Flight Lieutenant Russ Norman - Captain

Flt Lt Russ Norman is 30 years old and was born in Stretford, Manchester. He joined the RAF in Oct 2000 following 3 years at Sheffield University, and was a member of Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron. Following his commissioning in 2001 he was posted to the DHFS at RAF Shawbury. In 2002 Flt Lt Norman was selected to attend 18(B) Squadron's Chinook OCF at RAF Odiham before beginning his operational career in 2003 with 27 Squadron. Since then he has completed Operational Detachments in Iraq and more recently Afghanistan. Other exercises and detachments include the Falkland Islands, Northern Ireland, Pakistan following the earthquake in Oct 2005, Europe and Africa. Flt Lt Norman is now a Training Captain, Air-test Pilot and is the 18(B) Sqn Pilot Standards Officer. This is his second year with the Chinook Display Team, having started last season as a Co-pilot before progressing to Display Captain for the second half of the season. He has so far amassed over 1800 hours total flying. In his spare time he enjoys running, hill walking and playing squash.

Flight Lieutenant Dave Deighton - Captain

Flt Lt Deighton always wanted to join the RAF as a pilot and at the age of 17 was awarded an RAF Flying Scholarship in Feb 1995, where he completed his first solo before passing his driving test. He then went on to complete Private Pilots Licence.Flt Lt Deighton graduated from University of Newcastle with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering in June 2000. During his time at university, he joined the Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron (NUAS), where he completed Elementary Flying Training on the Bulldog, which included aerobatics and formation training.After graduation from Initial Officer Training in Feb 2001, he began helicopter training at RAF Shawbury. Flt Lt Deighton graduated with his wings in Jun 2002 and was posted to RAF Odiham to fly the Chinook helicopter. Flt Lt Deighton was posted to 27 Sqn in Mar 03 following completion of the Operational Conversion Flight. During his time on 27 Sqn, Flt Lt Deighton has completed 2 tours in Iraq and 3 tours in Afghanistan. He was also involved with the Earth Quake relief effort in Pakistan in Oct 05. Flt Lt Deighton was also the co-pilot for the 2005 Chinook display team. In 2006 he graduated from Central Flying School as a Qualified Helicopter Instructor (QHI) and was posted back to 27 Sqn as a QHI. Flt Lt Deighton has recently returned from his 4th Afghanistan earlier this year. Flt Lt Deighton has flown 2100 hrs since he joined the RAF.

Flight Lieutenant John Walmsley - Co-Pilot

Flt Lt John Walmsley was born in Edinburgh in 1980. He first started flying with the RAF at the age of 17 with an RAF Flying Scholarship. He continued flying as a member of the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron while studying Modern Languages at Glasgow University. After being commissioned in 2003 he attended the DHFS at RAF Shawbury. In 2005 John was posted to RAF Odiham to the Chinook OCF, and then to B Flight on 18 (B) Squadron. His operational experience has been gained in Afghanistan, and other exercises and detachments include Northern Ireland, the Falkland Islands, Jordan and Morocco. With around 1300 hours of flying Flt Lt Walmsley is looking to become a Training Captain. In his spare time he enjoys playing the piano, hill walking and travelling.

Flight Lieutenant Gary James - Co-Pilot

Born in Neath, South Wales in 1971, Gary read Engineering with German at university in Birmingham, graduating in 1994. After two years working in the public sector, Gary joined the Royal Air Force in 1996 as a Navigator. Following Initial Officer Training (IOT) and Navigator training on Bulldogs and Tucanos, Gary got his boyhood wish and was streamed Rotary. Graduation from the Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) at RAF Shawbury occurred in 1999 with a commencement of the Puma Operation Conversion Flight (OCF) later that year. A two-and-a-half year posting to 230 Sqn Pumas at RAF Aldergrove followed and a three year stint at 33 Sqn Pumas, RAF Benson began in 2002. Gulf War 2, otherwise known as Operation Telic 1, saw Gary begin his first of many tours to foreign lands, returning to Basrah in 2004 and Baghdad in 2005. A conversion to the Chinook took place during that winter. 2006 saw Gary take part in operations in the Falkland Islands, Beirut and his first tour of Afghanistan. Having now completed 3 tours of Afghanistan, Gary has amassed 2000 Rotary hours including 1200 on Puma and 700 on Chinook. This is his first year on the Display Crew and he is also the Team Manager.

Squadron Leader Morris Oxford- Co-Pilot

Sqn Ldr “Morris” Oxford was born in London in 1968 and grew up in Carlisle, Cumbria. He joined The RAF in 1987 as a direct entrant Air Engineer. After completing Air Engineer training at RAF Finningley he was posted to Hercules at RAF Lyneham where he completed a tour on 24 Sqn. Commissioned in 1993 he undertook Navigator training, was streamed rotary and on completion of helicopter training was posted to 72 Sqn and the Wessex. In 1999 he was posted to the Chinook at RAF Odiham. After completing a tour on 27 Sqn he underwent training at RAF Shawbury to become a Qualified Helicopter Navigation Instructor (QHNI) and returned to RAF Odiham and 18 Sqn to instruct on the Operational Conversion Flight (OCF). In 2004 Sqn Ldr Oxford crossed over to become a pilot and returned to the Chinook and 27 Sqn in 2006, where he is currently the Sqn Training Officer. Sqn Ldr Oxford has completed operational tours in The Gulf, The Falklands, Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Afghanistan. He currently has 4200 flying hours.

Flight Lieutenant Dan Padbury- Co-Pilot

Flt Lt Dan Padbury is 29 years old and was born in London. He spent just over 2 years at the University of Southampton, reading Geophysics, before deciding to apply to join the RAF as a direct entrant. He was a member of Southampton University Air Squadron during his time at university. Joining the RAF in 2002, Flt Lt Padbury was posted to the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury. Streamed to fly the Chinook, he was posted to RAF Odiham in late 2005, graduating from the Operational Conversion Flight in 2006. Beginning his operational career on 27 Sqn, he has since re-toured as a fully qualified CR / Operational Captain. Flt Lt Padbury has taken part in many UK land and sea based exercises, as well as overseas in Morocco and Jordan. He completed his fourth detachment in Afghanistan late last year. This is Flt Lt Padbury’s first season as display co-pilot. He has some 1000 hours total flying

Sgt Craig Fairbrother- Crewman

Sgt Fairbrother is 40 years old and comes from York. He joined the Royal Air Force in July 2002 having previously served for 12 years in the Army. Having completed flying training and operational conversion to the Chinook in 2004 he was posted to 18(B) Sqn, where he has served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland and the Falkland Islands. Sgt Fairbrother is a Crewman Trainer, Air Gunnery Instructor, SERE Officer and Physical Training Leader. This is his first year as part of the display team.

Sgt Rebecca Nicholls- Crewman

Sgt Nicholls is 29 years old and was born in Bedford. She joined the Royal Air Force in 2004 after completing a degree in Sport and Exercise Science at The University of Bath and a PGCE at DeMontfort University. She has served at RAF Odiham for the past two years. She is currently serving on 18 (B) Sqn, B Flight and returned from her second operational deployment to Afghanistan in February. This is Rebecca's first season on the display team. She enjoys swimming and is currently a member of the RAF Swimming and Waterpolo teams.

Sgt Mark Gamson- Crewman

Sgt Gamson joined the Royal Air Force in March 2005 as a WSOp (ALM) always hoping to be posted to the Chinook force. He had always wanted to work in a flying environment after being awarded an RAF Flying Scholarship when he was 16 years old during which he flew 16 hrs dual and 4.5 hours solo flying.He grew up in Woking, Surrey where he has lived most of his life and after completing his A-levels, served as a Surrey Police Officer for 5 years prior to joining the RAF.Sgt Gamson trained on the Dominie Tmk1 prior to being posted to 60 Sqn at RAF Shawbury for his rotary crewman training on the Griffin helicopter.He was posted to the Chinook Force at RAF Odiham in June 2006 where he currently serves on C Flt of 27 Sqn.Sgt Gamson has completed 2 operational tours of Afghanistan and has flown 800 hours since joining the RAF.

Sgt Vince Bartlett- Crewman

Sgt Bartlett is 30 years old and was born in Cambridge. He joined the RAF in January 2000 following studies to A level at Hinchinbrooke school, Huntingdon. During this time Sgt Bartlett was an active member of the air cadets and was a glider pilot by the age of 17. The air cadets also provided the first experience of tasking in the Chinook and from that point his career choice was clear. After non commissioned aircrew training at the RAF College Cranwell Sgt Bartlett progressed to Generic loadmaster training followed by further selection for rotary training. A posting to RAF Shawbury followed to learn basic rotary operations, tactics and search and rescue techniques in the Griffin HT1 aircraft. After gaining his loadmaster brevet Sgt Bartlett was posted to RAF Odiham and the mighty Chinook helicopter. In November 2002, after conversion to role on 18(B) Sqn, Sgt Bartlett was posted to serve on 27 Sqn where he serves presently. In his 7 years of frontline service Sgt Bartlett has operated the Chinook worldwide from the arctic circle to middle east by day and night, in all environments. He has supported operations and exercises globally including northern Ireland, the Falkland islands, Arctic Norway and Morrocco. Sgt Bartlett has completed 4 operational tours to Iraq and 5 to Afghanistan. He also deployed to provide military assistance to the 2005 G8 summit at Gleneagles. During his 7 years on the wing Sgt Bartlett has gained over 2000 hours on type. Sgt Bartlett is a crewman trainer responsible for training crewman to a combat ready standard and holds the post of the wing SERE Officer in which he generates training, procedures and equipment for any survival environment in which crews may find themselves. In this role Sgt Bartlett has attended survival courses from arctic Norway to the jungles of Belize and the deserts of Nevada. Sgt Bartlett is soon to graduate as a tactics instructor to teach the skills required to operate the Chinook safely at the forward edge of combat operations. In his spare time Sgt Bartlett is a keen Drummer and enjoys many outdoor activities from hill walking to climbing and kayaking.