By Kathy Lubitz, President, Ultra-Light Pilots Association of Canada

Cole grew up on a small farm near Listowel, Ontario. When he was 5, his family flew to Florida for vacation. “I was hooked,” he said. Cole’s fascination with flight grew from that point. Shortly after his 6th birthday, his dad passed away suddenly, leaving his mother to care for him and his sister.

When he was 11 years old, Cole had the opportunity to travel to Guatemala. At the end of the flight, the crew invited him to see the flight deck and sit in the left seat. Any doubts about what he wanted to do were quickly erased as he held the controls. With the support of caring people, his fascination for aviation grew steadily. He would read every aviation book he could get his hands on. In his early teens, he started flying/crashing RC airplanes.

His first real introduction to aviation was through Don Martin, a member of a local pipe band that Cole also belongs to. Don took him up in his Beech Sundowner. “I experienced the surge of excitement that only comes when you touch the controls of a machine that flies,” Cole said.

Cole worked full time in an IT and customer service position at a local hardware store.

Last year, he left the hardware store to teach for a year at a small Christian school near Owen Sound.

Eventually, at 17 years old, his dream became reality when he began flight training at Stratford Air Services in Stratford, Ontario. That’s where he learned about EAA Chapter 115 in Plattsville and the Ray Aviation Scholarship program. He contacted the chapter and started going to the club breakfasts and meetings.

The application process was relatively simple. The chapter nominated him to EAA and then he had to answer some questions and write an essay about how the scholarship would benefit him.

When he was notified that he got the scholarship, he said he felt honoured. He was excited to be selected first as an applicant, then to receive the scholarship. Today, he feels blessed to be where he is in his aviation journey. He is grateful for EAA and the Ray Aviation Scholarship committee, to Chapter 115, and to everyone who played a part in getting him to this point.

Cole passed his PPL flight test in June 2024 and proceeded to get a night rating shortly afterward. He is currently working on his commercial pilot license and hopes to finish in the next couple of months. After that, he would like a career in aviation and to maybe get into mission aviation and use his passion for flying to help those around him.

In the spring of 2025, Cole purchased a 20-percent share in an RV-6 and has been logging quite a few hours in it since.

Cole’s most memorable flight so far was flying into AirVenture in 2025 with chapter member Rod Bell in his Cessna 150. They camped for the week with other Canadians in Camp Scholler’s Little Canada.

Besides going to seminars, workshops, meeting other pilots, looking at airplanes, seeing exhibits, and shopping at the Fly Mart, Cole got to meet other Ray scholars at that year’s Ray Scholar Corn Roast.

When asked what he thought most people don’t understand or appreciate about flying he responded that good pilots look boring. “A skilled pilot uses his superior judgement to avoid situations that require the use of superior skill,” he said.

Sometimes, this involves delaying or cancelling a flight. Often passengers may not see the risk, and thus do not understand the reasoning behind the decision.

Becoming a pilot or entering the aviation field is often seen as too expensive. But through programs like the Ray Aviation Scholarship, aviation can be attainable to anyone who sets their mind to it. There are plenty of opportunities to get into aviation today.

However, with the cost of certified GA airplanes today, aircraft ownership can seem quite unattainable for many. Before Cole started coming out to club breakfasts, he knew very little about the homebuilt/experimental category. Now, he sees this is a great option for many people. Building and maintaining your own airplane is a great learning experience.

The Ray Aviation Scholarship allowed Cole to complete his training in a shorter time than it otherwise would have taken since he didn’t have to worry as much about where the money for the next flight would come from. He is grateful to EAA and Chapter 115 for being selected for a Ray scholarship and for the opportunities he has been given.

Cole advises that if you are passionate about aviation, you need to stick at it, even when it feels overwhelming. Think about the end results. Even the best pilots were there at one point.