A MO))) reader from BC met the pilots of Snowbirds last week, and happily sent us a photo of the famous flying squadron's leader who happens to be from Loggieville. Nancy MacKenzie writes "I am originally from Miramichi and currently live in Comox on Vancouver Island. I work on the Military Base here and each year the Snowbirds Demo Team train here for 2 weeks. This morning while I was on the flightline at work I ran into the lead pilot from the team. He is a Miramichier!! I got my pic take with him with a Hello Miramichi Sign." Here's the pic:
Major Wayne Mott (his classmates knew him as Tracy) graduated in 1983 from James M. Hill, and began his career in the air just a few years later. He joined the military in 1985 and was first posted to 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron in Shearwater, Nova Scotia flying the CH-124 Sea King helicopter. In 1990 he deployed to Honduras and flew the Twin Huey for six months with 89 Rotary Wing Aviation Group. Following his return to Canada, Major Mott was posted to 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (2 CFFTS) in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and flew the CT-114 Tutor as an instructor pilot. In 1996, he was posted to 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron and continued to fly the Sea King helicopter. While there, he was twice deployed to the Arabian Gulf on board HMCS Regina.
In 2001, He was selected to fly with the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and flew as Snowbird 2, inner right wing position. He later moved to Snowbird 8 position, opposing solo and then became the lead solo.
In 2004 Major Mott was posted to Joint Task Force Pacific in Victoria and worked in the Air Division Detachment. He was promoted to his current rank in 2007 and was posted back to Moose Jaw at 2 CFFTS as Bandit Flight Commander. He was subsequently selected as the Chief Standards Officer.
In 2011, Major Mott returned to 431 Air Demonstration Squadron to lead the team as Snowbird 1.Over the course of his career, he has accumulated over 7000 military flying hours, 3000 hours of which were on the CT-114 Tutor. He lives with his spouse Kelly O'Reilly, and his daughter Nevada, and son Harrison.
The Snowbirds are not scheduled to be part of the airshow in Miramichi in August, but they will be in Charlo the second weekend in September.