Author Photo)
A view from the outside after exit. You can tell it is a winter jump by the jumper wearing mukluks.
 (Author Photo)
Between show seasons team members acted as coaches, instructors and jumpmasters for the Military Freefall Parachutist (MFP) courses conducted at the Canadian Airborne Centre in November/December and in January/Febrruary. The photo shows MFP jumpers leaving the ramp with full equipment.
 (Author Photo)
This MFP jumper in freefall is rigged out with full winter kit, including rucksack and snowshoes, over DZ Buxton, Edmonton, Alberta. The photo was taken by the author using a hand-held 35-mm camera. Note: the soldier's rucksack would normally be mounted in front of the jumper for static line exits but for freefall, as shown here, it is mounted behind the jumper. They were very chilly jumps, usually from the ramp of a C-130 Hercules, a Chinook helicopter or a Twin Otter. The Sky Hawks primary jump ship for these years was the Douglas CC-129 Dakota flown by 402 Squadron based in Winnipeg. Other jump ships included the Iroquois helicopters from 408 Squadron in Edmonton, 427 Squadron at CFB Petawawa and 430 Squadron at Valcartier, and Chinook helicopters with 450 Squadron based at that time at CFB Edmonton and later at CFB Ottawa. We made a great number of jumps from the Lockheed C-130 Hercules with 435 Squadron and de Havilland Twin Otters from 418 and 440 Squadrons based at CFB Edmonton, and Single Otters from 400 Squadron in Toronto. Airshows were carried out by the team in the North West Territories and the Yukon as well as in Goose Bay, Labrador & Newfoundland and at Royal Roads Military College in British Columbia, and as far south as Charleston, West Virginia.
1976-1977 Sky Hawks Brochure.
Some of the team members were still using Para Commanders before all were equipped with the rope and rings version of the Strato Cloud (the slider was just being invented). In Dec 1975 the author was jumping with an inventor named Bill Booth at Zephyr Hills in Florida, who came up with the idea of the throw-out pilot chute and three ring releases. It took awhile, but Bill's ideas caught on and the Sky Hawks eventually changed their equipment to match his inventions. Before the slider came along, those canopy openings particularly after pulling the ripcord in a 200 mph diamond track were particularly nasty. We were really happy when the rope and rings system that ran around the canopy and up through the centre came along and made those openings fairly tolerable, but then regular openings tended to be verrrrrrrrrry slooooooooowwwwwww - and of course interesting.
 (Author Photo)
A flag jump can be very tricky, particularly if you have an extremely large one with three jumpers hanging on to it as they exit the aircraft. The author chased Murray McConnell, Pierre Deschenes and Pat Turpin off the ramp to get this shot.
Pierre Deschenes wrote to say, "Let me add a few more details to this jump...This was our second attempt. We did lose the first flag. (Or I did, after all I did sign for it). So to keep it simple. EVERYTHING went WRONG! On the first trial run, I did jump with the flag and two other jumpers did hook up with me. Possibly Pat and Murray. As soon as we deployed the flag. GONE! My arms were almost ripped right off. The wind velocity (120-mph) and also the fabric of the flag. A very thick piece of canvas with a Canadian flag sewn on either side created a huge amount of drag. Also, (we were) jumping at only 8000' due to Airforce regulations (at the time). With only 30 to 35 seconds of free fall, depending if you are falling stable or not, there was not much time to execute.
So back to the drawing board (Gerry's). This time, (the plan was for) three jumpers to step back off the ramp of the Hercules, (while) holding on to each other. It sounded and looked good on paper, but as soon as we (dropped in to) the prop blast, that piece of paper was gone with the wind. My two wing men were flapping in the wind and all of us were having the time of our lives tumbling towards the ground. But this time, I did manage to save the flag and a piece of my cute behind and also two weeks of peeling potatoes."
Diamond formation over DZ Buxton, Edmonton, with Pierre Dechenes in the lead, Murray McConnell left wing, me on the right wing, Pat Turpin in the slot. Gerry Vida took the photo, spring 1977
 (Author Photo)
 (Author Photo)
Group exit from the ramp of a C-130 Hercules, with jumpers wearing a mixed bag of black flightsuits, red or orange jumpsuits, or just green combats, depending on the dress of the day.
 (Canadian Forces Photo)
Double side by side static line parachute jumps from a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, ca 1979.
 (RCAF Photo)
Paratroopers exiting the side doors of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules, ca 1966.
 (Author Photo)
Lockheed CC-130 Hercules, Edmonton, Alberta, ca 1978.
 (Author Photo)
Sky Hawks preparing to board a Lockheed CC-130 Hercules, equipped with Jet Assisted Take-off (JATO) bottles mounted, for an airshow at CFB Goose Bay, Labrador & Newfoundland, 1977. That is Pte Lorne Ogden bending over to tighten his parachute harness.
 (Author Photo)
Pte Brad Smith in fine form, closing in on the author after a dive exit from a Lockheed C-130 Hercules. In order to give the aircrew practice in dropping us, we were hopping out just two at a time for this one. A fast shutter speed gives the impression the propellers have stopped. The author used a hand-held camera for this shot, but just as often used a helmet-mounted camera for these jumps.
 (Gerry Vida Photo)
In the group photo, the author is standing on the left with a helmet mounted camera and remote cable in hand alongside 1978 Sky Hawk team members Doug Kelly, Daniel Plourde, George Thibault, and Alain Dore kneeling. Note, experimental kit was the order of the day. The author is wearing an early model tandem rig, the others are equipped with front mounted reserves, all with ripcords. We also had a mixture of canopy release systems. Doug and George are equipped with cloth tab quick-releases which we nick-named "sport death wells", while the rest of us have standard military canopy cutaway releases (Bill Booth's three-ring circus was still in the future).
Getting rid of a perfectly open canopy can be a bit unsettling, but Corporal George Joseph Fleurimont Thibault got such a big kick out this activity that we were quite happy to let him be the super cutaway man and he probably made more cutaway demonstration jumps than most of the rest of Sky Hawks put together.
 (Author Photo)
Bell CH-135 Iroquois helicopter jump. The author stepped off the rails and looked up to get this shot of Wayne Johnson in the doorway, Ralph Goebel in a picture perfect step off (not easy to do), and Jean Simard to the right.
 (Author Photo)
Capt Jean Simard on the left and Sgt Ralph Goebel on the right in a hookup over DZ Buxton in 1978.
 (Author Photo)
We did a lot of Airshows jumping out of the single-engined de Havilland CC-123 Otter from No. 400 Squadron based in Toronto, shown here over Cape Breton in 1977.
 (Author Photo)
Sky Hawks building a star formation in brand new red jumpsuits, 1978. The photo was taken over Mountainview, near CFB Trenton, Ontario.
 (Author Photo)
Sky Hawks building a star formation in brand new red jumpsuits, 1978. Sky Hawk formation with George Thibault on the left, WO Gerry Vida wearing a helmet-mounted film camera on the right and possibly Alain Dore in the black suit. The photo was taken over Mountainview, near CFB Trenton, Ontario.
 (DND Photo)
Ottawa Airport, group photo with the DC-3, July 1978, getting ready to jump into the Ottawa Football Stadium.
Left to right: Harold Skaarup with Beaulieu film camera standing, George Thibault standing, photo tech in white shirt, Doug Kelly in the doorway, John Glover with a lady sitting in the doorway, Gerry Vida kneeling, Pat Turpin standing, Michel Cleroux standing, Keith Pillar standing.
 (DND Photo)
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A video promo film for the Sky Hawks was commissioned in 1978 (Mike Brun, are you still out there?). The film crew built a wooden board with straps and fasteners to bolt a large Beaulieu film camera onto the author. WO Gerry Vida made sure it was on the author as safely and securely as possible, and it was worn on a number of jumps over the Ottawa Football Stadium and over Edmonton. The author is exiting from our Douglas CC-129 Dakota over the Ottawa football stadium in July 1978. Interesting jumps, with the camera mounted upwards to film exits and other skydivers, and mounted down to film the landings on many different jumps. The author was also given a film credit.
The Sky Hawks were flown by a number of pilots and aircrews flying Canadian Forces aircraft from the following Squadrons from 1977 to 1979:
400 Sqn, City of Toronto, de Havilland DHC-3 Otter, jump ship
401 Sqn, City of Montreal, de Havilland DHC-3 Otter, jump ship
402 Sqn, City of Winnipeg, Douglas CC-129 Dakota, jump ship
403 Sqn, CFB Gagetown, Bell CH-135 Iroquois Helicopter, jump ship
405 Sqn, CFB Greenwood, Canadair CP-107 Argus, ferry flight
408 Sqn, CFB Edmonton, Bell CH-135 Iroquois Helicopter, jump ship
412 Sqn, CFB Ottawa, CC-109 Cosmopolitan, passenger transport
413 Sqn, CFB Summerside, de Havilland CC-115 Buffalo, jump ship & passenger transport
418 Sqn, CFB Edmonton, de Havilland CC-138 Twin Otter, jump ship
424 Sqn, CFB Trenton, Lockheed CC-130 Hercules, jump ship
426 Sqn, CFB Trenton, Lockheed CC-130 Hercules, jump ship
427 Sqn, CFB Petawawa, Bell CH-135 Iroquois Helicopter, jump ship
430 Sqn, CFB Valcartier, Bell CH-135 Iroquois Helicopter, jump ship
435 Sqn, CFB Edmonton, Lockheed CC-130 Hercules, jump ship
436 Sqn, CFB Trenton, Lockheed CC-130 Hercules, jump ship
437 Sqn, CFB Trenton, Boeing CC-137 Husky (Boeing 707), passenger transport
438 Sqn, City of Montreal, de Havilland CC-123 Otter, jump ship
440 Sqn, CFB Edmonton, de Havilland CC-138 Twin Otter, jump ship
450 Sqn, CFB Edmonton, Boeing Vertol CH-147 Chinook Helicopter, jump ship
 (Author Photo)
Boeing Vertol CH-147 Chinook, 450 Squadron, taking off from DZ Buxton at CFB Edmonton, Alberta, ca 1978.
 (Author Photo)
Boeing Vertol CH-147 Chinook helicopter (the best jump ship of them all in the author's opinion in 1978). Note the shark mouth taped on the nose by 450 Squadron crew based in Edmonton. These helicopters were sold to the Dutch, who took our guys up with them in Afghanistan years before the Canadian Forces bought another batch.
 (Author Photo)
Boeing Vertol CH-147 Chinook exit. Note red jumpsuits and smoke grenades on boots.
 (Author Photo)
 (Author Photo)
The author looked up to catch John Glover on the left, Rick Guthrie in the middle, Pat Turpin on the right and Al McGee in the rear on a formation exit from the CH-147 Chinook. There were no slow pokes on this exit, nice clean and tight formation!
 (Author Photo)
Another Chinook exit.
 (Author Photo)
The de Havilland CC-138 Twin Otters were painted white at first, then to improve visibility they switched to yellow. The author shot this one at Namao, CFB Edmonton in 1978. If you think it looks cold there, I can confirm that it was!
 (Gerry Vida Photo)
Team photo as we get ready for the day's jumps from the de Havilland CC-138 Twin Otter. Left to right, the author, Bill Greenshields, Ralph Goebel, Murray McConnell, Pierre Deschenes and Kevin Gammon, 1977.
 (Author Photo)
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Twin Otter exits.
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Lots of Twin Otter training jumps. Capt Jean Simard is in front of me here.
During a brief stint with the Airborne Trials and Evaluation Section (ATES) as an air to air freefall photographer, the author was tasked to chase jumpers using the CT2 round canopies being tested with double pilot chutes and extra long sleeves and to photograph them on opening. On a number of occasions, the canopies blew up. This happened to the author - picture looking up at your canopy and more than half of the suspension lines have broken away and are draped around your neck, so you risk being strangled if you cutaway. Therefore you use the classic hand deployment of the reserve method - a bit disconcerting, so I had a particular interest in helping to solve the problem. There were two causes: one, when the two pilotchutes did pop up, the snatch force on the long sleeve caused the round canopy to slump to the bottom, then a big lump had to break out of a small opening at 120 mph -the canopy tore apart on opening. Second, sometimes only one of the pilotchutes popped up and the other hung down and dragged, causing an extremely slow opening and again a bunged up canopy in the sleeve. The solutions were to go back to a single large pilot chute and use a shorter sleeve - the exploding canopies stopped happening. The photos helped us to determine the cause and effect, and to find a solution. Neat stuff to be part of.
  (Author Photos)
  (Author Photos)
These jumpers are equipped with CT2 round canopies and their openings are preset with a mechanical height-finder to fire at 3,500 feet. The next two shots show Pierre Deschenes as he opens his "rope and rings" Strato Cloud main canopy on two different jumps. I rarely had time to take more than one good photo on the opening before having to get my own chute out, although the person I was taking the photo of usually opened higher than normal so that I could be open at the normal altitude.
  (Author Photos)
For these jumps during the winter of 1978-79 over DZ Buxton, Edmonton, the author used a hand-held 35-mm camera. The jumpers were opening around 3,500 feet so I could get my own canopy open at a safe altitude after the shot.
 (Photo by Faye Skaarup)
In between military jumps, the author enjoyed (and still does) hanging out. My future wife Faye Jenkins (who made one jump herself) took the photo on the left from a C-182 over Waterville, Nova Scotia, fall 1976.
 (Photo by Chris Skaarup)
My brother Chris (who I chased out of a C-182 over Lahr, Germany on the first of his two jumps) took this photo over Winchester, Ontario, summer 1985. Note the change from front-mounted reserve to piggyback rig.
 (DND Photo)
Still wearing the black flightsuit, the author is shown exiting a Single Otter over Mountainview, near CFB Trenton, Ontario just prior to the Toronto International Airshow in 1977. The pilot chute is just leaving the main back pack and you can see it is attached to a double rope which went through the centre of the ram-air canopy and around a set of rings. Note the smoke grenade on the boot bracket
 (DND Photo)
...and of course there is always parachute packing, with the author working on a "rope and rings" version of the Strato Cloud main canopy in this shot from 1977.
 (Gerry Vida Photo)Sgt Wayne Johnson and the author rigging smoke grenades on boot brackets for the day's jumps.
 (DND Photo)
1977 CFPT. Back row, left to right: Sgt Bill Greenshields, 402 Squadron aircrewman, Rick Hodge, Cpl John Hunt, 402 Squadron pilot, Sgt Brian Fulton, Lt Hal Skaarup. Front row, left to right: Cpl Al McGee, 402 Squadron pilot, WO Gerry Vida, Cpl Murray McConnell, Cpl Lorne Ogden.
 (DND Photo)The Sky Hawks attended many civilian and military functions during their tours of duty. For informal occasions the team members were usually dressed with white turtlenecks and white or grey slacks with blue jackets. This photo was taken at the RCR Trooping at CFB London, Ontario in 1977. Standing left to right, Rick Guthrie, Hal Skaarup, Phil Campbell, Pat Turpin, Lorne Ogden, Gerry Vida and Kevin Gammon. First one seated was a Second World War Vet, the gentleman seated 2nd from the left wearing a Sky Hawk sticker is Brigadier (Retired) Milton Gregg VC, one of New Brunswick's Victoria Cross winners from the Great War. There are none left now. The third was the CO of the RCR and the fourth was RSM "Buz" Girden.
 (Author Photo)The author used both a hand held and a helmet mounted camera during jumps to observe and test new equipment. He is looking up at other jumpers as they exit from the ramp of a Lockheed C-130 Hercules in this photo.
For most airshows, the team members carried flags.
 (DND Photo)CABC Edmonton, Alberta, Parachute Training Wing 1980:
Rear Row: Sgt John Hunt, 2, MCpl McCardle, 4, 5, Sgt Chris Cablegun, Cpl Steve Griffin.
3rd row: 1, 2, Cpl Luke Paquet, 4, Pte Colin Beattie,
2nd row: 1, 2, 3.
Front Row: Sgt Ralph Goebel, Capt Hal Skaarup, WO Tom Holland, Capt MacAulay, CWO W.D. Collier, MCpl Jim Ogden, Sgt Wayne Sabean.
 (Author Photo)The coaching technique was important, simple things like waddling off the ramp with that huge rucksack behind you and all the equipment plus winter kit can lead to unexpected difficulties. Two of the jumpers the author photographed here managed to get their rucksacks hooked together on exit. They managed to get disentagled fairly quickly, but it did make the jump a bit more interesting for the participants.
 (Author Photo)The author had the privilege of serving two tours of duty in Germany, first as a Reservist with HQ CFE in Lahr (1981-1983), and again as the Regular Force G2 Ops for 4 CMBG (1989-1992). During the first tour we jumped with German and French Parachute Battalions at Calv in Germany, using the Sikorsky Sea Stallion helicopter shown here. You have to make six jumps to earn their wings and they only permitted two per day, so it took a few visits. We also parachuted from their Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopters.
 (DND Photo)
In somewhat reverse order, the author went overseas in 1981 as a Reservist Captain in the Intelligence Branch and came back to Canada in 1983 as a Second Lieutenant in the Regular Force Intelligence Branch. He trained at CFB Borden and was posted to CFB Ottawa in 1984. While there he was able to participate in a a few military jumps at the annual Jump Bivouac, held by the Canadian Airborne Regiment at CFB Petawawa, Ontario. This group photo was taken at the August 1984 Jump Bivouac at CFB Petawawa. (The author is standing under the propeller on the left side of the photo).
 (DND Photo)Jump Bivouac, August 1985, CFB Petawawa, Ontario. (The author is 3rd row down, 4th from the right).
Canadian Airborne Regiment logo.
 (DND Photo)
 (DND Photo)CT1 chute, CFB Petawawa, Ontario.
 (Photo by Faye Skaarup)Captain Harold A. Skaarup, Regimental Intelligence Officer, HQ & Signals Squadron, Canadian Airborne Regiment, First Special Service Force, 1986-1989.
While on duty in Ottawa, the Intelligence Branch noted that since I already had my wings, it was deemed appropriate that I serve with the Canadian Airborne Regiment. I was posted to Canadian Airborne Regiment based at CFB Petawawa from 1986 to 1989 as the Regimental Intelligence Officer - a great honour. The Regiment was at that time part of the First Special Service Force.
Silver Wings.
Canadian Airborne Regiment coin, 04567.
 (DND Photo)
In August 1986 the Regiment was deployed to Cyprus on Op Snow Goose There were opportunites to jump with the British contingent, and the author is shown here carrying the Canadian flag while acting as a guest jumper with the British "Red Devils" Army Parachute team. We made several practice jumps from a Wessex helicopter and then did a demonstration jump into a British UN medals parade at Blue Beret Camp near Nicosia, Cyprus in 1986.
 (DND Photo)
HRH Prince Charles presided over the partnership formed between the Canadian Airborne Regiment and the British Parachute Regiment while we were on Cyprus in 1986. He is shown here being escorted by our CO, Col J.M.R. Gaudreau.
 (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235973)
Westland Wessex helicopter in Cyprus.
 (DND Photo)
We used the British Contingent's Westland Wessex helicopter (shown here outside our HQ in Nicosia) for the medals parade jumps at the BRITCON Camp. At one point there was smoke coming out of the instrument panel. The pilot landed, a mechanic banged some things around and we took off again. Interesting solution to the problem, but the show must go on and it was otherwise a great jumpship and the Red Devils had their act together.
  (Author Photo)The Canadian Airborne Regiment's flag hangs in the Infantry School lines in Building J7 at 5 Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, New Brunswick.
 (DND Photo)The Army sent me to some interesting places. Officers of the Canadian Airborne Regiment, CANCONCYP, Nicosia, Cyprus, fall 1986, Col (later MGen) J.M.R. Gaudreau commanding. It was a privilege to have served with them. Ex Coelis! During this deployment to Cyprus, the author taught sport jump courses to serving personnel using the British facilities at Lanarca, and learned to SCUBA dive with the RCR before the main contingent arrived.
Still taking part in exhibition jumps, this one is from a balloon over the Lahr airfield, Germany where I served as the Int Officer with 4 CMBG, on 1 July 1991. The balloon pilot asked me to carefully climb outside the wicker basket and hook a foot in a small step, then to lean back and let go gently, which is when he took the photo. It felt like I was stepping off a building - quite the memorable jump for Canada Day. The airfield was a long way off, but the warm air kept myself and Jacques Levesque aloft enough for both of us to make it to the landing site.
 (DND Photo)Canadian National Intelligence Centre (CANIC) crew, author as the CO, standing 2nd from the left, in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1997. I did bring my parachute gear, but the opportunity to use it escaped at that time.
 (DND Photo)Officers of the Kabul Multi-National Brigade (KMNB), International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Kabul, Afghanistan. (The author is standing 7th from the right). BGen Jocelyn LaCroix (5e GBMC) commanding, 2004. I met with General Khatol, Commander of the Afghan Airborne forces to arrange jumps using their Mi-18 Hip helicopters, but the plan was vetoed.
 (DND Photo) Liaison duty with Afghan Police Generals in Kabul, spring 2004.
Along the way a skydiver gets to try a lot of new ideas, attend courses and to earn his ratings and certificates to keep up with changes in the sport. 1,757 jumps to date. The author holds the following licences and ratings:
CSPA A Licence No. 337, CSPA B Licence No. 971, CSPA C Licence No. 705, CSPA D Licence No. 313, CSPA Rigger No. B0009A, USPA D Master Licence No. 022874. CSPA Jumpmaster and Instructor ratings.
Eight Way Star Crest Rating No. 9898, Canadian Ten Way Star Crest No. 593, Four Stack Canopy Crest Recipient No. 2759, Eight Stack Canopy Crest Recipient No. 1262.
Canadian Army parachute wings, German Army parachute wings, British Army parachute wings.
CSPA Instructor and Jumpmaster ratings.
CSPA/Canadian 10-way star crest award.
8-way Star Crest rating, 8-stack and 4-stack canopy relative work ratings.
The author's oldest son Jonathan Skaarup getting ready for his first jump with his Dad at Calhan, Colorado. The next generation's turn. The author followed Jonathan out of a Cessna 206 over Colorado on his first two jumps. Jonathan and his wife Jocelyn have also made me a grandfather (Cole and Ashely), so there are prospects for a third generation too.
 The author and his youngest son Sean preparing for his first skydive, Ex-Sky Hawk Dominic Dumont with the Gatineau Parachute Club took him up for a tandem jump from a Cessna Navajo on 29 Sep 2012. I followed them out of the aircraft at 12,500 feet and we shook hands (a three-way on his first jump!) and then we opened our chutes and flew back to the DZ side by side on a beautiful sunny Quebec morning. Way back in the day when I made my first jump at Perth, Ontario in 1972, you had to have a C licence and at least 100 jumps before you were allowed to do a hook-up. (Mind you, I have just realized that was 40 years ago. Where did the time go? I guess time flies when you are having fun, and when does a paratrooper ever stop doing that?). Sean and his wife Melyse (who is also a jumper), have added our third grandchild, granddaughter Owen Aimee Skaarup!
Some Sky Hawk artwork by the author:
CFPT Sky Hawks, de Havilland CC-138 Twin Otter exit. Oil on canvas panel, 16 X 20.
CFPT Sky Hawks Douglas CC-129 Dakota exit. Oil on canvas panel, 16 X 20.
CFPT Sky Hawks exit from a Boeing CH-147 Chinnook helicopter. Oil on canvas, 16 X 20.
CFPT Sky Hawks, Lockheed CC-130 Hercules exit. Oil on canvas panel, 16 X 20.
Author, self-portrait, 1977.
 (DND Photo)
1969, 1st military freefall course (MFP qualification), Edmonton, Alberta.
Standing: Aircrew, Cpl McNaughton (DZ Control), Sgt John Michaud (DZ Control), Maj Caesar, Sgt John Debolt, Sgt Eric Selig, Cpl Bill Roll, Lt Dan Bird, Maj Ray Honig, Sgt Marty Clavette, aircrew (Co-pilot), Capt Bob Gillan, aircrew (Captain).
Kneeling: Capt John Hasek, Ken Martin, Maj Harry Tudor, Lt Paul Fisher, Cpl Doug Carleton, Sgt Lloyd Giles, Cpl Don Skipper, Sgt George Martin, Aircrew. Missing: MCpl Bob Gall (Instructor).
Members of the Canadian Forces Parachute Team, The Sky Hawks from the beginning to the present day
The Sky Hawks Team Members
Year
Rank, Name, Position
1968
Sgt Gerry Vida, Sgt Simon-Fairfax Wykeham Martin, Capt Frank Schutte, Cpl Don Skipper, and Sgt Tom Cook, April 1968.
Gerry stated these were "the hard core originals before the team name, uniforms and even the airborne hat badge. We also used our own civilian parachutes and paid for the jumps out of club aircraft."
1969
Sgt Tom Cook
Capt Frank Schutt, Demonstrator
Cp Don Skipper, Demonstrator
Sgt Gerry Vida, Demonstrator
Sgt Simon Fairfax Wykham-Martin,
1970
Cpl Mike Bedel, Demonstrator
Cpl Roland Benoit, Demonstrator
Sgt Pedro Blanchette, Demonstrator
Cpl Gavin W. Bowman, Demonstrator
MCpl Noel Desrosiers, Demonstrator
Cpl Bob Gallant, Demonstrator
Maj John Hasek, Demonstrator
Cpl Doug Harasymko/Hubbs, Demonstrator
Capt Lincoln, Demonstrator
Capt Lukas, Demonstrator
Capt Frank Schutt, Demonstrator
Cpl Don Skipper, Demonstrator
Sgt Gerry Vida, Demonstrator
Sgt Simon Fairfax Wykham-Martin, Team Leader
1971
 (DND Photo)
1971 CFPT. Back row, left to right: Capt Wayne Denke, Sgt Simon Fairfax Wykham-Martin, Team Leader, LCol Stu Northrup, MCpl Len Freeman, Sgt Paddy Gilmore. Front row, left to right: Cpl Mike Bedel, Sgt Tom Cook, Sgt Gerry Vida.
 (CF Photo)
1971 CFPT: Standing left to right: Cpl Doug Harasymko/Hubbs, Cpl Roland Benoit, Mike Bedel, Cpl Tom Cook, Cpl Charles McNamee, Cpl Chuck Shaw, Cpl Gavin W. Bowman, Cpl Vince Hendry, Cpl Bob Gallant, Cpl Len Freeman, Cpl Gordon C. Batt. Kneeling left to right: Sgt Simon F. Wykeham-Martin, Cpl Don Skipper, Capt Frank ...unidentified, LCol Stu Northrup, Cpl R. Lucas, Sgt Gerry Vida, Sgt Paddy Gilmore. The team is standing in front of a de Havilland CC-115 Buffalo at CFB Summerside, Prince Edward Island, 1971.
 (CF Photo)
1971 CFPT. Left to right: Chuck Shaw, Vince Hendry, Doug Harasymko/Hubbs, Gavin W. Bowman, Gordon C. Batt, Mike Bedel, Bob Gallant, Tom Cook, Don Skipper and Paddy Gilmore, meeting with the Minister of National Defence, Donald S. Macdonald at the Abbotsford Airshow in British Columbia.
Cpl Gordon C. Batt, Demonstrator
Cpl Mike Bedel, Demonstrator
Cpl Roland Benoit, Demonstrator
Sgt Pedro Blanchette, Demonstrator
Cpl Gavin W. Bowman, Demonstrator
Cpl Tom Cook, Demonstrator
MCpl Noel Desrosiers, Demonstrator
Cpl Bob Gallant, Demonstrator
Cpl Paddy Gilmore, Demonstrator
Maj John Hasek, Demonstrator
Cpl Vince Hendry Demonstrator
Cpl Doug Harasymko/Hubbs, Demonstrator
Capt Lukas, Demonstrator
Capt Schutt, Demonstrator
Cpl Chuck Shaw, Demonstrator
Cpl Don Skipper, Demonstrator
Sgt Gerry Vida, Demonstrator
Sgt Simon Fairfax Wykham-Martin, Team Leader
1972
Cpl Gordon C. Batt, Demonstrator
Cpl Mike Bedel, Demonstort
Cpl Roland Benoit, Demonstrator
Sgt Pedro Blanchette, Demonstrator
Cpl Gavin W. Bowman, Demonstrator
Cpl Tom Cook, Demonstrator
MCpl Noel Desrosiers, Demonstrator
MCpl Len Freeman, Demonstrator
Cpl Bob Gallant, Demonstrator
Cpl C.P. Gilmore, Demonstrator
Cpl Hendry Demonstrator
Cpl Doug Harasymko/Hubbs, Demonstrator
Capt Lukas, Demonstrator
Cpl Charles P. McNamee, Demonstrator
LCol Stu Northrup, Demonstrator
Cpl Chuck Shaw, Demonstrator
Capt Schutt Demonstrator
Cpl Don Skipper, Demonstrator
Sgt Gerry Vida, Demonstrator
Sgt Simon Fairfax Wykham-Martin, Team Leader
1973
Cpl Mike Bedel, Demonstrator
Cpl Tom Cook, Demonstrator
MCpl Len Freeman, Demonstrator
Sgt Gilmore, Administration
LCol Stu Northrup, Demonstrator
Sgt Gerry Vida, Demonstrator
Sgt Simon Fairfax Wykeham-Martin, Team Leader
1974
 (CF Photo)
Four-man accuracy team taking part in an accuracy competition at Schoffen, Belgium, the home of the Belgian Airborne school. This team also did a bunch of balloon jumps there. Sgt Wykeham-Martin Simon Fairfax coming in first, Sgt Gerry Vida second, Cpl Mike Bedel third and possibly Cpl Gordon Batt fourth.
Cpl Mike Bedel, Demonstrator
Sgt Tom Cook, Demonstrator, deployed to Cyprus with the Canadian Airborne Regiment
Sgt Len Freeman, Demonstrator
Sgt Bob Gallant, Demonstrator
Sgt Tom Holland, Demonstrator
Sgt Gerry Vida, Demonstrator, deployed to Cyprus with the Canadian Airborne Regiment
Sgt Simon Fairfax Wykeham-Martin, Team Leader
1975
 (CF Photo)
1975 CFPT. Back row, left to right: Simon Fairfax Wykham-Martin, Bruce Topham, Pat Callahan, Ralph Goebel, Pierre Deschenes; Front row, left to right: Serge Archambault, Jim Ogden, Don Buchan, Tom Cook, Moose Jaw July 1975.
Cpl Serge Archambault, Demonstrator
Cpl Don Buchan, Demonstrator/Commentator
Cpl Pat Callahan, Demonstrator
Sgt Tom Cook, Demonstrator
Pte Pierre Deschenes, Demonstrator
MCpl Ralph Goebel, Demonstrator
MCpl Howie Kochanski, Demonstrator
Cpl Jim Ogden, Demonstrator
MCpl Bruce Topham, Demonstrator
Sgt Gerry Vida, Demonstrator
Sgt Simon Fairfax Wykeham-Martin, Team Leader
1976
 (CF Photo)
Standing Top Row: Cpl Pat Turpin, Sgt Gerry Vida, Cpl Rick Guthrie, WO Kevin Gammon.
Standing Midle Row: Capt Phil Campbell, Capt from CABC, MWO Art Thompkins, LCol J.R.J. Gil Bellevance, WO Ron Peskatt, (Possibly MCpl Bill Greenshields).
Kneeling Front Row: Cpl Pierre Deschenes, Sgt Bruce Topham, MCpl Ralph Goebel, MCpl Howie Kochanski.
 (CF Photo)
Capt Phil Campbell, Team Leader
WO John Debolt, Demonstrator
Cpl Pierre Deschenes, Demonstrator
Sgt Bob Gallant, Demonstrator
MCpl Ralph Goebel, Demonstrator
MCpl Bill Greenshields, Demonstrator
MCpl Howie Kochanski, Demonstrator
MCpl Bruce Topham, Demonstrator
Cpl Pat Turpin, Demonstrator
Sgt Peter Vallee, Demonstrator
Sgt Gerry Vida, Demonstrator
1977
 (CF Photo)
1977 CFPT: Standing: Capt Phil Campbell, Cpl Pierre Deschenes, Cpl Rick Hodges, Cpl Pat Turpin, WO Kevin Gammon, Sgt Ralph Goebel, Cpl John Hunt, Cpl Bill Greenshields, Lt Hal Skaarup.
Kneeling: Sgt Brian Burton, Cpl Lorne Ogden, MCpl Rick Guthrie, Cpl Gerry Walker, Cpl Al McGee, Capt Jean Simard, WO Gerry Vida.
 (CF Photo)Capt Phil Campbell, Team Leader
Cpl Pierre Deschenes, Demonstrator
Sgt Brian Fulton, Demonstrator
CWO Kevin Gammon, Demonstrator
Sgt Ralph Goebel, Demonstrator
Sgt Bill Greenshields, Demonstrator
MCpl Rick Guthrie, Demonstrator
Cpl Rick Hodge, Demonstrator
Cpl John Hunt, Demonstrator Cpl
MCpl Murray McConnell, Demonstrator
Cpl Al McGee, Team Rigger
Cpl Lorne Ogden, Demonstrator
Capt Jean Simard, Demonstrator
Lt Hal Skaarup, Demonstrator
MCpl Pat Turpin, Demonstrator
WO Gerry Vida, Team WO
Cpl Gerry Walker, Demonstrator
1978
 (CF Photo)
1978 CFPT: Standing: Cpl Harold McCormick, Sgt Wayne Johnson, Lt Doug Kelly, Cpl Keith Pillar, Maj Nesbit, Cpl Michel Cleroux, Cpl Pat Turpin, Sgt Wayne Sabean, Capt Hal Skaarup. Kneeling: Cpl Rick Guthrie, Pte Alain Doré, Cpl Al McGee, WO Gerry Vida, Cpl George Thibault, Cpl John Glover, Cpl Daniel Plourde.
MCpl Michel Cleroux, Demonstrator
Pte Alain Doré, Demonstrator
Pte John Glover, Demonstrator
MCpl Rick Guthrie, Demonstrator (Rick passed on 29 Oct 2019)
Sgt Wayne Johnson, Demonstrator
Sgt Gabriel Kavanagh, Demonstrator
Lt Doug Kelly, Demonstrator
MCpl Harold McCormick, Demonstrator
Cpl Al McGee, Team Rigger
Sgt Don O'Connor, Team Rigger
Cpl Keith Pillar, Demonstrator
MCpl Daniel Plourde, Demonstrator
Capt Hal Skaarup, Demonstrator
Sgt Wayne Sabean, Demonstrator
MCpl George J.F. Thibault, Demonstrator
MCpl Pat Turpin, Demonstrator
WO Gerry Vida, Team Leader
1979
 (CF Photo)
1979 CFPT: Standing, Paul Aikins, Bill Greenshields, Tom Holland, Andre Simun, Rick Vance
Front row kneeling, left to right Alain Dore, Patrick Turpin, Donald O'Connor and Brad Smith.
 (CF Photo)
1979 CFPT: Standing: MCpl Rick Vance, WO Tom Holland, Pte Brad Smith, LS Paul Aikens, Sgt Wayne Sabean. Kneeling: MCpl Pat Turpin, Cpl Ondrej Simun, MCpl Don O’Connor, Capt Hal Skaarup, Pte Alain Doré.
LS Paul Aikens, Demonstrator
Cpl Michel Cleroux, Demonstrator
Cpl Pierre Deschenes, Demonstrator
Pte Alain Doré, Demonstrator
WO Tom Holland, Team Leader
Sgt Don O'Connor, Team Rigger
MCpl Daniel Plourde, Demonstrator
Sgt Wayne Sabean, Demonstrator
Cpl Ondrej Simun, Demonstrator
Capt Hal Skaarup, Demonstrator
Pte Brad Smith, Demonstrator
MCpl Pat Turpin, Demonstrator
MCpl Rick Vance, Demonstrator
1980
 (CF Photo)
1980 CFPT Training Camp: Back row, left to right: Cpl Ondrej Simun, unidentified, Capt Hal Skaarup, MCpl Pat Turpin sitting on LS Paul Aikens shoulders, Pte Alain Dore, Sgt Bill Greenshields, Sgt Wayne Sabean. Front row, left to right: MCpl Rick Vance, MCpl Don O’Connor, unidentified, WO Tom Holland, MCpl Jim Ogden, MCpl Bruno Caron.
Cpl Alain Dore, Demonstrator
Capt Paul Goebel, Demonstrator
Capt Norm Green, Administration
WO Tom Holland, Team Leader
LCol Bruce Montgomery, Demonstrator
MCpl Karl Ozols, Demonstrator
Sgt Jad Perry, Demonstrator
Cpl Donna Riccio, Demonstrator
MCpl Jay Robinson, Team Rigger
MCpl Denis Simoneau, Demonstrator
Sgt Bill Tattersall, Demonstrator
MCpl Rick Vance, Demonstrator
1981
 (CF Photo)
1981 CFPT, Standing: Cpl Randy Kerel, Lt Barry Burns, Sgt Jim Ogden, aircrew, Capt Mike Blanchette, Sgt Bob Sommers, aircrew, aircrew.
Kneeling: MCpl Colin Beattie, Sgt Jad Perry, WO Tom Holland, MCpl Ondrej Simun, Sgt Pat Turpin.
 (CF Photo)
MCpl Colin Beattie, Team Rigger
Capt Mike Blanchette, Team Leader
WO William A. Bolen, Senior Stores
Lt Barry Burns, Commentator
Sgt Bruno Caron, Demonstrator
WO Tom Holland, Team Leader for Training camp and Northern Tour
Cpl Randy Kerel, Demonstrator
Capt Grant Mclean, Administration Officer
Sgt Jim Ogden, Demonstrator
Sgt Jad Perry, Demonstrator
MCpl Ondrej Simun, Demonstrator
Sgt Bob Sommer, Demonstrator
Pte Daniel Trottier, Demonstrator
Sgt Pat Turpin, Demonstrator, Team WO after WO Holland's posting
Cpl Rob Warner, Demonstrator
1982
 (CF Photo)
1982 CFPT. Left to right: Cpl Michael Fader, Sgt Pat Turpin, Sgt Billy Bolen, MCpl Colin Beattie, Capt Romas Blekaitis.
 (CF Photo)
1982 CFPT, Standing: Steve Base, Roy Comeau, Brian Acker, Jeff Crossman, Jad Perry.
Kneeling: Tim Ryan, MCpl Colin Beattie, Pat Turpin, Capt Gerry Vida, Sgt George Thibault.
1982, CFPT, Yuma, Arizona. MCpl Georges Thibault, Sgt Bob Sommer, Capt Sandy Robertson and Cpl Colin Beattie.
 (CF Photo)
(CF Photo)
1982, CFPT, Standing: Lt Paul Randall, Pte Jim Lindsay, MCpl Geoff Crossman, Sgt Pat Turpin, WO Strath Crawford, Sgt Roy Comeau, Capt Romas Blekitis.
Kneeling L-R Cpl Tim Ryan, Cpl Colin Beattie, Cpl Brian Acker, Sgt Georges Thibault.
Cpl Brian Acker, Demonstrator
Cpl Steven Base, Demonstrator
MCpl Colin Beattie, Team Rigger
WO William A. Bolen, Senior Stores
Sgt John Chambers, Demonstrator
MWO Dan Cook, Demonstrator
WO Strath Crawford, Demonstrator
MCpl Geof Crossman
Cpl Michael Fader, Demonstrator
Cpl Gordon Hasay, Demonstrator
Cpl Lynn Dale, Demonstrator
Cpl Scott MacDonalt, Demonstrator
MCpl Murray John Demonstrator
Sgt Jad Perry, Demonstrator
Capt Bernard Pelletier, Demonstrator
WO Bud Rhyndress, Administation
Cpl Tim Ryan, Demonstrator
Sgt George Thibault, Demonstrator
Capt Gerry Vida, Team Leader
1983
 (CF Photo)
1983 CFPT, Standing: Scott Macdonald, Bill Chambers, Colin Beattie, George Thibault, Pete Malcolm, Mike Denis.
Kneeling: Don Cook, Steve Base, John Murray, Paul Randall, Darren Darbyson, Gerry Vida.
 (CF Photo)
Capt Romas Blekaitis, Administration Officer
Cpl Brian Acker, Demonstrator
Cpl Steven Base, Demonstrator
MCpl Colin Beattie, Team Rigger
Sgt Bill Chambers, Demonstrator
MWO Don Cook, Demonstrator
MCpl Darren Darbyson, Demonstrator
Cpl Michel Denis, Demonstrator
Cpl Gordon Hasay, Demonstrator
Cpl Scott MacDonald, Demonstrator
Sgt Peter Malcolm, Demonstrator
MCpl John Murray, Demonstrator
Sgt Jad Perry Jad, Demonstrator
Lt Paul Randall, Demonstrator
WO Bud Rhyndress, Demonstrator
Cpl Tony Roebuck, Demonstrator
Cpl Tim Ryan, Demonstrator
Sgt George Thibault, Demonstrator
Capt Gerry Vida, Team Leader
1984
 (CF Photo)
1984 CFPT: Standing top row: Cpl Brian Acker, Cpl Allen Lavallee, Cpl Mario Berube, Cpl Richard Fournier.
Standing centre row: Lt Paul Randall, Sgt George Thibault, MCpl Ondrej Simon, Capt Gerry Vida, WO Bud Rhyndress, Sgt Jad Perry, Sgt Daniel Plourde.
Kneeling: MCpl Mike Little, MWO Don Cook, Pte Oliver Maurice, Mike Major Brian Rose
Cpl Brian Acker, Demonstrator
Cpl Mario Berube, Demonstrator
MWO Don Cook, Demonstrator
Cpl Richard Fournier, Demonstrator
Cpl Allen Lavallee, Demonstrator
MCpl Mike Little, Demonstrator
MCpl Dan MacKay, Demonstrator
Sgt Mike Major, Demonstrator
Pte Oliver Meurice, Demonstrator
Pte Peter Muselius, Demonstrator
Sgt Jad Perry, Demonstrator
MCpl Ronn Phillips, Demonstrator
Sgt Daniel Plourde, Demonstrator
Lt Paul Randall, Demonstrator
WO Bud Rhyndress, Demonstrator
MCpl Brian Rose, Demonstrator
MCpl Ondrej Simon, Demonstrator
Sgt George Thibault, Demonstrator
Capt Gerry Vida, Team Leader
Cpl Brian Weir, Team Rigger
1985
 (CF Photo)
1985, CFPT Standing: 1, 2, Sgt Ondrej Simun, Cpl Gabriel Kavanagh, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
Kneeling: 1, 2, WO Don O'Connor, 4, 5, Sgt George Thibault.
1985 CFPT, Yuma, Arizona, Standing: Lt Paul Randall, Capt Brian Bertrand, Cpl Gabriel Kavanagh, MCpl John Murray, Harold Pineault (CFPMD), WO Sipley (CABC), 7, MWO Don Cook, Bill Chambers, Capt Barry Lewis, Cpl Dereck Agnew, Sgt Ondrej Simun, 1Cpl Gary Gauthier, Sgt Larry Hartenberger, 15, Joanne Keays (CFPMD), 17, Sgt Daniel Plourde, 19, 20, 21, 22, Gord Lagarie(CABC).
Kneeling: 1, 2, 3, Sgt George Thibault, WO Bud Rhyndress, RSM Bakker (CABC), CO (CABC), Capt Doug Hubbs, Capt Gerry Vida, WO Don O'Connor, Cpl Brian Acker, Cpl Brian Weir.
Cpl Brian Acker, Demonstrator
Cpl Dereck Agnew, Demonstrator
Capt Brian Bertrand, Demonstrator
Cpl Howard Boon, Demonstrator
Sgt Mike Boyling, Demonstrator
MWO Don Cook, Demonstrator
Pte Dana Forbes, Demonstrator
Cpl Gary Gauthier, Demonstrator
MCpl John Harris, Demonstrator
Sgt Larry Hartenberger, Demonstrator
Capt Doug Hubbs, Team Leader
Cpl Gabriel Kavanagh, Demonstrator
Capt Barry Lewis, Demonstrator
Cpl Maurice Moody, Demonstrator
MCpl John Murray, Demonstrator
WO Don O'Connor, Demonstrator
Sgt Daniel Plourde, Demonstrator
Pte John Quint, Demonstrator
Lt Paul Randall, Demonstrator
WO Bud Rhyndress, Demonstrator
Sgt Ondrej Simun, Demonstrator
Sgt George Thibault, Demonstrator
MCpl Allen Tremblay, Demonstrator
Capt Gerry Vida, OC until Change of Command with Capt Doug Hubbs
Cpl Brian Weir, Team Rigger
1986
 (CF Photo)
1986 CFPT, Standing: 1, 2, 3, MCpl Jeff Balch, Sgt Larry Hartenburger, 6, 2Lt Eileen Vaughan, Lt Paul Randall, 9, Sgt Bob Sommer, 11, MCpl Maurice (Yogi) Berube.
Kneeling: MCpl Guy Plamondon, Sgt Mike Boyling, Capt Doug Hubbs, WO Don O'Connor, Sgt George Thibault, MCpl Michel (Mike) Denis.
MCpl Jeff Balch, Demonstrator
MCpl Maurice (Yogi) Berube, Demonstrator
Sgt Mike Boyling, Demonstrator
Cpl Paul Burke, Demonstrator
Cpl Randy Corcoran, Demonstrator
MCpl Michel (Mike) Denis, Demonstrator
Cpl Eric Gagne, Demonstrator
Sgt Larry Hartenburger, Demonstrator
Capt Doug Hubbs, Team Leader
Cpl Brian Keefe, Demonstrator
Cpl George Kralik, Demonstrator
Cpl Maurice Moody, Demonstrator
MCpl John Murray, Demonstrator
WO Don O'Connor, Demonstrator
Lt Steve Otto, Demonstrator
MCpl Guy Plamondon, Demonstrator
Lt Paul Randall, Demonstrator
MCpl Bob Sommer, Demonstrator
Sgt George Thibault, Demonstrator
2Lt Eileen Vaughan, Demonstrator
Cpl Brian Weir, Team Rigger
1987
1987 CFPT over CFB Petawawa, Ontario. (Michel Denis Photo)
1987 CFPT, Rear Row Standing: Sgt Karl Ozols, Sgt Michel Denis, MCpl Hank Miller, Cpl Neil (Scotty) Graves, Pte Sylvain Gallant, MCpl Maurice (Yogi) Berube, MCpl Steve Mitchell, MCpl Michel Villeneuve, MCpl Wayne Cormier, WO Pete Malcolm, Capt Perry Metaxas.
Front Row Kneeling: Sgt Brian Toupin, MCpl Bob Summer, MCpl Dean Louvalle, Lt Eileen Vaughan, WO Larry Hartenberger, Cpl Kevin Karambowich, MCpl Bill Collins, WO Mario Lakatos.
Missing: Capt Rick Dodson, Sgt John Murray, Cpl Jeff Hoquard, Pte Mike McCulloch, Sgt Mike Boyling, Pte Jon Quinn.
MCpl Maurice (Yogi) Berube, Demonstrator
Sgt Mike Boyling, Demonstrator
MCpl Wayne Cormier, Demonstrator
MCpl Bill Collins, Demonstrator
Capt Rick Dodson, OC and Demonstrator
Sgt Michel Denis, Demonstrator
Pte Sylvain Gallant, Demonstrator
Cpl Neil (Scotty) Graves, Demonstrator
Cpl Jeff Hoquard, Team Clerk
WO Larry Hartenberger, Demonstrator
Cpl Kevin Karambowich, Demonstrator
WO Mario Lakatos, Demonstrator
MCpl Dean Louvalle, Demonstrator
Pte Jon Quinn, Team Clerk
Capt Perry Metaxas, Team Leader
MCpl Hank Miller, Demonstrator
MCpl Steve Mitchell, Demonstrator
Sgt John Murray, Demonstrator
Sgt Karl Ozols, Demonstrator
MCpl Bob Summer, Demonstrator
Sgt Brian Toupin, Demonstrator
Lt Eileen Vaughan, Demonstrator
MCpl Michel Villeneuve, Demonstrator
1988
MCpl George Barager, Demonstrator
Cpl Brian Cornect, Demonstrator
Capt Rick Dodson, Administration
Cpl Michel Gagne, Demonstrator
Cpl Jeff Hacquard, Demonstrator
Cpl Dave Lazarowich, Demonstrator
Tpr Rock Levesque, Demonstrator
WO Pierre Malcan, Demonstrator
Capt Perry Metaxas, Team Leader
Sgt Denis Michel, Demonstrator
Sgt Karl Ozals, Demonstrator
Cpl Ralph Pulfer, Demonstrator
Sgt Mike Rayling, Demonstrator
1989
 (CF Photo)
1989 CFPT: Left to right Cpl Jeff Hocquard, Cpl Mike McCullough, Capt Rick Dodson, Sgt Michel Denis, Cpl Mike Hawes, MCpl Wayne Shea, Capt Eileen Vaughan, Capt Mitch MacLeod, MCpl Bob Chafe, MCpl Ron Gillis, Sgt Karl Ozols, WO Pete Malcolm, MCpl Shaun Taylor, WO Chris White.
MCpl Bob Chafe, Demonstrator
MCpl Brian Cornect, Demonstrator
Sgt Michel Denis, Demonstrator
Capt Rick Dodson, Team Leader
MCpl Ron Gillis, Demonstrator
Cpl Mike Hawes, Demonstrator
Cpl Hocquard Jeff, Demonstrator
Capt Ali-kahn Hussein, Administration Officer
WO Malcolm Pete, Demonstrator
Cpl Mike McCullough, Team Rigger
Capt Macleod Mitch, Demonstrator
WO Karl Ozols, Demonstrator
Capt Michel Rainville, Administration Officer
MCpl Wayne Shea, Demonstrator
MCpl Shaun Taylor, Demonstrator
Pte Jon Quinn Team, Clerk
Lt Eileen Vaughan, Demonstrator
WO Chris White, Team WO 2 i /c
1990
 (CF Photo)
1990 CFPT, Standing: 1, 2, 3, 4, Capt John Scott, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Kneeling: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
MCpl Robin Brentnall, Team Clerk
Cpl Steve Beaudoin, Demonstrator
MCpl Bob Chafe, Demonstrator
Capt Rick Dodson, Team Leader
WO Fern Hamann, Demonstrator
Cpl Pierre Juanotte, Demonstrator
Cpl Pat Lajoie, Demonstrator
WO Mario Lakatos, Demonstrator
MCpl Dean Louvelle, Demonstrator
Sgt Pierre Marchand, Demonstrator
Cpl Mike McCulloch, Team Rigger
Capt John McCullough, Administration Officer
Cpl Bill Pentney, Demonstrator
Cpl Jon Quinn, Demonstrator
Capt Michel Rainville, Administration Officer
Capt John Scott, Demonstrator
MCpl Bill Thomas, Demonstrator
Cpl Timothy Turner, Demonstrator
WO Chris White, Team WO 2i/c
1991
 (CF Photo)
1991 CFPT, Standing: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Kneeling: 1, 2, MCpl Volker Kock, 4, 5, Sgt Pat Turpin, Sgt Mario Lakatos, 8.
Capt Mark Albers, Demonstrator
Cpl Robin Brentnall, Team Clerk
Sgt Bob Chafe, Demonstrator
Cpl Len Chartrand, Demonstrator
Cpl Bill Donahue, Demonstrator
WO Al Estey, Demonstrator
Capt Stephan Fournier, Demonstrator
MBdr Tim Howe, Demonstrator
MCpl Volker Kock, Demonstrator
Sgt Mario Lakatos, Demonstrator
Sgt Pete Marchand, Demonstrator
Capt John McCullough, Administration
Cpl Robert McGregor, Demonstrator
Capt Ray Nichol, Team Leader
Sgt Paul Parsons, Demonstrator
Cpl Bill Pentney, Demonstrator
Gnr Chris Rigby, Demonstrator
Sgt Pat Turpin, Demonstrator
Cpl Graham Waters, Demonstrator
1992
 (CF Photo)
1992, CFPT, Standing: Civilian professional photographer hired by Vancouver to video the jump scenes for Flight of the Sky Hawks, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Sgt Mario Lakatos, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
Kneeling: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Joe Jennings.
Capt Mark Albers, Demonstrator
MCpl Robin Brentnall, Team Clerk
Cpl P.M. Cambell, Demonstrator
Sgt Bob Chafe, Demonstrator
MCpl Marion Chung, Demonstrator
Sgt Jeff Elliot, Demonstrator
MCpl Fern Hamann, Demonstrator
Cpl Daniel Labelle, Demonstrator
Sgt Mario Lakatos, Demonstrator
Sgt Allan Lancaster, Demonstrator
MCpl A.G. Lebel, Demonstrator
Lt Sylvain Leblanc, Demonstrator
Capt John McCulloch, Demonstrator
MCpl R.H. McFarlane, Demonstrator
MCpl Pierre McIntyre, Demonstrator
Cpl J.P. Paradis, Demonstrator
Cpl Bill Pentney, Demonstrator
Capt Eric Perry, Demonstrator
Capt Stetzenko Nick, Demonstrator
Sgt Brian Toupin, Demonstrator
MCpl Tremblay, Demonstrator
1993
 (CF Photo)
1993, CFPT, Standing: Sgt Bob Chafe, 2Lt Brian Zimmerman, Sgt Paul Williams, Aircrew with baseball cap, Esso Tiger, Capt Mark Albers (Team Capt), Capt Mike Perrault, WO Mike Lacharite (Team WO) and MCpl Glen Ryan
Kneeling: Sgt Pat Turpin, Sgt Jeff Elliott, Sgt Vic Veinotte and Sgt Gus Ryan.
Capt Mark Albers, Team Capt
Cpl Bensusan, Demonstrator
Sgt Bolke, Demonstrator
Sgt Bob Chafe, Demonstrator
Cpl Len Chartrand, Demonstrator
Cpl Davies, Demonstrator
Cpl Dave Dumont, Team Clerk
Sgt Jeff Elliott, Demonstrator
WO Mike Lacharite, Team WO
MCpl Mercier, Demonstrator
WO Ken Murphy, Demonstrator
MCpl Panke, Demonstrator
Capt Eric Perey, Demonstrator
Capt Mike Perrault, Demonstrator
Sgt Gus Ryan, Demonstrator
Capt Ron Shaw, Demonstrator
Capt Nick Stetzenko, Demonstrator
Sgt Brian Toupin, Demonstrator
Sgt Pat Turpin, Demonstrator
Sgt Vic Veinotte, Demonstrator
Sgt Paul Williams, Demonstrator
2Lt Brian Zimmerman, Demonstrator
1994
Cpl Len Chartrand, Rigger
WO Bob Cotnam, Team WO
MCpl Randy Courd, Demonstrator
Cpl Steve Gauthier, Demonstrator
MCpl Bill Gaynor, Demonstrator
MCpl Bill Gibson, Demonstrator
OCdt Ben Girard, Demonstrator
WO Mike Lacharite, Demonstrator
Cpl Mike Leroux, Demonstrator
MCpl Todd McGowan, Demonstrator
WO Ken Murphy, Demonstrator
Cpl Howie Palmer, Demonstrator
Cpl Steph Paradis, Team Clerk
Capt Eric Perey, Demonstrator
Sgt Gus Ryan, Demonstrator
Sgt Paul Williams, Demonstrator
1995
 (CF Photo)
1995, CFPT, Standing: WO Bob Cotnam, Cpl Chris Murphy, Cpl Mike Leroux, 4, MCpl Todd McGowan, Cpl Eric Gagné, Sgt Ted McGinnis, Cpl Steph Paradis, Cpl Bill Pentney, Capt Ron Shaw.
Kneeling: CWO Bob Hodgson, Sgt Luc Gagnon, Sgt Jim Romanko, Sgt Jeff Smith, 5, Sgt Kevin Towell.
WO Bob Cotnam, Team WO
Cpl Eric Gagné, Demonstrator
Sgt Luc Gagnon, PR NCO
CWO Bob Hodgson, RSM/Demonstrator
Cpl Mike Leroux, Demonstrator
Sgt Dave Mailhot, Demonstrator
Sgt Ted McGinnis, CQ
MCpl Todd McGowan, Demonstrator
Cpl Hank Miller, Rigger
Cpl Chris Murphy, Demonstrator
Cpl Steph Paradis, Team CLerk
Cpl Bill Pentney, Rigger
Capt Eric Perry, AO
Capt Cliff Reeves, Demonstrator
MCpl J.R. Richard, Demonstrator
Sgt Jim Romanko, Demonstrator
Capt Ron Shaw, Team Captain
Sgt Jeff Smith, Transport NCO
MCpl Thompson, Demonstrator
Sgt Kevin Towell, Demonstrator
1996
MCpl Ronald Barrow, Demonstrator
MCpl Donald Carlson, Demonstrator
Cpl Michael Feyko, Demonstrator
Cpl Justin Frye, Demonstrator
Cpl Eric Gagné, Demonstrator
Sgt James Lamothe, Demonstrator
Sgt Ted McGinnis, Demonstrator
Sgt Dave Mailhot, Transport NCO
Capt Donald McMannus, Demonstrator
WO Ken Murphy, Team WO
Cpl Chris Murphy, Rigger
MCpl T. Nathan, Demonstrator
Cpl Stephane Paradis, Team Clerk
Capt Cliff Reeves, Team Captain
Sgt Jeff Smith, PR NCO
Sgt Kevin Towell, CQ
1997
MCpl Lee Bibby, Demonstrator
Capt Stephane Contre, Team Captain
MCpl Vincent Downs, Demonstrator
Cpl Justin Frye, Demonstrator
Cpl Eric Gagne, Demonstrator
Cpl Stephane Gauthier, Demonstrator
Cpl Rodney Keyes, Rigger
Cpl Maxime Labelle, Team Clerk
Sgt James Lamothe, Demonstrator
Sgt Dave Mailhot, CQ
WO Ken Murphy, Team WO
Cpl Chris Murphy, Senior Rigger
Cpl J.R.A. Pépin, Demonstrator
Sgt Jim Romanko, Transport NCO
MCpl Thomson Malcolm, Demonstrator
Sgt Kevin Towell, PR NCO
Cpl Jean Louis Venne, Demonstrator
1998
Lt William M. Beardmore, Administration Officer
MCpl André-Luc Bisson, Demonstrator
Cpl Dany Heppell, Rigger
Cpl Rodney Keyes, Team Rigger
Cpl Maxime Labelle, Team Clerk
Cpl Michelle Laframboise, Demonstrator
Sgt Pat Lajoie, NCO
Sgt James Lamothe, Demonstrator
WO Roche Lanteigne, Team WO
MCpl Jöel Manaigre, Demonstrator
MCpl Michael Mountain, Demonstrator
Sgt Kenneth Nunn, Demonstrator
MCpl Winston Rattray, Demonstrator
Cpl Christopher Robin, Demonstrator
Sgt Jim Romanko, NCO
Capt John A.E. Scott, Team Captain
Sgt Kevin Towell, PR NCO
Cpl Jean-Louis Venne, Demonstrator
1999
 (CF Photo)
1999, CFPT, Standing: Cpl Brian McDougall, Cpl Rodney Keyes, Cpl Rikk Lewis, Capt John A.E. Scott.
Kneeling: WO William A. Bolen, Sgt Steven Merry, 3, Sgt Jim Romanko, Sgt Mike Hamilton, Sgt Andy Hulan, Cpl Chris Thombs.
Lt William M. Beardmore, Administration Officer
WO William A. Bolen, Team WO
Cpl Chuck Gourlay, Demonstrator
Sgt Mike Hamilton, Demonstrator
Sgt Andy Hulan, Demonstrator
Cpl Rodney Keyes, Rigger
Cpl Maxime Labelle, Team CLerk
Sgt James Lamothe, Demonstrator
Cpl Rikk Lewis, Demonstrator
Cpl Brian McDougall, Demonstrator
Sgt Steven Merry, Demonstrator
MCpl Christopher Robin, Demonstrator
Sgt Jim Romanko, Demonstrator
Capt John A.E. Scott, Team Captain
Cpl Chris Thombs, Demonstrator
Cpl Jean-Louis Venne, Demonstrator
MCpl Dave Wagner, Rigger
2000
2000 CFPT: Rear Row standing: Sgt Mike Hamilton, Cpl Brian McDougall, Lee Bibby, Hugh McReynolds, Sgt Andy Hulan, Capt John Scott.
Front Row kneeling: Sgt Bill Gibson, Cpl Terry Gough, MCpl Dave Wagner, Cpl Trent Gillis, 2Lt Stephen McLean, MCpl Malcolm Thomson, Cpl Kenny Downton, Diezel Lodder. Missing: Cpl Rikk Lewis, Capt Julie Brazeau, Cpl Maxime Labelle and Capt J.M. Brault.
Sgt Lee Bibby, Team NCO
WO William A. Bolen, Team WO
Capt J.M. Brault, AO
Capt Julie Brazeau, Demonstrator
Cpl Kenny Downton, Demonstrator
Sgt Billy Gibson, Demonstrator
Cpl Trent Gillis, Demonstrator
Cpl Terry Gough, Rigger
Sgt Mike Hamilton, CQ
Sgt Andy Hulan, Cadre
Cpl Maxime Labelle,Team Clerk
Cpl Rikk Lewis, Demonstrator
Cpl Brian McDougall, Demonstrator
2Lt Stephen McLean, Narrator
Capt John Scott, Team Captain
MCpl Malcolm Thomson, Demonstrator
MCpl Dave Wagner, Rigger
2001
 (DND Photo)Sky Hawk reunion, October 2001 at CFB Trenton, Ontario, with the de Havilland CC-115 Buffalo we jumped out of during the gathering.
Standing: 1, Michael Mountain, Sgt Kevin Karambowich, 4, Steve Merry, Hugh McReynolds, Ted McGinnis, Steven Base, Maj Hal Skaarup, Vinny Downs, Pierre Marchand.
Kneeling: Sgt Lee Bibby, 2, 3, 4, Sgt Dave Wagner, 6.
2001
MS Jason Berry, Demonstrator
Cpl Michel Bolduc, Demonstrator
Sgt Lee Bibby, PR NCO
Capt J.M. Brault, AO
Capt Julie Brazeau, Team Information Officer
Cpl Kenny Downton, Demonstrator
Sgt Tom Duke, Demonstrator
Cpl Danette Frasz, Team Clerk (28 jumps)
Cpl Terry Gough, Rigger
WO Andy Hulan, PR NCO
Pte Chris Karigiannis, Demonstrator
Sgt Roch Levesque, Demonstrator
Sgt Martin LodderSenior Rigger
WO Ed Mclean, Team WO
Capt Hugh McReynolds, Team Captain
Capt James Sebe, Demonstrator
Sgt Doug Sheppard, Transport NCO
Cpl David Thistle, Demonstrator
Sgt Dave Wagner, CQ
2002
Sgt Lee Bibby, PR NCO
MCpl Randy Cleary, Demonstrator
Cpl Eric Dinn, Demonstrator
Cpl Murray Dodds, Rigger
Cpl Danette Frasz, Team CLerk
Cpl Eric Grenier, Demonstrator
MCpl Richard Howlett, Demonstrator
Sgt Kevin Karambowich, CQ
Cpl Vicki Lanthier, Demonstrator
MCpl Mike Leroux, Senior Rigger
Sgt Roch Levesque, Transport NCO
WO Ed McLean, Team WO
Capt Hugh McReynolds, Team Captain
Capt James Sebe, Team Information Officer
Sgt Doug Sheppard, CQ
Capt Brian Wright, AO
2003
2003, CFPT, Rear Standing: JM Brault, Roch Levesque, Eric Dinn, Brent Nolasco, Brian Mury, Paul Sprenger, Dawn Herniman.
Front Kneeling: Doug Sheppard, Ryan Adams, Murray Dodds, Sam Hewton, Kevin Karambowich, Scott McCready. Missing from photo: Mike Leroux, Michel Poirier.
Dawn Herniman is carrying a container with a 450 square foot flag (plus 25 pound weight) inside the main container. There's an internal set of flaps with their own closing loop so it doesn't deploy at the same time as the main, then the main goes on top of that. That red handle on Dawn's hip is the cutaway for the flag, and the flag's deployment handle is on the right side, mounted on the side flap.
 (CF Photo)
Cpl Ryan Adams, Demonstrator
Capt JM Brault, Team Captain
Cpl Eric Dinn, Demonstrator
Cpl Murray Dodds, Rigger
Cpl Danette Frasz, Team Clerk
Lt(N) Dawn Herniman, Team Information Officer
Cpl Sam Hewton, Demonstrator
Sgt Kevin Karambowich, PR NCO
MCpl Mike Leroux, Senior Rigger
Sgt Roch Levesque, CQ
Cpl Scott McCready, Demonstrator
Sgt Brian Mury, Transport NCO
Cpl Brent Nolasco, Demonstrator
Capt Michel Poirier, Narrator
WO Doug Sheppard, Team WO
MCpl Paul Springer, Demonstrator
Capt Brian Wright, AO
2004
MCpl Steve Bates, Rigger
Sgt Christ Binet, PR NCO
Sgt Don Carlson, Transport NCO
Cpl Eric Collard, Demonstrator
WO Bob Cotnam, Demonstrator
Capt Pat Coupal, Demonstrator
MCpl Brad Gaiger, Demonstrator
Sgt Kevin Karambowich, CQ
WO Roch Lanteigne, Team WO
Cpl Brad McKenzie, Demonstrator
Capt Troy Neufeld, Team Captain
Capt James Sebe, Team Information Officer
Cpl Dean Schell, Demonstrator
Capt Pat Slack, DZ Controller
MCpl Aaron Sunderland, Demonstrator
MCpl Chris Thombs, Demonstrator/Cameraman
2005
MCpl Denise Anctil, Team Clerk
MCpl Steve Bates, Rigger
Capt Sebastien Bronsard, Team Captain
Sgt Don Carlson, Transport NCO
Capt Curis Chow, AO
WO Bob Cotnam, Demonstrator
Cpl Stephane D'Aragon, Demonstrator
Cpl Eric Deroy, Demonstrator
Lt Nicholas Fremidou, PAO
Cpl Sindy Gagnon, Team Clerk
Cpl Steve Gosselin, Rigger
WO John Hapgood, Team WO
Cpl Sam Hewton, Demonstrator
Cpl Eric Labbe, Demonstrator
Sgt Christopher Murphy, CQ
MCpl J.J. O'Leary, DZ Controller
Cpl Christopher Postings, Demonstrator
Sgt Dave Smith, PR NCO
Capt D.M. Thomas, AO
MCpl Maxime Tremblay, Demonstrator
Cpl Donald Viel, Demonstrator
2006
MCpl Denise Anctil, Team Clerk
Sgt Don Carlson, CQ
WO Robert Cotnam, Demonstrator
Cpl Patrick Coupal, Demonstrator
Capt Jim Fancy, AO
Sgt John Ferguson, Transport NCO
Capt Sean French, Team Captain
MCpl Patrick Gonthier, Demonstrator
Cpl Gosselin Steve, Rigger
WO Andrew Hulan, Team WO
Cpl Derek Langstaff, DZ Controller
Cpl Yannick Leroux, Demonstrator
Cpl Kevin O'Donnell, Rigger
Cpl Nierko Proulx, Demonstrator
Sgt Dave Smith, PR NCO
2007
MCpl Denise Anctil, Team Clerk
MCpl Darrell Bishop, CQ
Sgt Don Buchan, Transport NCO
Cpl Stephane D'Aragon, Senior Rigger
Cpl Guillaume Durand, Demonstrator
Capt Jim Fancy, AO
WO John Ferguson, Team WO
Pte Marie-Lou Fredette, Demonstrator
Capt French Sean Team Captain
Cpl Sebastien Pinard, Rigger
Cpl Nierko Proulx, Demonstrator
Sgt Jeff Whibbs, PR NCO
2008
Sgt Steve Beaudoin, Transport NCO
Cpl Serge Blouin, Demonstrator
Sgt Kyle Caldwell, Team WO
Sgt Don Carlson, Demonstrator
Cpl Brad Chase, Demonstrator
Sgt Martin Croteau, PR NCO
MCpl Stephane D'Aragon, CQ
Capt Jim Fancy, AO
MCpl Josee Gagnon, Team Clerk
Lt Cynthia Larue, PAO
MCpl James Martin, Demonstrator
Capt Angelo Manzara, Team Captain
Sgt Brad McKenzie, Demonstrator
Cpl Sebastien Pinard, Rigger
WO Pinlac Rowell Demonstrator
Cpl Michel St-Pierre, Demonstrator
Cpl William Van-dyk, Rigger
2009
 (CF Photo)
2009, CFPT, Standing: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
Kneeling: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Sgt Réal Baril, Demonstrator
Sgt Kyle Caldwell, Team WO
Sgt Billy Coles, Demonstrator
MCpl Eric Collard, Demonstrator
MS Dominic Dumont, Senior Rigger
Capt James Fancy, AO
MCpl Eric Gagnon, Demonstrator
MCpl Tammy Greening, Team Clerk
Sgt Travis Hegland, Transport NCO
Capt Ian J. Laporte, Public Affairs Officer
Pte Steven Massicotte, Demonstrator
Sgt McKenzie Bradley, PR NCO
Cpl Richard Nelson, Demonstrator
Cpl Andrew Pertus, Demonstrator
Cpl Sébastien Pinard, CQ
Lt(N) James Sebe, Team Captain
Pte Annie Thibodeau, Demonstrator
Sgt John Tunn, Demonstrator
Cpl William Van Dyk, Rigger
Cpl Christina Villeneuve, Demonstrator
Cpl Leigh Widdowson (Pin), Demonstrator
2010
 (CF Photo)
2010 CFPT, Standing: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Joe Chow (the author's first jump instructor in 1972), 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
Sgt Real Baril, Demonstrator
OCdt Josée Belcourt, Narrator
Sgt Paul Cincinnato, Demonstrator
Cpl Corey Douglas, Demonstrator
MS Dominic Dumont, Senior Rigger
Capt Jim Fancy, AO
MCpl Tammy Greening, Team Clerk
Sgt Travis Hegland, PR NCO
Sgt Lee Laval, Transport NCO
MCpl Scott Leckie, CQ
Pte Levandier, Demonstrator
Cpl Steve Massicotte, Demonstrator
Sgt Bradley McKenzie, Team WO
Capt Christopher Nobrega, Team Captain
Cpl Andrew Pertus, Demonstrator
Lt(N) James Sebe, DZ Controller
Cpl Jonathan Shaw, Rigger
Cpl Sebastian Trudeau, Demonstrator
2011
 (CF Photo)
2011 CFPT, Standing: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Kneeling: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Sgt Real Baril, Demonstrator
Sgt Scott Dickin, PR NCO
Sgt Murray Dodds, Transport NCO
Cpl Corey Douglas, Demonstrator
Cpl Scott Galt, DZ Controller
Cpl Dan Keith, Demonstrator
WO Trevor Lavallee, Team WO
MCpl Scott Leckie, CQ
Cpl Mike Levandier, Demonstrator
Cpl Johann Reimer, Demonstrator
MCpl Johnny Shaw, Senior Rigger
Capt Mark Sheppard, Team Captain
CPO2 Tony Specht, Demonstrator
Capt Indira Thackorie, PR Officer :
MCpl Adam Winnicki, Demonstrator
2012
Cpl Jason Brisebois-Bergeron, Demonstrator
MCpl Natacha Card, Clerk
Sgt Scott Dickin, Transport NCO/Team WO
Cpl Corey Douglas, Demonstrator
Cpl Alex Fortin, Demonstrator
Cpl Teri Fralick, Demonstrator
Sgt Frank Gosselin, CQ
WO Dan Hebert, Team WO
Lt Ben Huddleston, Ops O
Cpl Andrew Nagtegaal, Demonstrator
Capt Pierre Pelletier, Team Captain
MCpl Jonathan Shaw, Senior Rigger
Cpl Bobby Sirois St.-Pierre, Demonstrator
MCpl Mark Smith, Rigger
Cpl Michel St-Pierre, Demonstrator
Capt Indira Thackorie, PAO
Pte Allen Tigchelaar, Demonstrator
Sgt Sebastien Tremblay, PR
Sgt Kevin Walker, Demonstrator
2013
WO Darrell L. Bishop, Team WO
MCpl Michael Bushell, Demonstrator
Pte William J. Butler, Clerk/Demonstrator
Cpl Steve Collins, Demonstrator
Cpl Alex F.A. Desjardins, Senior Rigger
Cpl Richard Devoe, Demonstrator
Sgt Francois Duchesne, CQ
Lt(N) Julie Harris, PAO
LS Ashlyn J. Homorodean, Rigger
Lt Ben M.R. Huddleston, Ops O
Sgt Daniel Jenkins, Demonstrator
Cpl Mathieu Lebel, Demonstrator
CWO Dave Martin, Demonstrator
Capt Victor J. Mover, Team Captain
Sgt Louis-Vincent Richard-Roy, Transport NCO/Team WO
WO Chris Thombs, Demonstrator/Cameraman
Sgt Sebastien Y. Tremblay, PR
MCpl Scott Uhlik, Demonstrator
Sgt Frederic Viau, Demonstrator
2014
 (CF Photo)
2014 CFPT, Standing: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
Kneeling: 1, 2, 3, 4.
MCpl Alex Desjardins, Senior Rigger
Cpl Alex Doduk, Demonstrator
Sgt Matthieu Friolet, CQ
Cpl Frederick Hamel, Demonstrator
LS A.J. Homorodean, Junior Rigger
Sgt Daniel Jenkins, Transport NCO
MCpl Gavan Jones, Demonstrator
WO Mario Lakatos, Team WO
Capt Ian McIntyre, PAO
Cpl Travis Middleton, Demonstrator
Capt Victor J. Mover, Team Captain
Sgt Louis-Vincent Richard-Roy, PR NCO
Capt Andrew Spencer, Administration Officer
Cpl Charles-Albert Verville, Demonstrator
2015
 (CF Photo)
2015 CFPT: Standing: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
Kneeling: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Capt David Blaine, Demonstrator
Cpl Jeremy Canfield, Rigger
Sgt Darren Cross, Demonstrator
Cpl Jeff Denis, Demonstrator
PO2 Dominic Dumont, Demonstrator
Cpl Marylin Gelinas, Narrator
Sgt Sammie Hewton, Demonstrator
LS A.J. Homorodean, Senior Rigger
Sgt Daniel Jenkins, PR NCO
WO Mario Lakatos, Team WO
Cpl Yves Laliberté, Demonstrator
CWO Dave Martin, DZ Controller
Capt Jake Porter, Team Captain
Cpl Josh Robillard, Demonstrator
Capt Andrew Spencer, Administration Officer
MCpl Alexis St-Pierre, CQ
Sgt Jonathan Tremblay, Transport NCO
2016
 (CF Photo)
2016 CFPT, Standing: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Kneeling: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Capt Daniel Boisjoli, Demonstrator
MCpl Lenny Couture, Demonstrator
MCpl Jeremy Canfield, Senior Rigger
Cpl Robert Dryburgh, Rigger
Cpl Alexandre Fortin, Demonstrator
Cpl Jean-Sebastian Fredette-Boilard, Demonstrator
Cpl Joseph James, Demonstrator
Cpl Axel Lubeck, Demonstrator
MCpl Brendan Morton, Demonstrator
WO Steve Ouimet, Team WO
Capt Jake Porter, Team Captain
Cpl Simon Potvin, Demonstrator
Cpl Josh Robillard, Demonstrator
Capt Andrew Spencer, Administration Officer
MCpl Alexis St-Pierre, CQ
Sgt Jonathan Tremblay, PR NCO
2017
 (CF Photo)
2017 CFPT, Standing: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Kneeling: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Cpl Jason Bent, Rigger
Sap Etienne Brassard, Demonstrator
MCpl Jeremy Canfield, CQ
Cpl Tyler Goshawk, Demonstrator
MCpl Kim Grondin, Demonstrator
Capt John Hart, Team Captain
Sgt Zackary Jacob, PR NCO
Cpl Ryan Leblanc, Demonstrator
Cpl Vic Lefrancois, Demonstrator
Sgt Simon Laprade, Demonstrator
Cpl Alex Morrison, Demonstrator
Sgt Josh Oakie, Demonstrator
MCpl Adam O'Quinn, Demonstrator
WO Steve Ouimet, Team WO
MCpl Alexis St-Pierre, Senior Rigger
Sgt Jonathan Tremblay, Transport NCO
Capt Tyrone Grande, PAO/Narrator
Avr Penny Woodhead, Team Clerk
2018
 (CF Photo)
2018 CFPT, WO Mike, Dwyer, Cpl Jason Bent, MCpl Jeremy Canfield, Sgt Zach Jacob, MCpl Joey Miller, Capt John Hart, Jan 2018.
 (CF Photo)
2018 CFPT. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, LS Jen Mackinnon, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
 (CF Photo)
2018 CFPT.
Top Row: MCpl Antoine Collette, Sapper Etienne Brassard, MCpl Joey Miller, MCpl Jeremy Canfield QM, MCpl Stuart Ayres, Cpl Max Francoeur.
Middle Row: Cpl Jason Bent, Sgt Sam Newton, Sgt Jonny Shaw, LS Jen Mackinnon, MCpl Dominic Raymond, Sgt Zach Jacob, Capt Derek Reid, Public Affairs.
Front Row: WO Mike Dwyer Team WO, Capt John Hart, Team Capt, 3, Col John Errington (BGen), 5, CWO Ken Pichie CFLAWC RSM.
MCpl Stuart Ayres
Cpl Jason Bent, Team Rigger/Demonstrator
Sapper Etienne Brassard
MCpl Jeremy Canfield, Demonstrator
MCpl Antoine Collette
WO Mike Dwyer, Demonstrator
Capt John Hart, Team Captain
Sgt Zach Jacob, Demonstrator
Leading Seaman Jen Mackinnon, Demonstrator
MCpl Joey Miller, Demonstrator
MCpl Dominic Raymond
Sgt Jonathon Shaw
2019
 (AB Camden Scott Photo)
2019 CFPT, Standing: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17.
Kneeling: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
 
...the honour to serve continues!
Women who have served with the Sky Hawks:
1978, Gay Toupin is recorded as the first female Sky Hawk, with one team demo jump at Thunderbay. She is shown here with Don O'Connor.
1978, Rick Guthrie, Gay Toupin, Wayne Johnson standing, Alain Dore, Gerry Vida.
Joanne Vallee, a Rigger at CABC, applied, in 1978, but broke both legs on a civilian demo jump in Edmonton. She is shown here being presented with her Rigger's wings.
1985, Joanne Keays a Rigger at the Canadian Forces Parachute Maintenance Depot (CFPMD), attended training camp in Yuma, not as a try out for the team but for the CT3 parachute trials. She did however make many jumps using the Sky Hawk gear. Allison Folk also a Rigger at CFPMD, was qualified MFP, but never applied to the team.
Lt Eileen Vaughan, ca 1986-1987.
 (Capt Doug Hubs Photo)
1986, Eileen Vaughan and Larry Hartenberger hookup over Yumn, Arizona.
1986, 1987, 1989, Eileen Vaughan. She was also the first woman at CISM Parachuting for 4 years (part-time) with the CISM Team aka Sky Hawks Competition Team between 1996 and 2004. She is one of only two Sky Hawks in the CF Sports Hall of Fame for parachuting. The other is Simon Fairfax Wykham-Martin, one of the SkyHawks "Founding Fathers" who was also on the National Team. Michel Denis was another SkyHawk on the Canadian National Team.
1998, Cpl Michelle Laframboise.
2000, 2001, Capt Julie Brazeau.
2002, Cpl Victoria Lanthier (Walsh).
2003, Lt(N) Dawn Herniman.
2007, Pte Marie-Lou Fredette.
2009, the team had 4 women, 3 out of the 4 were demonstrators, Cpl Leigh (Widdowson) Pinard, Cpl Christina (Villeneuve) Mercer, and Cpl Annie Thibodeau (Snak Tibodo) were jumpers, all Medical Technicians. MCpl Tammy Greening was the team clerk. Cpl Annie Thibodeau was promoted in freefall over Iqualuit in 2009.
 (Photos courtesy of LS Jen Mackinnon.
2018, Leading Seaman Jen Mackinnon.
2019, MS Bree Bent (Wild).
Female narrators and public affairs officers also served with the team, but they did not jump as demonstrators (please correct me if I am wrong).
There were three women who tried out for the 2000 CISM team, Eileen Vaughan, Anastasia and Rebbeca. We made a good number of jumps from a Bell CH-147 Griffon helicopter at CFB Borden, but I don't recall if Anastasia and Rebecca applied to join the Sky Hawks.
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