Bio Coming Soon

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Bio Coming Soon

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Bio Coming Soon

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Tug has been with the flight for over 10 years, having transferred across to Navy Wings from the previous MOD-run Royal Navy Historic Flight organisation. Prior to that he served for 34 years in the Royal Navy, leaving with the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Tug specialises in airframe and mechanical systems. He was responsible for running our increasingly busy flight line before being appointed Deputy Chief Engineer in 2024.

Jon Lawes completed his apprenticeship in aircraft engineering at MoD Boscombe Down in 2001. He spent a number of years there in the field of Flight Test, primarily with Large Rotary Wing aircraft, before moving to Boeing as an Avionics Supervisor on the Chinook DAFCS program.

Since then, he has worked in roles as diverse as Flight Simulation, Motorsport engineering, Systems Engineering and Education, with books published on various motoring subjects . He joined Navy Wings in 2022, leading the restoration of Swordfish LS326.

Ashley started his career as an Apprentice to Britten Norman before taking a job with Bournemouth Avionics as an avionics technician. He joined Navy Wings in Spring 2021.

While he continues to specialise in avionics, he is also adept at the more traditional skills required to support vintage aircraft.

In his spare time, he works on his extensive collection of classic motorcycles and takes a keen interest in military history through the ages.

Growing up under White Waltham airfield in Berkshire, Angus has always had exposure to vintage aircraft. He began training with Flybe in 2018 on a CAP 147 approved course with the intention of obtaining an accelerated aircraft B1.1 licence. Following the unfortunate demise of FlyBe in his second year of training, Angus went on to complete a Btech level 3, HND and HNC in aerospace engineering with a collaboration scheme between Exeter College and Kingston University. At the end of this course, Angus worked temporarily at Dunkerswell airfield on light aircraft before going off to complete his degree in aerospace engineering at the University of South Wales.

Since then, he has been working at Navy Wings as an aircraft mechanic and plans to obtain an LAA Inspector certificate and sit his first CAA licence exams in the coming months.

John started his journey with Navy Wings in March 2023 as part of a work experience program while studying for a BTEC Level 3 in Aerospace Engineering at Bridgwater and Taunton College. His interest in aviation, especially vintage aircraft, inspired him to continue volunteering with the team until he finished his studies in June 2024.

After completing his course, John moved into a full-time contractor role, becoming the youngest member of the Navy Wings team. With a focus on learning more about vintage aircraft, he’s developed a particular interest in the iconic Swordfish.

Steve joined Navy Wings in April 2022 as a volunteer was quickly moved into a logistics role. In October 2023, Steve became Navy Wings Logistics Manager. Steve loves being able to support the team and provide whatever help the aircraft need to share them with the public at airshows.

Steve developed his interest in aviation at a young age and it was combined with his love of art and design. This evolved over the years through studying Art at Yeovil College and then at Coventry University where he gained a degree in Transport Design. Prior to working at Navy Wings, Steve had various jobs which ranged from designing buildings, illustration and editing magazines and in 2008 Steve became a full time Tattoo Artist. He specialises in designs that typically include vehicles but especially aircraft. His love for aviation, especially WW2 era aircraft, has inspired him to work towards the goal of becoming a Full member of the Guild of Aviation Artists.

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Tony joined the Royal Navy in 1971 as a helicopter pilot and served in various Naval Air Squadrons (NAS) initially flying Sea King anti-submarine helicopters. Qualified as a Helicopter Flying Instructor in 1977 and progressed to A2(H). Awarded the Air Force Cross (AFC) in 1978 for his part in helicopter rescue from the oil rig Orion off Guernsey. Converted to the Lynx HAS2/3 in 1982 and acted as flight commander, training officer and senior pilot in 815 and 702 NAS. Between 1988-1990, was executive officer/senior pilot of both 772 NAS, flying Sea King HC4 at Portland, and then 820 NAS, flying Sea King HAS6 from HMS Ark Royal.

He commanded 705 NAS at Culdrose between 1991-1993 with Gazelle HT2 helicopters responsible for basic training of all RN helicopter pilots and the RN Helicopter formation team ‘The Sharks’. 1994 joined the staff of the Flag Officer Naval Aviation at Yeovilton with responsibility for RN pilot training programme following completion of Staff Course at RNC Greenwich. 1997-2003 served as Air Accident Investigation Advisor at the Royal Navy Flight Safety and Accident Investigation Centre (RNFSAIC) responsible for all aircraft accident investigation within the RN. Moved to the newly formed Defence Aviation Safety Centre as the maritime helicopter specialist in 2003 until retiring at the beginning of 2005.

Tony joined the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) at the end of 2004 as a Flight Standards Officer in the Flight Operations Policy section and was responsible for helicopter flight operations policy and development of associated regulations. He became Secretary and latterly Chairman of the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) helicopter sub-sectorial team, with representatives from Member States, helicopter associations and industry, responsible for developing JAR-OPS 3 until 2007. He worked closely with the new EASA on developing the European regulations and helicopter specific requirements whilst attending associated rule making workshops. He was a lead member of the European Helicopter Safety Team (EHEST) and of the ICAO helicopter and tilt-rotor sub-group.

He chaired various EASA rule making groups developing new standards for offshore helicopter operations and improved performance and night operating requirements for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) and responded to various North Sea helicopter accidents by developing and publishing Safety and Operational Directives. He edited and coordinated the CAA Review into Offshore Helicopter Safety (CAP 1145) following tragic offshore accidents and saw through to publication this immensely important and game changing safety initiative. He retired from the CAA in March 2022 and was awarded the MBE for services to Aviation Safety in the 2023 New Year Honours.

Tony is a volunteer and supporter with Navy Wings and is acting as the Operations Compliance Manager providing technical and regulatory advice helped by his CAA experience.

Alistair McLaren joined the Royal Navy straight from school in 1978 and was selected for fast jet training on to the newly acquired Sea Harrier fighter. He finished training during the Falklands Conflict in 1982 in time to join 809 NAS and sail south on the newly commissioned HMS Illustrious to relieve HMS Invincible which remained on station after the surrender. Further frontline tours on 801 NAS and 800 NAS as Air Warfare Instructor culminated as a staff pilot on 899 NAS HQ training squadron where he displayed the Sea Harrier for 2 years earning a Queens Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air.

Alistair left the Royal Navy in 1990 to start a commercial career with British Airways where he flew TriStar, B747, B737, Embraer 145, single aisle Airbus and finally B777 for 30 years. He held technical and training management roles including Chief Pilot of BA’s regional carrier BA CitiExpress.

In 2020, Alistair joined Navy Wings as a volunteer fixed wing pilot and now is contracted as Director of Flight Operations leading our operations team and highly experienced pilots. He displays the Seafire and Harvard. “It is with immense pride and privilege that I have been given the opportunity to fly these historic aircraft, national treasures in their own right, and return to the warm embrace of a Royal Navy squadron environment. Who wouldn’t want to be involved!”

Little Known Fact – On 6th June 1983 Alistair led a 2 aircraft surface search mission in which his wingman got lost and landed on a small Spanish container ship. Google ‘Alraigo Incident’ to get more information!

Andrew Davis joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1978 and was awarded his Nary Wings in 1979. Despite picking up an unfortunate nickname of Mum, he embarked upon CATOBAR fiying operations in HAS Melbourne privileged to enjoy over 250 arrested landings onboard flying S2G Tracker ASW aircraft. Upon the demise of Australian Naval fixed wing flying in 1984, he came to the UK for a RN exchange tour flying Seaking Helos, also in
the ASW role.

Andrew transferred fully to the Royal Navy in 1987 completing fast jet training in 1988. Sea Harrier FRS1 and FA2 operations including Op Granby and Deny Flight were interspersed with Flying instruction duties on Tucano, Hawk, Grob and SHAR. Ending his regular career as CO Naval Flying Standards Flight (FW) in 2004 and joining Virgin Atlantic Airways, he has continued in RNR (Air Branch) service enjoying Hawk T1 flying as a part timer for many years.

Initially a volunteer pilot for Navy Wings, he became Chief Pilot in 2020 and now thoroughly enjoys being part of the day to day flying of all current Navy Wings aircraft.

Lieutenant Commander Glenn Allison joined the Royal Navy in 1984 as an apprentice aircraft engineering artificer at HMS Daedalus and subsequently worked on Lynx helicopters at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Portland and in 1990 he was selected for officer and flying training.

He followed the well-trodden path of a Naval helicopter pilot, through BRNC Dartmouth to Elementary Flying Training on the Bulldog at Topcliffe and thence to 705 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) Gazelle helicopters at RNAS Culdrose, where he was awarded “Wings” in 1992. Advanced and Operational flying training came on the Sea King Mk4 and he became a Commando “Jungly” pilot. Front line service included tours of duty in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Norway with 707, 845 & 846 NAS.

After 2 front line tours he was selected for Qualified Helicopter Instructor (QHI) training, and joined the Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) at RAF Shawbury in 1997. After completion of the QHI course he taught ab-initio pilots on 660 and 705 Squadron, qualifying as an A2 QHI on the Squirrel. He converted to the Lynx helicopter and was appointed as Flight Commander of HMS Cumberland in 2001. He had a varied two years in HMS Cumberland ranging from the Baltic with NATO, to a nine month deployment carrying out maritime interdiction operations in the Northern Gulf and Indian Ocean.

In 2003 Glenn was appointed back to Squirrel helicopters at DHFS where he was responsible for the training of student pilots from all three services in advanced helicopter flying techniques, such as low level navigation and mountain flying. After this tour he returned to the Commando Helicopter Force as a QHI in 848 NAS, where he was responsible for refresher and conversion training of pilots to the Sea King Mk4. At this time he joined the Royal Navy Historic Flight as a volunteer Swordfish pilot before, in 2007, being appointed to HMS Ark Royal as Lieutenant Commander Flying, responsible for the flying operations. Then appointed as Commanding Officer of 727 NAS, primarily responsible for pilot grading on the Grob Tutor aircraft, he also continued flying the Swordfish. After an exchange appointment to 5 Regiment Army Air Corps (5AAC) at Joint Helicopter Command Aldegrove in Northern Ireland, he joined RNAS Culdrose as a 750 NAS pilot flying the King Air 350ER Avenger. Having gained experience on a number of fixed wing aircraft, his most recent appointment is as an examiner with Naval Flying Standards Flight and he continues to fly the Swordfish and act as a QFI for the Navy Wings Heritage Flight.

After attending BRNC Dartmouth and ‘grading’ on the Chipmunk T.10 Chris flew the Slingsby T67M Firefly in elementary training at RAF Topcliffe and at this stage was selected for fast jet and carried out the basic jet course on the turboprop Shorts Tucano. Advanced and Tactical weapons training followed on the BAe Hawk with 208 Squadron at RAF Valley, followed by a short stint at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, still flying the Hawk. Eventually, training on the Sea Harrier was completed in 1998 and he joined 800 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) in HMS Invincible, seeing service in Iraq and Kosovo, becoming Unit Test Pilot during this tour.

From 800 NAS he was selected as an Air Weapons Instructor and after the course joined 801 NAS in HMS Illustrious for Exercise Saif Serria II before returning to 800 NAS in HMS Ark Royal. His next appointment was to the Fast Jet Test Squadron at QinetiQ Boscombe Down, where he was lucky enough to get his hands on the Jaguar, Alpha Jet, Harvard and all marks of Harrier. He was employed as the project pilot for the VAAC Harrier, a unique ‘fly-by-wire’ test bed to investigate the control philosophy for the Joint Strike Fighter. The VAAC carried out the worlds first ‘hands off’ landing on a ship underway during 2006.

Chris was appointed the Commanding Officer Royal Navy Historic Flight between 2013 -2018, a full time position managing and flying for the organisation he had supported voluntarily for ten years. Now flying Hawk aircraft for 736 Squadron based at RNAS Culdrose, Chris continues to volunteer to fly for the Navy Wings Heritage Flight. His time as a volunteer ‘historic’ pilot started when he converted to the Sea Hawk and flew it for the 2005 and 2006 seasons before converting to the Sea Fury at the end of 2006. He first flew the Swordfish in 2015. He Like all Heritage Flight volunteer pilots keeps his skill level up by training in a Chipmunk and Harvard.

Chris was awarded the Air Force Cross in 2015 for his handling of an engine failure in a Sea Fury at an air show in 2014.

Steve joined the Royal Navy at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in January 1976. He served as a Naval Air Commando Squadron operational helicopter pilot and as both a front-line and second-line Qualified Helicopter Instructor. In 1981 he trained as a test pilot at the US Naval Test Pilots’ School (Patuxent River, Maryland) and subsequently completed 5 military test flying tours including D Sqn Test Pilot, (Boscombe Down), Royal Australian Navy Senior Test Pilot, (NAS Nowra), ETPS Rotary Wing Tutor (Boscombe Down), Commanding Officer of the Rotary Wing Test Squadron (Boscombe Down) and Director Flying (MoD (PE)). The latter involved leading the Directorate of Flying in regulating all military flight testing conducted on MoD aircraft worldwide. He retired from the Royal Navy in 2008 after this appointment. Separately to his flight test roles, Steve managed to complete a parallel operational RN flying career including appointments as the Senior Pilot 846 Naval Air Squadron and Commanding Officer of 848 Naval Air Squadron. He also served as a staff officer in the Headquarters of the Flag Officer Naval Aviation as the RN Flying Training Manager and within the Ministry of Defence in London (Directorate of Naval Operations) as the Commando Helicopter Desk Officer.

On retirement from the Service in the rank of Captain Royal Navy, Steve joined QinetiQ at MoD Boscombe Down in 2008 and fulfilled numerous roles within ETPS including Business Enterprise Leader and Chief Instructor. He was also QinetiQ’s Director Aviation and retired for a second (and final) time in December 2020.

Steve is currently the volunteer Chairman of the Bustard Flying Club based at Boscombe Down where he flies the club’s Robin DR400 and Slingsby Firefly T67 aeroplanes as well as his own Jodel and single seat Volksplane VP-1 aircraft. Until recently he was also the Chief Pilot for Historic Helicopters, where he flew the legacy Whirlwind, Wessex and Sea King helicopters, also on a voluntary basis. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 2007.

Tim served as a Sea King pilot in the Fleet Air Arm and the Reserves between 1981 and 2001 and was aircraft carrier based for his first tour flying off HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and then went to the Naval Air Station at Prestwick. In Scotland Tim undertook both Anti-Submarine work and Search and Rescue duties for the rest of his Naval career and in the Reserves.

Upon leaving the regular Navy Tim joined British Airways where he flew the HS 748, BAe RJ, BAC 1-11, Boeings 737,747,757,767,777 and Airbus A320 series whilst also flying the Jet Ranger commercially. British Airways appointed Tim as Flight Ops Director of several of their subsidiary companies including Brymon Airways, British Regional Airlines, Manx Airlines and British Airways CitiExpress.

Apart from flying the Wasp with Navy Wings Heritage Flight Tim also flies the Grob Tutor as an RAF Reservist giving air cadets their first experience in the air. Tim continues to fly his own DH Chipmunk the type he first trained on in the Royal Navy at the start of his flying career.

Captain Simon Thomas MA RN (Retd) began flying in 1972, on joining BRNC Dartmouth; he left the service in 2008. He served principally as a helicopter pilot flying Wasps, Sea Kings and Lynx at sea and ashore. He has a grand total of 3200 hours; 2700 are rotary-wing, with over 740 on the Wasp.

During his Service career, Simon flew display routines and role demonstrations on all three of his operational helicopter types, Including leading a multi-national helicopter formation during the Australian Bicentenary celebrations over Sydney Harbour in 1988. Having had ships’ flight commands, ship command and having been Senior Pilot of a 9-aircraft Sea King squadron in HMS ARK ROYAL, he is well versed in the briefing, safety, and regulatory aspects of aviation.

Simon Thomas is a past CO of the Fleet Air Arm Squadron. This is an accredited country-wide military flying club, comprising retired and serving Service pilots and some civilians: membership stands at around 140, of whom over 70 own aircraft. The Squadron's aim is to link former, current and future naval aviators.

Mark Jameson joined the Royal Navy in 1991 as a pilot and conducted Flying Grading on the Chipmunk TMk10. In 1996 he joined 702 NAS flying the Maritime Lynx for Operational Flying Training. His first operational appointment was to 815 NAS as a Flight Pilot serving onboard HMS Manchester, HMS Newcastle and HMS Endurance which took him to the Caribbean (West Indies Guard Ship), the Gulf (Carrier Escort/Patrol), Adriatic (Bosnia) and Antarctica.

In 2003 he moved over to 815 NAS as a Flight Commander and flying the Lynx Mk3 flew three busy Southern hemisphere summer’s in and around the South Atlantic, Falkland Island’s, Weddell Sea, South Sandwich, South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsular in support of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Hydrographic Service and British Antarctic Survey.

Following a tour with 750 NAS as a Beech King Air pilot, used to train Royal Navy Observers, he joined the Royal Navy Historic Flight in 2018 as the Commanding Officer and oversaw the transition to the Navy Wings Heritage Flight in 2019. He remains a volunteer Swordfish pilot for the Heritage Flight. Recently graduated from 115Sqn RAF Wittering and now with 16 “The Saints” Sqn RAF instructing Elementary Flying Training, he is one of the few QHI/QFI qualified pilots in the military.

Mark now has a total of more than 6200hrs airborne, 2903 successful deck landings, 683 of them at night and has served nearly 5yrs of his 29yr career (so far) at sea.

Tim joined the RAF in 1984 with the intention of flying Search and Rescue helicopters. Pilot training took a different direction and he flew the Tornado F3 until 1995. During his time on the F3 he served operationally in Saudi Arabia, Former Yugoslavia and the Falkland Islands, along the way graduating as Qualified Weapons Instructor.

Selected for an exchange position with the Royal Navy in 1995, Tim flew the Sea Harrier FA2 as an Air Warfare Instructor, culminating in the position of Senior Pilot of 800NAS. In 1999 he transferred to the RN. With the planned run-down of the ‘SHAR’ force, Tim left full time RN service in 2003 for the world of airline flying. However, the has continued to serve as a RN Reserve pilot flying SHAR, Hawk and now Tutor aircraft.
Outside of his commercial aviation career-he now flies Business Jets- he flies Hawker Hunter jets, his own Auster aircraft, and is a Flying Instructor.

Tim joined Navy Wings to fly and instruct on the Bulldog and Chipmunk, and in 2025 has qualified as Swordfish Rear Crew. When the Navy Wings Sea Hawk returns to flying condition, Tim hopes to use some his 40-odd years of continuous military flying experience as one of the few pilots selected to fly it.

Eric joined the Royal Air Force in 1983, training on the Bulldog, Jet Provost and Hawk before operational tours flying the Jaguar GR1A aircraft in the Reconnaissance Role on No 41(F) Sqn and Ground Attack Role on No 6 Sqn which included operational tours in Oman and Bahrain. Eric was then selected for a 3-year exchange tour with the United States Air Force flying the General Dynamics F-16 based in Utah.

Following return to the RAF, Eric joined the Harrier Force, flying the Harrier GR7 on 1(F) Squadron, then as a flight commander and unit test pilot on No 3(F) Squadron. His tour on 3(F) Sqn included a deployment on HMS Illustrious during the build-up to Gulf War 2 and his first taste of Royal Navy operations, flying combined missions with SHARs over Southern Iraq.

Eric retired from military flying in 1998 for a career change as a pilot with Virgin Atlantic Airways, flying the Airbus A340, A330 and A350 aircraft, subsequently as a training captain and examiner. He retired from active commercial flying in 2025, but continues to instruct and examine Virgin Atlantic pilots in the simulator.

Eric joined Navy Wings in 2023 as a volunteer pilot and feels highly privileged to have had the opportunity to fly the Chipmunk, Reliant, Harvard and Bulldog. In the 2026 display season, Eric looks forward to displaying the Chipmunk, Bulldog and Harvard.