Squadron Leader Giles Croft
Crofty joined the RAF in 2002 and after fast jet flying training , he was selected for the Harrier . He joined 1 ( F ) Sqn at RAF Cottesmore in 2009 and deployed to Afghanistan on Op HERRICK shortly afterwards .
After the Harrier Force closed , he held on the BBMF from Feb 11 – Feb 12 , during which time he was converted onto the Chipmunk and also deployed on Op ELLAMY , acting as the UK ’ s fast jet liaison officer .
In 2012 Crofty converted to the Typhoon , joining XI Sqn after training . His time on XI Sqn included Quick Reaction Alert in the UK and Falklands , the Typhoon ’ s first Red Flag and deployment on Op LUMINOUS . In 2013 he became an instructor on the Hawk T2 at RAF Valley , then in 2015 he entered the Empire Test Pilots ’ School . After graduating top of his Test Pilot ( TP ) class , he returned to RAF Coningsby and joined 41 Test and Evaluation Sqn serving as both a Typhoon and Hawk TMk1 Test Pilot . Whilst serving as a Typhoon TP , he concurrently converted back onto the Hawk TMk1 to support the introduction of a new tabletbased navigation system . In 2019 he left the Typhoon Force and completed a Multi Engine conversion course prior to joining 206 Sqn as an ISTAR and training aircraft TP , flying Hawk , Phenom , Tutor and Prefect aircraft . He joined the BBMF in October 2021 as one of only three full-time pilots , and he is currently the Operations Officer for the flight .
Crofty lives near Cranwell with his wife and children . Outside of work they enjoy cycling , camping , walking Comet the dog and hiding from Betsy the cat .