 |
|
Kev, aged 35, was born in Chester and is the youngest of 2 children. He was educated at The King’s School, Chester, where he was a member of the Combined Cadet Force (RAF). He was sponsored by the Royal Navy (RN) through the Sixth Form and had reserved entry for officer training and flying training in the Fleet Air Arm. ‘Options for Change’ in the 1990s reduced the RN’s aircrew requirements and so Kev went instead to the RAF and completed their Flying Scholarship at the age of 18. He studied for a BA Degree in Economics at Peterhouse, Cambridge University, where he joined the University Air Squadron (UAS) and commenced Elementary Flying Training (EFT) on the Bulldog aircraft.
Kev joined the RAF in 1998 and upon completion of Initial Officer Training at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell returned to CUAS to complete EFT. He was further selected for Fast Jet Training which he undertook on the Tucano (2 Squadron) and Hawk aircraft (208 Squadron). Kev left the RAF in 2001 and took a trading job with a US investment bank in the City of London where he still works.
Upon leaving the military Kev completed his civilian flying licenses and continued with his passion flying Jet Provost aircraft from North Weald progressing to his first solo display season a year later. He started flying the Folland Gnat in 2005 and founded the Gnat Display Team with his colleagues in 2007. He lives in Westminster and splits his leisure time between the airfield during the summer months and the ski slopes of the Swiss alps during the winter.
Worst Aviation Moment:
Cabin pressurisation, electric and radio failure at 34,000ft over 8/8ths cloud in the Bay of Biscay
Best Aviation Moment:
2009 display season, seeing it all come together
Other interesting facts:
Whilst not flying with CUAS, Kev trained with the University Boat Club and coxed Cambridge to victory in the 1996&7 Boat Races against Oxford.
|
|
