Leading the Snowbirds Through Loss: Fighter Pilot Rob “Scratch” Mitchell
A fighter pilot, Snowbirds team leader and filmmaker on chasing excellence, leading through loss, and finding a new sky.
Rob “Scratch” Mitchell grew up with aviation in the family. His grandfather flew Spitfires over occupied Europe, and his father flew Cold War patrols in a Royal Canadian Air Force jet. Scratch decided early that he wanted to fly fighters and be the best at it.
In Episode 363, he talks with Justin about the discipline that got him there, leading Canada’s most famous aerobatic team, and what he learned when skill and effort no longer guaranteed the outcome.
- 01What Canadian military pilot training is like, with attrition near 50%
- 02How finishing first in his class earned him a fighter slot
- 03The story behind the callsign “Scratch”
- 04Leading the Snowbirds through 95 airshows in a single season
- 05Leading his team through a fatal accident
- 06Why ego has no place in the debrief room
Earning a fighter slot
Canadian military pilot training had attrition rates near 50%. Scratch finished first in his class to secure a fighter slot and went on to fly the F-18.
Where “Scratch” came from
His callsign traces back to a French tanker, a refueling attempt into the wrong basket, and a very expensive canopy.
Commanding the Snowbirds
Scratch joined the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and later led the team as commanding officer. One season meant 95 airshows, and he talks openly about what that schedule did to the team and to his marriage.
Leadership when it matters most
During his first airshow weekend as team lead, the team lost his wingman in a fatal accident. Scratch led the remaining nine pilots home safely. He also explains why ego has no place in a debrief, even when the person being debriefed is the commanding officer.
A new sky
Leaving the military meant adjusting to a world where luck plays a role no one controls. Scratch moved from the cockpit to the camera, and aviation storytelling has been the constant thread.
Rob “Scratch” Mitchell
Rob “Scratch” Mitchell is a former fighter pilot who flew the F-18, led the Canadian Forces Snowbirds as commanding officer, and is now a filmmaker.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Rob “Scratch” Mitchell?
He is a former F-18 fighter pilot who led the Canadian Forces Snowbirds as commanding officer and now works as a filmmaker.
How many airshows do the Snowbirds fly in a season?
In this episode, Scratch describes a season of 95 airshows.
How hard is Canadian military pilot training?
Scratch describes attrition rates near 50% in Canadian military pilot training.
