Flying has been a part of Bud Granley’s life since he was nine years old.
He and his brothers were playing when they saw a Tiger Moth biplane glide to a landing on their uncle’s farm.
They ran to see the plane, and were amazed to find that their Dad was the pilot.
He had secretly earned his flying license.
Bud and his two brothers were hooked on aviation after that.
Their father made a career of flying, and saw his three children begin their lives in aviation Bud joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1956 after earning his wings with a Royal Canadian Air Cadet scholarship. Bud then instructed on the T-6 Harvard at Red Deer Alberta.
He was selected to be the base solo demonstration pilot on the Harvard, thus starting his career as an airshow pilot.
A civilian who had purchased a World War 11 surplus P-40 for $150 asked Bud to fly his plane at local airshows.
This was Bud’s introduction to WW2 type aircraft. Bud became an A-1 instructor, and served in Standards flight and as base instrument check pilot.
He flies a formation aerobatic act with his son Ross using his Yak-55 and Ross in theYak-18T.
Ross Granley comes from a large family of pilots that include grandparents, uncles, parents, cousins, brothers, and sister Deb, and wife, Shari. He was born in Red Deer, Alberta Canada in 1963.
The third of six children, Ross showed an early love of flying and a powerful desire to make it his life’s ambition.
Ross joined the Canadian Air Force in 1985.
He received his wings in 1987, then instructed in the Canadair CT-114 Tutor aircraft in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
This aircraft is still used by the Snowbirds. He earned his A2 Instructor’s rating, then was selected to fly as #2 with the Snowbird’s 1990 and 1991 team. In 1997 with 3,100 hours military flight time, Ross, his wife Shari and son Gregory, transitioned to life as civilians.
They moved to Everett, Washington where Ross lives while working as a pilot with United Air Lines, based in SFO. Ross purchased a Yak-18T in Moscow which he flies in a formation aerobatic routine. The Yak-55, flown by his dad Bud, and the Yak-18T make an unlikely and unbelievably entertaining act.
Skyfest 2017 is proud and pleased to welcome The Granleys to this year’s show.