Wings of Resilience: The Ups and Downs of My 65 Years in Aviation

Wings of Resilience" takes you through Gord Price’s 65-year aviation journey, from nuclear strike pilot to commercial aviator and aerobatic champion. This memoir captures daring flights, emergency landings, and reflections on family and dreams, showcasing the courage and resilience that define a life spent soaring in the skies.
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1972 YAKOVLEV YAK 50

1972 YAK 50, Serial No. 01, first flew on June 21, 1972. Rebuilt in 2003 by The Aircraft Restoration Group, Moscow. 599.1 TTAF. M-14PF engine dyno’d at 435HP, SMOH 215. Prop SMOH 0. Equipped with autopilot, strobes, extended fuel, smoke system, modern avionics, and spares. Always hangared, complete logs, manuals included. Located at CYOS, Owen Sound, Ontario. Delivery available.

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About Gord

  • 82 years old still pulling +7 G and pushing -5 G.
  • Held a transport Canada Surface Level waiver for  Airshow Aerobatics in the YAK-50
  • RCAF 422 Squadron CF-104 ‘Starfighter’  Nuclear strike pilot from 1964-66.
  • Performed 3 lomcevaks, as taught by Ladislav Bezak, the inventor of the manoeuvre.
  • Represented Canada at 3 FAI Unlimited World Aerobatic Championships… 1980, 82, 88.
  • Air Canada Captain for 36 years. Retired from Boeing 747-400 in 2001
  • Developed the Ultimate Wing and doubled the roll rate of the Pitts Special
  • Flew CIAS Air Airshow (CNE) 1988 and 2017,2018,2019,2021, 2022,2023.
  • Flew  Oshkosh Air Show 4 times in 80s in his Ultimate Pitts and the Ultimate series of bi-planes.
  • Designed, built and flew the ‘Ultimate‘ series of biplanes.
  • Designer of the extremely popular  ‘Ultimate Biplane’ model aircraft.
  • Flew the CF-104 Starfighter again in June 2018 …..52 years after being on squadron
  • Inducted as an Honorary Snowbird November 2022.
More About Gord
Canadian National and/or Open Unlimited Aerobatic Champion 7 times.
Flew 3 FAI World Aerobatic Championships obtaining the best standings of any Canadian pilot so far.
Silver medal in Hilton Masters of Aerobatics. Pilots from around the world all flew the Pitts S2B. Pilots could not watch other competitors unless they had already flown. Judges did not know which pilot was flying the aircraft.

Videos

Some airshow and practice videos of Gord flying the YAK 50
Videos

Testimonials

David White

AIR BOSS AND AIR SHOW PRODUCER WATERLOO ONTARIO

Gord’s show is unique. His aircraft is a prototype from 1972. It is rare, Russian, and is larger than most aerobatic performer aircraft making it easy to watch for the spectators, and easy to tell what the aircraft is doing while he runs through his routine.  His routine is energetic...

Bill Snelgrove

Air Boss

Like the fine whiskies Gord has at his restaurant in Thornbury, he keeps improving with age. A great performer and easy to work with.

Joseph Singerman

Director, Flight Operations/ Eastern Townships Airshow

Gordon is a consummate professional and an outstanding entertainer.

When he performed at the 2014 Eastern Townships Airshow, our spectators and his fellow air show performers were gobsmacked by his flying skills.

His airplane is unique, his background is unique and Gordon Price is unique. He inspires young and old...

Maj. Lyle Holbrook

AIR BOSS CFB BORDEN ONTARIO

I have had the pleasure of working with Gord on a professional level (as the Air Boss or the Deputy Air Boss) at several air shows now (including Waterloo, CFB Borden and 8 Wing Trenton) and can affirm that he is truly one of the best in the air show...