Millarville's Riel Erickson is the Royal Canadian Air Force's new "Top Gun" at their pilot training school at CFB Moose Jaw.

Erickson, who is now a Lieutenant Colonel, and goes by the call sign "Guns," says she got her need for speed from her uncle, who was also an F-18 pilot.

"My Uncle actually was an F-18 pilot. He was in the first Gulf War. First Canadian to fire a shot since the Korean War. It was definitely a memorable story growing up, which is a lot of the reason why I've ended up where I am right now."

She says she faced some tough customers in her time in the cockpit, as she went up against Russian bombers who make regular incursions into Canadian airspace in the arctic.

She says the first time it happened, she had bigger concerns though.

"I remember sitting in the plane thinking, my instructors really weren't lying that time. It was certainly interesting. I'll tell you at the time, all I could think about was making sure I got the gas from my tanker."

Lieutenant Colonel Riel Erikson is seen at the change of command ceremony as she takes over as Commandant of 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School. Front from left: Lieutenant Colonel Riel Erickson, Colonel Ron Walker (Wing Commander) and Lieutenant Colonel Jason Tuckett (outgoing Commandant). Back from left: Chief Warrant Officer Bill Doman (2 CFFTS Chief Warrant Officer) and Chief Warrant Officer Marlene Shillingford (15 Wing Chief Warrant Officer). Photo courtesy the Royal Canadian Airforce. (15 Wing Moose Jaw).

The F-18 veteran says sitting behind a desk doesn't mean she can't push it to Mach 2 anymore.

"That's one of the greatest things about having a command is as much as you move up, your time in the cockpit tends to be less and less. But I'll tell you I did my change of command on Friday (October 2). Came in to sit in the seat and the first thing I did on Monday (October 5) was go up for a flight."

Erickson, who took over as the Commander of 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School, which is part of 15 Wing in Moose Jaw, says she's excited to be able to help produce some of the best military pilots in the world.

 

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