Tornado GR1 2000 display

Tornado GR1 2000 display team

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Tornado GR1 ZA613, 15(R) Squadron, Waddington (Saturday) 2000. Copyright Gary Parsons, f4 Aviation 2000

Flight Lieutenant 'Jez' Griggs, 31, was born in Singapore and educated at St Edmunds School in Dover. Gaining his private pilot's licence in the States aged 18, Jez later joined the RAF in 1990. After completing flying training on the Jet Provost and Hawk, he qualified in 1992 and was posted to 617 Squadron and its Tornado GR1s after a spell with 7 AEF at Newton while awaiting clearance of a training backlog. After three years with 617 Jez moved to neighbouring 12 Squadron at Lossiemouth for a year before attending the Qualified Weapons Instructor Course where on completion he joined XV(R) Squadron as an Instructor Pilot, still at Lossiemouth. His daily job involves the training of prospective Tornado pilots and navigators in all aspects of air to ground weaponry, tactics and air combat. Jez has over 2,400 flying hours, 1,200 of which are on the Tornado GR1. During his time with the Tornado, Jez has flown in many countries including Canada, USA, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and many areas within Europe. He has flown operational sorties in both Northern and Southern Iraq and in December 1998 flew missions with 12 Squadron during Operation Desert Fox. Jez lives near Elgin with his girlfriend Andrea and is keen on most sports. In his spare time he flies a privately owned Tiger Moth. The 2000 season is his first as the Tornado GR1 display pilot.

Flight Lieutenant Simon Strasdin, 27, was educated at Bryngwyn Comprehensive School, Wales. He was a member of 1054 Squadron Air Training Corps and was awarded a Sixth Form Scholarship as well as a Royal Air Force Navigation Scholarship. Simon joined the Royal Air Force in 1992 and completed his initial officer training at Royal Air Force College Cranwell. After successfully completing flying training on the Tucano, Dominie and Hawk, Simon qualified as a Navigator in May 1993. Prior to starting the Tornado GR1 Simon spent several months flying the Hawk with 100 Squadron at Finningley. He began training on the Tornado GR1 with the Tornado Tri-National Training Establishment at Cottesmore in March 1994 and completed the Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit at Lossiemouth in the September. Simon was then posted to 14 Squadron at RAF Bruggen, Germany. After completing a three year tour with 14 Squadron Simon was posted back to Lossiemouth as an Instructor Navigator on XV(R) Squadron where he has completed the Qualified Weapons Instructors Course. His daily Job involves the training of student Tornado Pilots and Navigators in all aspects of tactical flying, including bombing, strafe, air combat and evasion. Simon has over 1,300 flying hours of which 900 are on the Tornado GR1. Over the past six years whilst flying the Tornado, Simon has flown in many countries including Canada, USA, and many parts of Europe. He has also completed operational sorties in Northern and Southern Iraq operating from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and more recently Kuwait. Simon is 27 and lives in Elgin with his wife, Andrea. He enjoys most sports but is especially keen on rugby. The 2000 season will be Simon's first year as the Tornado GR1 display Navigator.