Flight Sergeant Mark Clayton has joined the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team as the new Team Coach for the 2026 display season.
The role of the Team Coach is to train the team for the displays in the run up to the season, and then leading the team during the displays themselves, into the various venues that the team perform at around the world. It also comes with the responsibility of training the team to become Military Freefall Instructors, and high-altitude instructors. The focus of Exercise Freefall Endeavour is to start the first years on their way to gaining this qualification, and those who’re already on the team to ensure they achieve it by the end of the exercise.
To be the Team Coach, you need to have been an RAF Falcon previously. FS Clayton was originally an RAF Falcon from 2010 to 2012 and brings with him the necessary experience of having been part of the displays in various positions as he initially moved through the team.
Flight Sergeant Clayton said:
“I’m looking forward to the responsibility of leading a professional group of Parachute Jump Instructors on displays around the world into some iconic venues, representing the RAF wherever we go. By the time we come to the end of this exercise we will be in a great place with the team’s freefall skills, leading us on to begin display training for the upcoming season in 2026.”
Flight Sergeant Clayton
Team Coach
RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team
