John Croll

John Croll has had a highly accomplished career as a test pilot for the RCAF and National Research Council of Canada. A graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada with a degree in engineering physics, John excelled at flight training in the RCAF. As a testament to his potential, upon graduation he was sent temporarily to CFB Cold Lake at Canada’s Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment, where he was introduced to flight testing in 1971. Following a posting to West Germany, he was selected for and completed the air force’s Fighter Weapons Instructor Course. John was next selected to attend the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, where he was the first non-American awarded the Liethen-Tittle Award.

Exchange duties followed as Canada’s Experimental Test Pilot at USAF 6512 Test Squadron at Edwards. Returning to Canada in 1980, John was posted to AETE as a Qualified Experimental Test Pilot and head of Aircraft Flight Test for the Canadian air force’s aircraft fleets. Later, he was the senior CF18 test pilot.

John retired from the RCAF in 1988 and immediately joined the National Research Council’s Flight Research Laboratory, where he flew in support of Canadian Space Agency astronaut microgravity training and many environmental research projects. By the time he left the NRC in 2008, John had amassed over 7,000 hours in 55 different aircraft types in the advancement of military and civilian aviation.

For his outstanding contributions to aviation in Canada and abroad, Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame is pleased to induct John Croll as a member for 2022.