There are legends, and then there is this Legend. Flt Lt Nigel ‘Wam’ Wharmby has ALL the stories you’d expect after no fewer than 46 years flying for the Royal Air Force.
Told he would never walk again after breaking his back whilst ejecting from a Harrier jet in 1999, 'Wam' was back in the cockpit exactly one year after the crash. In fact, his love for the cockpit was so great that he eschewed further promotion after reaching the rank of Air Commodore threatened to take him away from what he loved most. Retiring from Regular service he returned as a Reservist - and to the skies - as a Flight Lieutenant, just days later.
From fighter pilot to instructor, Wam continues to be impassioned and remarkable - inspiring Cadets and University Air Students every day as they begin their journey towards becoming the Next Generation Royal Air Force. This week he hit the grand old age of 65, which meant his last solo flight. Friends, colleagues and younger brother Paul 'Little Wam' - also a former Harrier pilot - were there to celebrate the landmark moment.
