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The Patriots Jet Team, left, has a starring role in the Discovery Channel’s new show Air Show. Esquimalt High grad (1987) Rob (Scratch) Mitchell, below, is a pilot with the Patriots and also the TV’s show’s technical director. Discovery Channel
The sky’s the limit Kevin Laird Reporting
Esquimalt grad earns his wings in the air and on camera
Rob (Scratch) Mitchell has seen the heavens. And now he can’t resist telling others about it. The Esquimalt High grad has made a career in the air flying jet fighters with the Canadian Forces and as a member of the worldrenowned Canadian Snowbirds. He has since retired from the Forces and now is a member of the The Patriots Jet Team, the only sixjet privately owned aerobatic team in the United States. Oh, and did I mention, he’s also the technical director and performing with the Patriots on Discovery Channel’s hit TV show Air Show. He’s living out his dreams balancing acting, aviation and
producing film and TV. Mitchell graduated from Esquimalt High in 1987 and entered the Canadian Forces in 1989 to become a fighter pilot. “I joined with the very specific goals of wanting to be a fighter pilot, and I wanted to fly with the Snowbirds. I got even more than that because I was able to be a CF-18 air show pilot.” He returned to the Snowbirds in 2007 as its commanding officer. After 20 years in the air force, Mitchell realized he had to live up to his countless motivational speeches to school kids; to “pursue and bite into your dreams.” He retired from the military to
become a full time producer, actor and air show pilot. Mitchell joined the privatelyowned Patriots aerobatic team, and soon connected with Air Show executive director Mark Miller to help produce the show. So far, the partnership has worked. After just three episodes the series is one of the top rated realty shows in North America. Mitchell hopes Air Show is signed to a second season, but he’s open to other projects, too. “I’d like to work with Discovery on another project. I’m passionate about many things, like space and flying – even surfing. The sky’s the limit. klaird@blackpress.ca
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