OSHKOSH, Wis. — The EAA is celebrating the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) centennial this year.
Mike Ayling joined the RCAF at 19-years-old. He said the military taught him many things, but one thing, he said, stood out above the rest.
“It taught me that you could achieve anything if you set your goals right,” said Mike Ayling. “It's hard. It's competitive. There’s tough times, but in the end, it's absolutely worth it.”
He wants his son, Tristan Ayling, to remember that.
The father and son road more than 1,000 miles on their motorcycles from Vancouver, Canada to be at the celebration.
They said a highlight so far was seeing the Snowbirds, the military aerobatics flight demonstration team of the RCAF.
“Seeing the Snowbirds here for the 100th anniversary as well was quite a landmark,” Mike Ayling said. “And having been part of the RCAF for that organization, that legacy that goes back all the way back to the first World War, it's something to be absolutely proud of and to remember and honor the sacrifices of those that came before us.”
He said he is also proud to honor the service members of the future, including his own son. Tristan Ayling said he has dreams of serving in RCAF.
He said he’s off to college in the fall but said he’ll never forget this trip.
“It's definitely a lot of happiness, but sadness that the trip is going to be over soon and I'm going to have to go off to university,” said Tristan Ayling. “But I'm just glad that I was able to come along, as many kids don't get this sort of opportunity nowadays.”
Mike Ayling said they’ve been impressed with this airshow.
“To see EAA really spotlight Canada and the RCAF and our 100-year anniversary is just really special. And I think it shows the really close ties between our two countries," he said.