You have read the title correct, this year's Grob Tutor display is a hero and a life saver. Based at RAF Wittering, Flight Lieutenant Bob Dewes is a qualified flying instructor on 115 Squadron (a squadron that Ted has flown with) teaching our future generation of front line pilots.
Leaving school at 16 years old, Bob went on to become an electronics apprentice at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Aberporth. He was inspired to join the RAF as a pilot whilst working with fast jets in the Cardigan ranges. It wasn't long until he his first posting with 10 squadron where Bob flew the VC10 airliner in an air transport role. He was also involved in air to air refuelling missions on operations over Iraq.
His next move was a posting and the role of flying instructor to the (UBAS) University of Birmingham Air Squadron at RAF Cosford in 2000. Bob spent 3 years teaching university students to fly the Bulldog and Grob Tutor which are training aircraft.
Bob went on to switch from planes to helicopters and was posted to 22 squadron at RAF Shawbury and then Search and Rescue Flight at Wattisham airfield flying the yellow Seaking helicopter.
During the 10 years at Wattisham Bob was involved in many rescues and completed 6 detachments to the Falklands Islands where on his last shift he was part of the crew that rescued 174 passengers from a burning cruise ship.
Following the disbandment of the Search and Rescue Force Bob returned to the Tutor on 16 Sqn before becoming an Exam Wing instructor and then a Grob 120TP Prefect instructor at RAF Cranwell. He then returned to 115 Sqn in 2023 where he applied to be the Tutor Display Pilot. Having joined the RAF at the age of 19 Bob has had the chance to fly most of the RAF training aircraft and has about 19 different aircraft types and around 8500hrs in his logbook.
The Grob 115E, known as the Tutor T Mark 1 in RAF service, was built and equipped especially for the RAF in Mattsies, Germany between 1999 and 2002. Originally equipping No 1 Elementary Flying Training School it replaced the Bulldog T1 in service with the RAF’s University Air Squadrons and Air Experience Flights. These moved to No 3 Flying Training School (3 FTS) before transferring to No 6 FTS at the advent of the new Military Flying Training Service. The role of 6 FTS is to provide a unique chance to sample RAF life and to attract ambitious and intelligent students into a career as an RAF officer. This does not mean you have to join the RAF, but the Squadrons do seek develop Air Power advocates in those who do not choose to go on to a career in the RAF. For those at University there are 15 University Air Squadrons across the UK all linked to nearby Universities. Those aged 12-17 can get involved in Flying, Gliding, Shooting, Adventurous Training and much more with over 1000 Air Cadet Squadrons and Combined Cadet Forces all over the UK. The Tutor is also used by 3 FTS to conduct Elementary Flying Training. Being easy to handle and fully aerobatic, the aircraft is excellent for teaching the basics of flight.
For display flying, the Tutor is not as powerful as purpose-built aerobatic display aircraft, however, this makes for an interesting and challenging display as 'energy' (a combination of speed and height) must be maintained between manoeuvres; only possible through smooth and precise handling by the pilot. The Tutor display will often begin with a dive from height in order to build up the speed necessary to perform its opening manoeuvres. It may not be the largest, loudest or fastest aircraft on the circuit, but this gives the pilot opportunity to show their skill and finesse. It is powered by one 180hp Textron Lycoming AE-360-B piston engine
The Grob Tutor T.Mk 1 is utilised by the Royal Air Force for University Air Squadron (UAS) elementary flying training and by the Fleet Air Arm and the Army Air Corps for flying grading. RAF Wittering is home to the remainder of 6 Flying Training School Units with 115 Squadron providing Tutor Qualified Flying Instructor Training, as well as the Tutor display team. As of March 2022, 16 Squadron became the 6 FTS Standards and Evaluation Squadron.
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Негізгі бет RAF WITTERING'S HERO PILOT DEMONSTRATES SKILLS WITH GROB TUTOR DISPLAY EASTBOURNE AIRSHOW 2024
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