George Miller
George Miller is the team leader of the Fraser Blues Formation Demonstration Team. George had a long and distinguished career in the Royal Canadian Air Force and also Airport Manager at Langley Airport.
George was attracted to aviation while in high school and after graduation he and his friend joined the Royal Canadian Air Force on the same day in 1953 when George was 18 years old. His initial pilot training began early in 1954 on the Harvard in Penhold, Alberta. In December 1954 he moved on to the T-33 Silver Star in Portage-la-Prairie, Manitoba, then six months later it was on to the F-86 Saber Jet in Chatham, New Brunswick.
At the tender age of 19 George was a fighter pilot in Europe based in Germany flying the North American F-86 Saber Jet in the Cold War. After returning to Canada in 1962 George was the solo pilot for the 1963 season with the RCAF Golden Hawks formation team flying the F-86 Saber Jet.
In 1964 it was back to Germany and now flying the Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter, then on to Sardinia conducting nuclear weapons training. George was posted back and forth from Canada to Europe in ever increasing positions of greater responsibility, and rank. In 1973 George return to Canada to lead the RCAF’s new air demonstration team, the Snowbirds, flying the Canadair Tutor. George flew as Snowbird #1 for the ’73 and ’74 season.
In 1978 George was invested in the Order of Military Merit as an Officer of Military Merit (OMM). George’s career continued in positions in the cockpit and in various administration positions including training and executive positions, now as Colonel Miller, Military Attaché to Egypt and Sudan. 1985 marked the return to Canada as Base Commander of CFB Moose Jaw. While at Moose Jaw, George’s son Guy was there for pilot training and although not his official flying instructor, George and Guy often flew together.
After 35 years of service in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Colonel George E. Miller retired in 1988.
In 1991 George became the Airport Manager of the Langley Municipal Airport where he led the development of the airport for the next 21 years. During that time George formed an Air Demonstration team, the Fraser Blues, flying the North American L-17 Navion. All the pilots are either ex military or ex airline, or both. His son, Guy, flies in the Right Wing #2 position. George commented that it is nice to look over at you wing and see your son, and comforting to know how he flies, and for him to know how you fly. Sometimes he formates on me and sometimes I formate on him.
In 2015 George Miller was inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. Details of his career and induction are available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtADSEab6Wk&feature=emb_logo.
When it was time to retire from Langley Airport, George trained his son, Guy, to be the next Airport Manager.
What advice do you have for young people considering aviation as a career?
“Although we are in a global pandemic, don’t let that be a deterrent in deciding to have a career in aviation. We will get past COVID-19 and aviation will return to normal levels and then some. This is a perfect time to enter aviation and begin your training. You have to go all in. Make sure you have enough money for all of your training including multi-engine rating and instrument rating. One excellent way is to buy a simple airplane, preferably a low wing airplane, for training and building your flying experience, and fly regularly. You have to catch the “bug” or get out.
“You often have to pay the price for that first job whether with a bush operator or some other small business until you have 500 to 1000 hours or so. Another real good option is with the Canadian Military where you will receive a formal education as well as pilot training. As an officer you may be flying a broad range of well-maintained aircraft in Canada and around the world.
Guy Miller
Guy is the Airport Manager at Pitt Meadows Airport. Guy learned to fly in the Royal Canadian Air Force and became a fighter pilot. After retiring he flew with Cathay Pacific Airways on the Boeing 747-400.
Guy was exposed to aviation at a young age by his father, George, who was in the RCAF. His father took him on his first flight in a jet trainer, the Tutor, the kind flown by the Snowbirds. They also built model airplanes together and George often took Guy to various aviation events. So, George was Guy’s aviation hero. After high school in Ottawa, Ontario Guy went to university in Langley, British Columbia and graduated with a B.A. with emphasis on the sciences. At the Abbotsford Airshow in 1985 Guy met RCAF demonstration pilot Bob Wade, who suggested that Guy should join the air force. Shortly after, he did.
In 1986 Guy joined the RCAF as a Direct Entry Officer and his initial training was on the Beech Musketeer, then the Tutor and the CF-5. After Guy completed his formal training, George and Guy were often in the cockpit together flying whenever and wherever they could. Guy served operational tours on the CF-18 Hornet in Bagotville, Quebec and Cold Lake, Alberta. After 10 years with the RCAF Captain Guy Miller retired. Guy then moved to Hong Kong in 1995 and flew with Cathay Pacific Airways for 12 years on the Boeing 747-400 as a line pilot and simulator instructor.
After returning from Hong Kong, Guy ended up working with his father as the Assistant Airport Manager at Langley Airport, then Manager for 5 years. Guy has since moved to Pitt Meadows as Airport Manager overseeing their significant expansion.
Guy ended up buying his own Navion and is now flying with his father once again with the Fraser Blues in the Right Wing #2 position.
What advice do you have for young people considering aviation as a career?
“Today it is critical to embrace STEM. Make sure you finish high school and try your best to have a science and math background. You don’t have to be an A student; I was a good solid B. Good cockpit skill are very important; there is a balance to it all.
When you get out of high school consider your options like Military College, private pilot licence, instructing for a few years, bush flying, and multi-engine experience. Young kids today can start with Air Cadets, keep the interest in flying, get some hours and keep the flame going.”
