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This past Canada Day, as many Canadians do, some members of one particular Canadian family gathered in Ottawa to have some fun and get their photograph taken as a memento of the day. The Hadfields of Milton, Ontario are in most respects like any other Canadian family out for a flag waving afternoon of fun. But that’s where the similarities end.

The Hadfields have one common thread that binds them together – they love to fly. Patriarch Roger Hadfield began flying, amongst other aircraft, B-17s for Kenting Aviation and ended his professional career with 25,000 hours as a Captain with Air Canada. Roger and his wife Eleanor passed on to their children many traits: height, dark brown hair, a love for music, work ethic, a sense of adventure and a passion for flight.

His sons Phil and Dave followed in their father’s footsteps and are Air Canada Captains today – Phil on the Boeing 767 and Dave on the Airbus A330. Both have thousands of hours in the air. A third son Chris went the military route to follow his dream of being an astronaut. He flew CF-18s, became a test pilot and continues his career today as Canada’s senior astronaut.  Dave’s son Austin is also a professional pilot flying Beech 1900s out of Thunder Bay, Ontario and his wife Robin is a private pilot as well.