About

Now retired, Gord’s remarkable journey in aviation comes full circle with one of two registered YAK 50s in Canada—CFYGP. From aerobatic competitions to pushing the limits of aviation design, his passion and skill have left a lasting mark on the aerobatic community and beyond. This final chapter celebrates his incredible career and the enduring legacy of the YAK 50.

Gord took a 24-year sabbatical from airshow aerobatic flying and returned in 2012. He flew the prototype YAK 50 with a newly installed 435 hp engine, the only YAK 50 registered in Canada—CFYGP.

The YAK 50, known for its graceful aerobatic capabilities and powerful performance, was the largest aircraft to compete in the World Aerobatic Championships. Gord displayed the best qualities of the YAK 50, performing breathtaking maneuvers like the flat spin, long straight lines, and spectacular outside snap rolls in a fast-moving, graceful showcase of the Clark YH airfoil’s full potential.

In 1982, after WAC 82 ended, the USSR pilots invited Gord to be the first Western pilot to fly their YAK 50, a moment he never forgot. Victor Smolin, who flew Gord’s Pitts with the Ultimate wing, likely never forgot the experience either. Fast forward to today, Gord purchased the prototype YAK 50, built in Moscow in 1972, after its history of modifications and type testing. In 2017, he upgraded it with a 435 hp Vendenyev M-14PF engine, enhancing its vertical performance.

Gord’s aviation career began in 1959 in a 65hp Aeronca Champ in Oshawa, Ontario, after receiving an Air Cadet Scholarship. His time in the RCAF from 1960-66 saw him flying the Chipmunk, Harvard, T-33, F-86 Sabre, and CF-104 Starfighter as a nuclear strike pilot on 422 Squadron in Baden-Baden, Germany. After leaving the RCAF to avoid a desk job, he joined Air Canada, flying a wide range of aircraft before retiring after 36 years, concluding his career on the Boeing 747-400.

Despite his career flying large aircraft, Gord’s passion was always for light aerobatic planes. He built and flew several aircraft, including the Steen Skybolt, Pitts S-1, and the Clipped Wing Cub, which he designed for his wife Sandy. His experience at the World Aerobatic Championships and innovations like the Ultimate Wing for the Pitts S-1 and S-2 helped propel modern aerobatic aircraft design forward.

In the late 1980s, Gord founded Ultimate Aircraft Corp, designing and building the Ultimate series of aerobatic planes. Though the business had its challenges, Gord’s influence in aerobatics remained significant. His passion for designing high-performance aerobatic aircraft led him to fly several iconic planes, and his 2nd place finish in the Hilton Masters of Aerobatics was a career highlight.

In 1990, Gord sold his Ultimate 10-300s to Joanne Osterud, who survived a crash after missing a ribbon cut during a performance. Despite the challenges of running a business and juggling a family, Gord’s contributions to the world of aerobatics remain influential.

Today, Gord’s retirement marks the end of an extraordinary journey in aviation. His YAK 50 continues to represent the pinnacle of his passion for flying and the legacy he leaves behind.