Squadron Leader Ben Polwin
Ben started flying as an Air Cadet in West Sussex before completing an RAF flying Scholarship and gaining his pilot’ s licence when he was 18. He joined the RAF in 2003 as a‘ direct entrant’ and after flying training served on IX( B) Sqn at RAF Marham flying Tornado GR4 on multiple operations and exercises around the world including Operation Herrick in Afghanistan and Operation Ellamy in Libya. In 2011 Ben was posted to RAF Valley to instruct on the Hawk T2 where he became an A2 QFI and was lucky enough to lead the Hawk T2 Role Demo for the 2015 display season. In 2016 Ben spent 2 years in the USA flying F / A-18 Hornets with the US Navy before returning to fly the Typhoon at RAF Coningsby. On promotion to Sqn Ldr, Ben was posted to 29 Sqn to instruct the next generation of Typhoon pilots and also completed a tour as Officer Commanding 1435 Flt in the Falkland Islands. After 3 years out of the cockpit in London, Ben joined BBMF in July 2025 as the next Operations Officer and Fighter Pilot.
Such is his passion for aviation, Ben spent 5 years building his own aircraft at home. In 2023 he completed his Van’ s RV-7 aircraft and now flies it extensively all over the UK with his wife Sophie, a 787 pilot. Now also a civilian flying instructor, Ben spends all his spare time flying his aircraft either for a quick aerobatic trip, touring adventures with his wife or any formation opportunities that present themselves. Most notably they started competing in the British Air Racing Championship. In 2024 they won the revived Schneider Trophy and more recently won the King’ s Cup and the 2025 British Air Racing Championship.