For someone who loves everything to do with flying, I must have the coolest job in the world. I am a qualified flight test engineer and I have had the pleasure of flying in various fast jet aircraft around the world.
Not sure which is more rewarding covering 350 miles in 7 days, at walking pace, or in 20 minutes in the F18 at supersonic speeds?
I have been lucky enough to have a great range of flight test experience, and the links between my flight test adventures and my personal adventures are too close to be completely coincidental.
For example, I was been involved in testing helicopter landings on aircraft carriers – pretty “interesting” stuff in rough weather, which we mostly found in the Irish Sea! I have also been involved in cold weather testing helicopters in Wyoming – which is where I picked up the “bug” for cold weather adventures.
Some of my favourite flights include low level flights in our very own RAF Jaguars and Tornados, and a magical flight in a Hawk (a Red Arrow). I have also flown in F18s and the Sabb Grippen: – simply fantastic and very impressive aircraft.
Prior to flight testing, I worked for Rolls-Royce on jet engines and thoroughly loved the design and test elements of that work. Perhaps this is where I developed the view that if you can think of it… you can make it?
In a nutshell – I love engineering and particularly aerospace engineering – don’t you think it is just bonkers that an Airbus A380 is designed to gracefully slip the surly bonds of earth whilst weighing in at up to 560 tonnes?
