Maryse Carmichael

Last updated

Maryse Carmichael (born 1971) is a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot and flying instructor. She was the first woman to join the Canadian Forces Snowbirds aerobatic team, and later became the commander of the team. [1]

Contents

Early years

Carmichael was born in Quebec City, Quebec. She joined the local air cadet unit 630 Rotary Beauport squadron in 1984, at the age of 13, and served in the unit for four years. In 1990 she joined the Canadian Forces full-time. [1] She earned her private pilot's license while a teenager, and completed her military pilot training in 1994, when she was 23 years old. [2]

Career

On completing her training, Carmichael served as Flying Instructor and the School Operations Officer and Standards Officer at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. She was then assigned to the 434 Combat Support Squadron in Greenwood, Nova Scotia, followed by a role in VIP transport with the 412 Transport Squadron in Ottawa, Ontario. In this role she was responsible for flying Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Governor General Adrienne Clarkson to destinations around the world. [1]

In November 2000, Carmichael was selected to fly with the Snowbirds aerobatic team, becoming the first woman on the team. In 2003 she was posted to 3 Wing Bagotville in Quebec as the deputy wing operations officer and in 2007 she moved to 8 Wing Trenton in eastern Ontario. In May 2010 she was named the commander of the Snowbirds, becoming the first female pilot to lead the squad. In 2013 she retired from the Canadian Forces and took up a role as a military flight instruction specialist. [3] [4]

In 2013, Carmichael received the Elsie MacGill Northern Lights Award for Flight Operations and Maintenance. [4]

Personal life

Carmichael is married to Major Scott Greenough, a Canadian Forces fighter pilot, and they have two daughters. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snowbirds (aerobatic team)</span> Canadas military flight demonstration squadron

The Snowbirds, officially known as 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, are the military aerobatics flight demonstration team of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The team is based at 15 Wing Moose Jaw near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The Snowbirds' official purpose is to "demonstrate the skill, professionalism, and teamwork of Canadian Forces personnel". The team also provides a public relations and recruiting role, and serves as an aerial ambassador for the Canadian Armed Forces. The Snowbirds are the first Canadian air demonstration team to be designated as a squadron.

The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1914, with the formation of the Canadian Aviation Corps (CAC) that was attached to the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. It consisted of one aircraft that was never called into service. In 1918, a wing of two Canadian squadrons called the Canadian Air Force (CAF) was formed in England and attached to the Royal Air Force, but it also would never see wartime service. Postwar, an air militia also known as the Canadian Air Force was formed in Canada in 1920. In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) when it was granted the royal title by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janusz Żurakowski</span> Russian-Polish-British-Canadian fighter and test pilot

Janusz Żurakowski was a Polish fighter and test pilot. At various times in his life he lived and worked in Poland, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadair CT-114 Tutor</span> Military training aircraft

The Canadair CT-114 Tutor is a jet trainer that was designed and produced by Canadian aircraft manufacturer Canadair. It served as the standard jet trainer of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), and later Canadian Armed Forces, between the early 1960s and 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Hawks</span> Canadian military flight demonstration team 1959–1964

The Golden Hawks were a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) aerobatic flying team established in 1959 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the RCAF and the "Golden" 50th anniversary of Canadian flight, which began with the AEA Silver Dart in 1909.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicole Malachowski</span> US Air Force officer

Nicole Margaret Ellingwood Malachowski is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) officer and the first female pilot selected to fly as part of the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, better known as the Thunderbirds. She later became a speaker and advocate on behalf of patients with tick-borne illnesses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron</span> Unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force

438 "City of Montreal" Tactical Helicopter Squadron is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron operates the Bell CH-146 Griffon tactical helicopter from the Hartland de Montarville Molson Hangar of CFB St. Hubert in Quebec, Canada. Its tasks include armed and unarmed tactical utility transport, training aircrew personnel in basic and advanced aviation tactics, technical training of groundcrew personnel and flight engineers and the periodic maintenance of CH-146 fleet aircraft. They also include as residual capabilities search and rescue, reconnaissance and support to federal, provincial and local law enforcement agencies. A "total force" unit composed of members of the Regular Force, and both full time and part time reservists, the squadron is part of 1 Wing at CFB Kingston Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFB Trenton</span> Canadian Forces base

Canadian Forces Base Trenton, formerly RCAF Station Trenton, is a Canadian Forces base located within the city of Quinte West, Ontario. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and is the hub for air transport operations in Canada and abroad. Its primary RCAF lodger unit is 8 Wing, commonly referred to as 8 Wing Trenton. CFB Trenton is Canada's largest Air Force base and most southerly air base.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFB Bagotville</span> Royal Canadian Air Force base in central Quebec

Canadian Forces Base Bagotville, commonly referred to as CFB Bagotville, and also known as Bagotville Airport or Saguenay-Bagotville Airport, is a Canadian Forces base located 4.5 nautical miles west of Bagotville in the city of Saguenay. Located in the centre of Quebec, less than 200 km (120 mi) north of Quebec City, CFB Bagotville is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and is one of two bases in the country using the CF-18 Hornet fighter/interceptor, the other being CFB Cold Lake. Its primary RCAF lodger units are 2 Wing and 3 Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFB Moose Jaw</span> Canadian Forces base in the south of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada

Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw, also known as 15 Wing Moose Jaw, is a Canadian Forces base located 4 nautical miles south of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and is home to RCAF Pilot training and 431 Squadron, the Snowbirds, which is the RCAF's air demonstration squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fighter pilot</span> Military combat aviator

A fighter pilot or combat pilot is a military aviator trained to engage in air-to-air combat, air-to-ground combat and sometimes electronic warfare while in the cockpit of a fighter aircraft. Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting. A fighter pilot with at least five air-to-air kills becomes known as an ace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in warfare and the military (2000–present)</span> Aspect of womens history

This article is about women in warfare and the military (2000–present) throughout the world outside the United States. For women in warfare and the military in the United States since 2000, please see: Timeline of women in warfare and the military in the United States, 2000–2010 and Timeline of women in warfare and the military in the United States from 2011–present.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 428 Squadron RCAF</span> Military unit

No. 428 Squadron RCAF, also known as 428 Bomber Squadron, and 428 Ghost Squadron, was first a night bomber squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force engaged in strategic bombing during World War II, based in Yorkshire. At the end of the war the squadron moved to Nova Scotia before being disbanded in September 1945. In 1954 the squadron was reformed as 428 All-Weather (Fighter) Squadron, before being again disbanded in 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yvan Blondin</span>

Lieutenant-General Joseph Aimé Jean Yvan Blondin CMM, CD, usually given as J Y Blondin or Yvan Blondin, is a retired senior Royal Canadian Air Force officer who was Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force from 2012 until 2015.

Major Micky Colton (Ret.) is a retired female Canadian military pilot, FEEL facilitator and author. She joined the military in August 1980, just a few weeks after the Canadian military first started accepting female civilian recruits in their pilot program. Having received her pilot's wings in 1982, she spent most of her time in the military as a Search And Rescue (SAR) Pilot, operating the CC130 Hercules aircraft. In 2000, she became the first female pilot to log 5000 hours on the Hercules, and in 2009 was honoured by being added to the 100 names to commemorate 100 years of flight in Canada gracing the side of a CF18 demonstration hornet. She retired from the military in 2011, was a reservist until 2018 coordinating SAR launches for 424 Squadron, and is now no longer serving.

Lt. Col (Ret.) Joseph Armand Gerard Fernand Villeneuve was a Canadian aviator who joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1950 and was the first leader of the RCAF's Golden Hawks aerobatic team. He flew for 32 years as a military jet fighter pilot Villeneuve was inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim McCombe</span>

James David McCombe was a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilot who was a commander of the Golden Hawks aerobatics team. His career with the RCAF spanned 23 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 52 Squadron IAF</span> Military unit

No. 52 Squadron is an aerobatic squadron of the Indian Air Force. It was established in January 1986. It is presently based at Bidar Air Force Station. It is popularly known as the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT). SKAT performs across the country, and has performed in China, the UK, Germany, Laos and Sri Lanka. The Surya Kirans were among the top three nine-aircraft aerobatics teams in the world, along with the British Red Arrows and the Canadian Snowbirds. The Squadron motto is "Sadaiv Sarvottam", which translates as "Always the Best". For its consistent performance since 1996, the Suryakiran was awarded Chief of the Air Staff's Unit Citation on 8 October 2004. It is the first unit in the IAF to receive this award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fereidoon Izadseta</span> Colonel Fereidoon Izadseta, an Iranian veteran fighter pilot served from 1960 to 1984

Colonel Fereidoon Izadseta is an Iranian veteran fighter pilot and commanding officer who served in the Iranian Air Force, as well as a strategist during the Iran–Iraq War. He joined the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) in 1960 and retired from the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) in 1984. Over the course of his career, he held multiple commands and flew thousands of hours in jet fighters, primarily the F-86 Sabre and the F-4 Phantom II.

This is the structure of the Royal Canadian Air Force, as of November 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Maryse Carmichael - heroines.ca, Women in Canadian History". www.heroines.ca. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  2. ↑ "Career Options for Women - Maryse Carmichael". www.careeroptions.org. Retrieved 2017-01-28.
  3. ↑ Staff. "Snowbirds' first female commander gets ready to step down from post". Global News. Retrieved 2017-01-28.
  4. 1 2 "Northern Lights Awards showcase high-flying women in Canada - Skies Magazine". Skies Magazine. Retrieved 2017-01-28.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.