Features | 9
The C-47 Dakota ZA947 during PDA week, April 2018.
Seb’s day job is as a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) based at RAF Brize Norton on XXIV (24) Squadron which trains the aircrew and engineers of the Air Mobility Fleet – C-130J Hercules, Atlas 400M and C-17 Globemaster. He is one of four (about to become five) Bomber Pilots on the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) at RAF Coningsby. He’s flown for the past six years as a Dakota Captain and four years as a Lancaster Captain too – more recently becoming the QFI on both types of aircraft. What a career path to have!
Joining the RAF
Seb knew from the age of 11 that he wanted to be a pilot. “I had no family members to follow who had served before me. I just knew I wanted to fly but wasn’t sure exactly at that point through which gateway. I had an order in my head – to be a pilot in the RAF first, Navy was my second choice, civilian as third (although I have no idea why that was in the middle but it was), then it was to be an Army pilot and then finally the Police! Once I was in the Air Cadets however, I knew my route.”
Why BBMF?
The whole team at BBMF works together to maintain the aircraft that forms part of our national heritage and apart from flying the aircraft of course, I also really enjoy being part of the educational role that works alongside.
As such, we are entrusted with keeping the aircraft in an airworthy condition and in turn, commemorate those who have fallen, promote the RAF today and inspire future generations and that’s it for me. None of us take our places here for granted. It really does mean something.
How many personnel are involved with BBMF? The BBMF team of full-time staff consists of the Officer Commanding (a Squadron Leader pilot), 30 engineering tradesmen headed by the Flight’s Senior Engineering Officer (also a Squadron Leader) and the HQs staff consisting of a Flight Operations Officer, Flight Operations Assistant, a Chief of Staff, Public Relations Team and administrative support.
raf-ff.org.uk | Winter 2018 | ENVOY
© Lisa Harding Props & Portraits.
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