Pilot Careers
I Get Paid for This…
Seb Davey RAF QFI Seb Davey flies one of the only two remaining airworthy Lancasters in the world. Interview by Yayeri van Baarsen
How did you get into flying?
When I was 11, I visited my French grandparents for the summer. I was handed over to the flight attendants on the BAC One-Eleven who took pity on me and asked if I wanted to see the flight deck. I stayed in the cockpit that entire flight from Manchester to Lyon and was even given a headset. That’s when I decided I wanted to become a pilot. Back in the UK, I joined the Air Cadets. Tell us about your job?
Next to my primary role as a QFI on the Flying CV Atlas A400M at RAF Brize Norton, on Seb Davey flies the Lancaster and summer weekends I’m a BBMF display pilot Dakota for the RAF Battle of Britain at RAF Coningsby. Instructing brings Memorial Flight, and instructs on the Atlas variety. One day I teach theory in the Started current job 2013 classroom, the next I’m in the simulator Now flying Avro Lancaster B Mk1 PA474, flying with night goggles, in the circuit doing Douglas Dakota C Mk3, Airbus A400M Atlas Favourite aircraft “Concorde. It’s just an take-offs and landings, or on my way to absolutely beautiful aircraft. I also like the Cyprus on a long-haul flight. Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster for what Compared to the technologically very they represent and how they sound.” advanced Atlas, the Lancaster and Dakota, Hours at job start Approx. 3,400 Hours now Approx. 5,000 which I fly in my secondary role, are very different. The Lancaster is also fly-by-wire, but in the sense that there’s an actual wire between the control column and the ailerons. As it’s quite heavy, What’s been your favourite flight? you have to fly it very accurately. We want to preserve these My first operational airdrop in Afghanistan in 2006. This flight aircraft for as long as possible, which means treating them very was a culmination of everything I’d trained for in my life – flying carefully and not pulling more than 1.8g. at night in a combat zone, and dropping equipment to our soldiers Flying something as iconic as the Lancaster is way more than a on the ground. It was the heaviest ever airdrop from a British C130J. rare opportunity, it’s also an absolute honour and privilege to The aircraft was so sluggish on take-off, but when we rolled out follow in the footsteps of the guys who did so much for Europe. the 16.8 tonnes load at 3,000ft, it turned into a total sports car! For me, even better than the flying, is getting to meet the veterans. The pilots who flew these aircraft operationally during And your favourite airfield? WWII and suffered terrible losses, are my heroes. They’re now in RAF Lyneham, my first operational base and home of the their mid-90s, shuffling up to the Lancaster with their sticks and Hercules. It was such a friendly place, with everyone working zimmer frames. However, as soon as they touch her, the aids are towards the same goal and a feeling of camaraderie. It closed in thrown away and they’re 21 again, which is beautiful to see. 2012 and, like all others who were based there, I miss it a lot.
“I qualified as a Lancaster Captain by landing her while on fire!”
What training did you have?
Starting as a Reserve in 1995, in 1999 I joined the regular RAF and became a military pilot. In 2013, I was lucky enough to be taken on by BBMF, where I started training on the Dakota. After six months as a Dakota Captain, you become a co-pilot on the Lancaster, which means you get to do flypasts and transits. Then after two years, you become a Lancaster Captain and also do take-offs, landings and displays. On my qualification flight for command in 2015 the aircraft suffered a non-extinguishing engine fire, luckily I’d already done everything needed to qualify in the sortie, so I qualified as a Lancaster Captain by landing her while on fire! 18 | FLYER | May 2021
Do you get to fly much outside work?
No, I do have an ATPL, but I’ve hardly done any civilian flying with it. Since I get to fly VFR with the BBMF and both VFR and IFR in the Atlas, there’s not much need for GA-style flying outside of work. What’s your most valuable career advice?
If you don’t ask, you don’t get. No one is going to say: “Want to become a pilot? Here’s a great job!” You have to know what you want and do your best to get there. This includes pushing yourself, putting yourself forward for things that you might feel are too difficult – and asking cheeky questions.
