Toronto’s Top Gun: F-35 pilot got his start in Richmond Hill

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He could possibly be thought of Toronto’s Prime Gun.

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Andrew ‘Bundy’ Soundy spends most of his time pushing the bounds of an elite, cutting-edge fighter jet over a army base in California or over the Pacific Ocean.

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However this weekend, he’s again in his hometown – to soak up the Canadian Worldwide Airshow.

“It’s residence and it’s all the time good to return residence and are available go to household – it simply feels heat and welcoming,” stated the retired Canadian army pilot as he watched observe runs of the F-35 alongside the Lakeshore Friday.

Soundy feels most at residence piloting the screeching, stealth fighter.

He has logged about 800 hours because the Chief Take a look at Pilot for Lockheed Martin since 2013 – after an extended army profession that started in 1990.

“To then get the chance to fly what’s the newest and best plane – to have the chance to be a part of that – that feeling, you possibly can’t describe it,” he stated of the airplane, which might attain speeds of as much as 1300 km/h.

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F35s – flown in from Utah – will carry out through the weekend Airshow, which marks the unofficial finish of summer time.

Soundy shall be a spectator – marveling at a machine he may nearly take into account his near-daily workplace.

His most up-to-date flight was Monday over Edwards Air Drive Base, north of Los Angeles, in California.

He was placing the airplane by means of its paces, check dropping laser guided bombs onto a goal of truck trailers near the huge base.

The graduate of Richmond Hill Excessive Faculty finally grew to become a pilot after falling in love with planes as early as 4 years outdated.

He retired from the army in 2006 and has been with Lockheed Martin since 2010.

What he does within the air with the superior fighter generates knowledge used to additional develop the airplane, and likewise to coach different pilots.

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“It’s like getting every thing you’ve ever wished and getting paid to do it for a residing,” he stated. “And each time I fly I remind myself to only soak it in.”

He recollects an encounter weeks in the past in B.C. the place he met a South African household who lately arrived in Canada – their 16-year-old son was admiring the airplane – however was uncertain if he may ever fulfill his dream of being a pilot.

Soundy advised him to by no means surrender.

“I used to be a 16-year-old and a contemporary immigrant to Canada and I’ve achieved what I’ve been capable of obtain,” he stated. “I shared that story with them and I feel it was very shifting to them. I feel they left with a way that something is feasible.”

Most days he’s pushing what is feasible – in his high-tech cockpit.

slaurie@postmedia.com