Snowbird 10 Advance and Safety Pilot, Canadian Forces Snowbirds
Captain Erik Temple enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 2005, where he served with both the Governor General’s Foot Guards and as a drummer with the Ceremonial Guard. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Ottawa. His passion for military aviation was sparked at a young age by his grandfather, a decorated Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) WWII Lancaster pilot who later served as Minister of National Defence. Inspired to one day join the RCAF, Capt Temple completed his Commercial Pilot Licence at the Rockcliffe Flying Club in Ottawa, Ontario.
In 2012, Capt Temple transferred to the RCAF, where he earned his pilot wings at 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. He was subsequently posted to 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in Edmonton, Alberta, flying the CH-146 Griffon. In 2017, Capt Temple returned to 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where he became a CT-156 Harvard II Qualified Flying Instructor.
In his spare time, Capt Temple can be found on the ice (attempting to stop the puck) as an avid hockey goaltender. Capt Temple joined the Snowbirds in 2019 as Unit Flight Safety Officer and brings over 2,000 hours of flying experience to the team.
He is thrilled to return for the 2023 season as Snowbird 10 Coordinator and Advance/Safety Pilot.
