The famous Team walk-through!
The Team Pilots 2018
including of course our first female pilot!
Alex Truman
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Alex Truman began flying with the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, gliding club when he started his apprenticeship there in 1983. He carried on gliding for the next 25 years becoming an instructor and tug pilot along the way before his growing interest in homebuilt and classic aircraft took over. Alex is currently employed as an engineer by British Airways.
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Dan Griffith
Daniel Griffith was born in 1963. He joined the Royal Air Force at 18 and went to London University to study Aeronautical Engineering, where he obtained an Honours Degree. Flying training began in 1984 on Jet Provosts before gaining his pilot wings on the Hawk Mk1 aircraft. After tactical weapons training Dan was posted to Harriers. He flew operationally on Number 1 Squadron at RAF Wittering and also Number 4 Squadron at RAF Gutersloh in Germany, gaining over 1200 hours on Harriers and becoming an air combat leader and the unit maintenance test pilot. In 1992 he was selected for the USAF Test Pilot course at Edwards Air Force Base in the United States. Here he spent a year being formally taught to test all kinds of military and civil aircraft. During the course he flew 43 different types of aircraft, including the F15, F16, F18, F4, A10, A7, C5 Galaxy, B52, Mustang, the Goodyear Blimp and many more. After Edwards he was posted, as a military research test pilot, to the Defence Research Agency site at Bedford, in England, where his main project was the futuristic fly-by-wire VAAC Harrier developing the next generation of Short Take-off and Vertical Landing aircraft (Joint Strike Fighter). He was then posted to the Defence Test and Evaluation Organization site at Boscombe Down. One programme, investigating the advantages of being able to manœuvre at very high angles of attack, led him to be invited to fly the F18 High AoA Research Vehicle (HARV). This took Dan back to NASA Dryden, where he became the first British pilot to fly a purpose built, thrust vectoring, high Angle-of-Attack (AoA) aircraft.
In 1996 Dan left the military to take up a prestigious test pilot job with the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). As a civil Test Pilot Dan was responsible for the Certification and Continued Airworthiness of many types of aircraft ranging from the Airbus A380/330/340/320, through the Boeing 737 New Generation, to the lighter aircraft. He also remained a consultant to the British Military Research organizations working on Eurofighter, Un-manned Combat Air Vehicles, fighter aircraft control law development and other military projects. Dan left the CAA in March 2007 and now works as an independent test pilot, Training Pilot and businessman.
In 1996 Dan left the military to take up a prestigious test pilot job with the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). As a civil Test Pilot Dan was responsible for the Certification and Continued Airworthiness of many types of aircraft ranging from the Airbus A380/330/340/320, through the Boeing 737 New Generation, to the lighter aircraft. He also remained a consultant to the British Military Research organizations working on Eurofighter, Un-manned Combat Air Vehicles, fighter aircraft control law development and other military projects. Dan left the CAA in March 2007 and now works as an independent test pilot, Training Pilot and businessman.
Dave Linney
Dave Linney gained a PPL in 1965 then joined the RAF in 1967 where he flew Harriers, retiring as a Squadron Leader, AFC.
Post retirement he flew Hunters, Canberras and Hawks at RNAS Yeovilton and Falcons from Bournemouth.
Post retirement he flew Hunters, Canberras and Hawks at RNAS Yeovilton and Falcons from Bournemouth.
Emily Collett
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Following a few early lessons in both gliders and aeroplanes, Emily started her licence in earnest in 2001, as the lucky recipient of a GAPAN flying scholarship. She joined the University Gliding club to continue flying whilst she was a student. She has since been a gliding instructor, a tug pilot and learnt to fly aerobatics in both gliders and aeroplanes. She started flying in aerobatic competitions, first in gliders in 2007, and has been competing in aeroplanes since 2009, when she won the Standard National Championships. Emily is part of the British Aerobatics Team and in 2016 she became the British Advanced National Champion. She competes with husband Mike, in a Cap232, and, more recently, they have both branched out in to display flying. |
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Gordon Brander
Gordon Brander was trained on Chipmunks by the RAF in the University Air Squadron and then he was selected for the BEA/BOAC Training scheme for graduates at Oxford and went on to fly professionally for 32 years as a commercial pilot with British Airways.
Gordon flew the Hawker Siddeley Trident, BAC 1-11, Boeing 757, 767 and retired off the 747-400 with in excess of 15,000 hrs. He has also flown lots of aerobatic aircraft and has been involved with the Bucker Jungmann and Jungmeister at White Waltham since mid 1980's.
Gordon flew the Hawker Siddeley Trident, BAC 1-11, Boeing 757, 767 and retired off the 747-400 with in excess of 15,000 hrs. He has also flown lots of aerobatic aircraft and has been involved with the Bucker Jungmann and Jungmeister at White Waltham since mid 1980's.
Mark Johnson
Inspired as a boy by the fabulous "Biggles" stories of W.E.Johns,' Mark always wanted to fly and began with a trial lesson in 1979 on his 14th birthday. He was awarded a Flying Scholarship in 1983 and, after studying Mechanical and Design Engineering at college, worked as a flying instructor. Amongst other types he flew the Pitts S-2A extensively, teaching type conversions, aerobatics and flew the aircraft commercially for pleasure-flying and corporate entertainment days.
In 1994 he joined British Midland and was lucky enough to be on the final DC-9 conversion course, (the last, true pilots airliner before computers took over!), then flew the delightful Fokker 70 and 100, achieving his command in 1998. In 2004 he began flying the Airbus A.320 series, operating it extensively on scheduled services and ad-hoc charters throughout Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. With the merger of the two companies in 2012 Mark joined British Airways and flew with them until retiring, knackered, in 2017, having visited 43 countries, 122 airfields and amassing 14,000 flying hours!
He first flew a Tiger Moth in 1983 and has owned and maintained one since 2003 but with a great-uncle who served as a Captain in the Royal Flying Corps, aviation history and especially the aircraft of the Great War have always been Mark's passion. Mark has flown the Fokker DR.1, B.E.2c and Avro 504K and will be flying the Avro in the Team's Displays.
Inspired as a boy by the fabulous "Biggles" stories of W.E.Johns,' Mark always wanted to fly and began with a trial lesson in 1979 on his 14th birthday. He was awarded a Flying Scholarship in 1983 and, after studying Mechanical and Design Engineering at college, worked as a flying instructor. Amongst other types he flew the Pitts S-2A extensively, teaching type conversions, aerobatics and flew the aircraft commercially for pleasure-flying and corporate entertainment days.
In 1994 he joined British Midland and was lucky enough to be on the final DC-9 conversion course, (the last, true pilots airliner before computers took over!), then flew the delightful Fokker 70 and 100, achieving his command in 1998. In 2004 he began flying the Airbus A.320 series, operating it extensively on scheduled services and ad-hoc charters throughout Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. With the merger of the two companies in 2012 Mark joined British Airways and flew with them until retiring, knackered, in 2017, having visited 43 countries, 122 airfields and amassing 14,000 flying hours!
He first flew a Tiger Moth in 1983 and has owned and maintained one since 2003 but with a great-uncle who served as a Captain in the Royal Flying Corps, aviation history and especially the aircraft of the Great War have always been Mark's passion. Mark has flown the Fokker DR.1, B.E.2c and Avro 504K and will be flying the Avro in the Team's Displays.
Matthew Boddington
Matthew’s first flight in an aeroplane was at the tender age of 1 year on his father Lap in an Auster Aircraft from Sywell. After that Matthew spent many hours flying with his father and two sisters in Tiger Moths, Stampes and Rapides including 4 up aero’s in a Stampe, him on his father’s lap and his two sisters in the front Cockpit, (Something that would be frowned upon today I’m sure).
Matthew was introduced to WW1 aviation at an early age with visits to the film sets in Ireland where the films such as The Blue Max, Darling Lili and Von Richtofen and Brown were made in the late sixties early seventies and for which his father flew. Tragically Mathews father Charles was killed in 1970 whist flying for the film Von Richtofen and Brown when Matthew was eight years old.
This never dented Matthews enthusiasm for all things aviation and he went on to gain his PPL in 1986 learning on a family friend's Auster Aircraft. Matthew went on to fly Tiger Moth and Chipmunk Aircraft with the Barnstormers Flying circus, an Air Display group his father had formed in the late 60’s, initially ferrying A/C to and from Airshows and then gaining his Display Authorisation.
Matthews Display Authorisation covers him for Wing Walking on both Tiger Moth and Stearman Aircraft, Formation, Tail Chase, and he is cleared down to 3ft for limbo flying. In his 1400 odd hrs, nearly all on vintage Aircraft, Matthew has flown everything from a Luton Minor to a North American Harvard. He is also and Authorised Air Test Pilot by the CAA.
In the past he has flown the Fokker DR1 in GWDT displays but now mainly flies the Biggles Biplane BE2 Replica that was originally built by his father Charles and Uncle David for a film in the late 60’s. Matthew and Steve Slater acquired the Aircraft in 2005 and rebuilt it to flying condition; it now regularly flies with the team.
Matthew is also an LAE (licensed Aircraft Engineer) and an Inspector for the LAA covering all types, he has rebuilt many award winning Vintage Aircraft.
Matthew was introduced to WW1 aviation at an early age with visits to the film sets in Ireland where the films such as The Blue Max, Darling Lili and Von Richtofen and Brown were made in the late sixties early seventies and for which his father flew. Tragically Mathews father Charles was killed in 1970 whist flying for the film Von Richtofen and Brown when Matthew was eight years old.
This never dented Matthews enthusiasm for all things aviation and he went on to gain his PPL in 1986 learning on a family friend's Auster Aircraft. Matthew went on to fly Tiger Moth and Chipmunk Aircraft with the Barnstormers Flying circus, an Air Display group his father had formed in the late 60’s, initially ferrying A/C to and from Airshows and then gaining his Display Authorisation.
Matthews Display Authorisation covers him for Wing Walking on both Tiger Moth and Stearman Aircraft, Formation, Tail Chase, and he is cleared down to 3ft for limbo flying. In his 1400 odd hrs, nearly all on vintage Aircraft, Matthew has flown everything from a Luton Minor to a North American Harvard. He is also and Authorised Air Test Pilot by the CAA.
In the past he has flown the Fokker DR1 in GWDT displays but now mainly flies the Biggles Biplane BE2 Replica that was originally built by his father Charles and Uncle David for a film in the late 60’s. Matthew and Steve Slater acquired the Aircraft in 2005 and rebuilt it to flying condition; it now regularly flies with the team.
Matthew is also an LAE (licensed Aircraft Engineer) and an Inspector for the LAA covering all types, he has rebuilt many award winning Vintage Aircraft.
Mike Collett
Mike started his flying career in gliders at Booker (where he essentially grew up). His time there included winning a National Championships and representing Great Britain in two World Championships. During this time he also spent a number of years as the Chief Flying Instructor of Booker Gliding Club. More recently he has transitioned to the noisier side of powered aerobatics, becoming the 2014 Intermediate National Aerobatic Champion and being part of the Silver Medal wining team in the World Intermediate Championships in his first year. He has won a number of medals at Advanced and is a member of the Advanced British Aerobatic Team. Mike also flies commercially and has approximately 7,000 hours total flying time.
Peter Bond
Peter Bond started flying at Biggin Hill in 1978 and shortly thereafter joined the Tiger Club at Redhill as they operated the kind of aeroplanes he was mainly interested in, i.e, vintage types. After a spell as a flying instructor at Redhill and Blackbushe airfields, he gained his ATPL and in 1987 joined Air UK as a First Officer on the Fokker F27 followed by the BAe146.
A taste for aerobatics soon led to ownership of a Pitts S1 in 1988 and then display work with the Pilatus P2. He gained his command in 1991 and flew as Captain on the Fokker F27 followed by the F100 & finally the F70 for KLM Cityhopper, retiring in 2016.
Apart from aerobatics and display flying, his hobbies include building First World War replica aircraft and riding motorcycles both vintage & modern.
Peter currently flies one of the teams Fokker Triplanes which he built himself. He is also building a Sopwith Camel which hopefully will join the team line up when ready. He now has over 14,000 hours logged including over 250 hours on the Fokker Triplane.
A taste for aerobatics soon led to ownership of a Pitts S1 in 1988 and then display work with the Pilatus P2. He gained his command in 1991 and flew as Captain on the Fokker F27 followed by the F100 & finally the F70 for KLM Cityhopper, retiring in 2016.
Apart from aerobatics and display flying, his hobbies include building First World War replica aircraft and riding motorcycles both vintage & modern.
Peter currently flies one of the teams Fokker Triplanes which he built himself. He is also building a Sopwith Camel which hopefully will join the team line up when ready. He now has over 14,000 hours logged including over 250 hours on the Fokker Triplane.
Trevor Bailey
With a father who was a flight test engineer at Vickers Armstrong (now BAe) involved with everything from Varsitys to Valiants, VC10s and Concorde, Trevor has always had a keen interest in aviation and particularly flying.
Starting as a glider pilot in his teens at Mendip Gliding Club he went on to gain his PPL at Gloucester with Staverton Flying School in his late 20’s, specifically to own a share in a RF4D based there. Since then Trevor has owned shares in various aircraft including a Chipmunk and now owns his own 1947 ex Army Air Corp Auster T7 that he displays. Since joining Air Atlantique ten years ago he has flown a large variety of aircraft, many of them iconic vintage types. These include de Havilland Rapides, Percival Proctor, Prentice and a Male MX7 to name just a few.
Now a Class Rating Instructor with MEP and Aerobatic ratings plus a Display Pilot Authorisation, Trevor has accumulated over 1000 hours and is a LAA coach. He particularly enjoys flying the replica SE5a with the Great War Display Team and to help bring to life for the airshow crowds some of the heroic exploits of the pilots of that era.
With a father who was a flight test engineer at Vickers Armstrong (now BAe) involved with everything from Varsitys to Valiants, VC10s and Concorde, Trevor has always had a keen interest in aviation and particularly flying.
Starting as a glider pilot in his teens at Mendip Gliding Club he went on to gain his PPL at Gloucester with Staverton Flying School in his late 20’s, specifically to own a share in a RF4D based there. Since then Trevor has owned shares in various aircraft including a Chipmunk and now owns his own 1947 ex Army Air Corp Auster T7 that he displays. Since joining Air Atlantique ten years ago he has flown a large variety of aircraft, many of them iconic vintage types. These include de Havilland Rapides, Percival Proctor, Prentice and a Male MX7 to name just a few.
Now a Class Rating Instructor with MEP and Aerobatic ratings plus a Display Pilot Authorisation, Trevor has accumulated over 1000 hours and is a LAA coach. He particularly enjoys flying the replica SE5a with the Great War Display Team and to help bring to life for the airshow crowds some of the heroic exploits of the pilots of that era.
Will Greenwood
Will learnt to fly at Shoreham in 1986, after progressing from gliders at 17yrs old. He has flown continually since then, mainly in vintage and tailwheel aircraft. Display flying came around after he gained his instructor rating in 2006, since then Will has flown in displays in the UK and Europe, ranging from vintage types to V-12 Warbirds.
Will learnt to fly at Shoreham in 1986, after progressing from gliders at 17yrs old. He has flown continually since then, mainly in vintage and tailwheel aircraft. Display flying came around after he gained his instructor rating in 2006, since then Will has flown in displays in the UK and Europe, ranging from vintage types to V-12 Warbirds.
And here we have the Team in a more usual pose enjoying the high life near Maidenhead!