The infamous routine walk through....! An essential part of pre display preparation as every flight and every location is unique with different topography, site orientation, wind vectors etc. The pilots walk through the routine in detail to ensure that they each know exactly where they are supposed to be and to ensure that any conflicts are identified and resolved on the ground rather than at a critical point in the air!
The Great War Team Pilots
Team Leader: Matthew Boddington
Part of an aviation family, 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.
Matthew was introduced to WW1 aviation at an early age with visits to the film sets where the films of The Blue Max, Darling Lili Von Richthofen and Brown were made .
He went on to gain his PPL in 1986 flying Auster Aircraft and graduated to Tiger Moth and Chipmunks with the Barnstormers Flying circus whilst gaining his DA.
Matthew's Display Authorisation unusually allows him to carry out Wing Walking and Limbo Flying to 3ft. 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 and both an LAE and Inspector for the LAA. In the Team he has flown the Fokker DR1 in displays but now mainly flies the SE5a and BE2 Replica that was originally built by his father Charles and Uncle David for a film in the late 60’s, the BE2 is currently under rebuild.
Part of an aviation family, 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.
Matthew was introduced to WW1 aviation at an early age with visits to the film sets where the films of The Blue Max, Darling Lili Von Richthofen and Brown were made .
He went on to gain his PPL in 1986 flying Auster Aircraft and graduated to Tiger Moth and Chipmunks with the Barnstormers Flying circus whilst gaining his DA.
Matthew's Display Authorisation unusually allows him to carry out Wing Walking and Limbo Flying to 3ft. 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 and both an LAE and Inspector for the LAA. In the Team he has flown the Fokker DR1 in displays but now mainly flies the SE5a and BE2 Replica that was originally built by his father Charles and Uncle David for a film in the late 60’s, the BE2 is currently under rebuild.
Lead Pilot: Will Greenwood
Will learnt to fly at Shoreham in 1986, after progressing from gliders at 17yrs old, now having 3000+hrs of flying experience mainly in vintage and tailwheel aircraft. He was previously Deputy Head of LAA/PCS Instructor Training for 7 years as well as an Air Test Pilot for the LAA and CAA.
Will comes from a farming background and has a grass airstrip at his current farm. Seeing crop dusters at a young age inspired his flying aspirations.
Display flying came around after he gained his Display Rating rating in 2012.
Since then Will has flown displays in the UK and Europe, ranging from many vintage types to V-12 Warbirds. He currently owns and displays one of the Fokker DR1 Triplane's (White snake on a black band) and is the current AFDD for the team since 2024.
Will learnt to fly at Shoreham in 1986, after progressing from gliders at 17yrs old, now having 3000+hrs of flying experience mainly in vintage and tailwheel aircraft. He was previously Deputy Head of LAA/PCS Instructor Training for 7 years as well as an Air Test Pilot for the LAA and CAA.
Will comes from a farming background and has a grass airstrip at his current farm. Seeing crop dusters at a young age inspired his flying aspirations.
Display flying came around after he gained his Display Rating rating in 2012.
Since then Will has flown displays in the UK and Europe, ranging from many vintage types to V-12 Warbirds. He currently owns and displays one of the Fokker DR1 Triplane's (White snake on a black band) and is the current AFDD for the team since 2024.
Peter Bond
Peter started flying at Biggin Hill in 1978 and shortly thereafter joined the Tiger Club at Redhill .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 Captain on the F70 for KLM Cityhopper, retiring in 2016.
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.
Peter started flying at Biggin Hill in 1978 and shortly thereafter joined the Tiger Club at Redhill .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 Captain on the F70 for KLM Cityhopper, retiring in 2016.
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.
- Richard Vary
John Gammidge
John started flying fixed wing microlights at Sywell in 2004 and moved onto flying a variety of group A planes in 2010. He converted to a tail dragger flying a Super Cub, of which he enjoyed immensely and flew a PA28R from Coventry for operation of a VP prop and retractable undercarriage differences. His interest in aerobatics lead to obtaining his rating in 2018 flying an Extra 200 and again in 2019 flying the Extra completing a formation and tail chase course. This all helped him to obtain his Display Authority in 2022 after being mentored by his DAE Blade1 Andy Evans. John flies and owns one of the team SE5a's
John started flying fixed wing microlights at Sywell in 2004 and moved onto flying a variety of group A planes in 2010. He converted to a tail dragger flying a Super Cub, of which he enjoyed immensely and flew a PA28R from Coventry for operation of a VP prop and retractable undercarriage differences. His interest in aerobatics lead to obtaining his rating in 2018 flying an Extra 200 and again in 2019 flying the Extra completing a formation and tail chase course. This all helped him to obtain his Display Authority in 2022 after being mentored by his DAE Blade1 Andy Evans. John flies and owns one of the team SE5a's
John Gilbert
John started flying at the age of 5 in gliders, a business which he is still in, maintaining and repairing gliders and light aircraft in Essex. John has over 3000hrs of flying experience mainly in classic aircraft and gliders, he currently owns the Nieuport 17 which re-joined the team in 2023.
John started flying at the age of 5 in gliders, a business which he is still in, maintaining and repairing gliders and light aircraft in Essex. John has over 3000hrs of flying experience mainly in classic aircraft and gliders, he currently owns the Nieuport 17 which re-joined the team in 2023.
