Oli was born in Nottingham and was educated at Nottingham High School, where he was a member of the RAF Section of the school CCF, often flying in the Chipmunk and Vigilant glider out of RAF Newton. Having gained both Sixth Form and Flying Scholarships from the RAF, he went on to read for a B.Eng (Hons) degree in Mechanical Engineering at Coventry University.
Whilst at university, Oli was an active member of the University of Birmingham Air Squadron (UBAS), where he flew the Scottish Aviation Bulldog training aircraft out of RAF Cosford. Due to defence cuts in the early 1990s (known as Options for Change), there was a significant reduction in the requirements for pilots in the RAF; as a result of this Oliver left university without a secured flying position. At the ripe age of 22, upon being declared ‘too old’ to commence RAF pilot training, Oli turned to a career in Engineering, working as a Design Engineer developing engine test beds for Rolls Royce in Derby. He later moved into the IT industry and, in 1999, moved to London to start a new career in Telecoms.
Having spent the last 25 years in London, he has worked for two major global communications companies, a Big 4 consultancy, the world’s largest satellite operator and a FTSE listed retail bank. More recently, Oli has changed career direction and in 2019 became a founding member of Scampton Holdings Limited, with the aim to acquire the former RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire and reinvent it as a centre for Aerospace, Defence, Education and Heritage. The battle to save Scampton has to date been long and torturous, but the fight to save our most famous bomber base goes on!
From an aviation perspective, Oli completed his Private Pilots Licence in the mid-90s and flew ex-RAF Bulldog aircraft before joining a syndicate at North Weald airfield in 2000 operating two ex-RAF Jet Provost aircraft (a T.Mk3 and a T.Mk5a) and an Aero Vodochody L29 eastern block jet trainer. Fast forward two decades and he now runs that group as a director and CAA Accountable Manager.
In 2008, Oli joined the Gnat Display Team as Manager of Ground Operations, which also afforded him the unique opportunity to undertake a fast jet conversion course to become a qualified pilot on the Gnat. Today, he is a Trustee of The Heritage Aircraft Trust, in addition to being a Director and Accountable Manager for the Trust’s own CAA-approved engineering organisation.
In 2012 he decided to broaden his aviation education and became an FAA Commercial multi-engine pilot and completed an FAA Instrument Rating on the Diamond DA42 Twinstar. Having always had more than a passing interest in flying helicopters, in 2022, Oli finally decided to scratch that rotary itch and gained his PPL-H on the mighty Robinson.
As wisdom and age has slowly caught up with him, Oli has finally seen the light and has fully embraced vintage flying, with a part share in a Chipmunk and a love of flying his delightful little Auster J1 Autocrat out of Fenland Airfield.
Amongst other aviation and heritage-related interests, Oli sits on the Working Groups for both Heritage and Airfields for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Aviation (APPG-A). He is also CAA Accountable Manager for Fenland Airfield in what is left of his spare time.
Best Aviation Moment:
First Solo in the Folland Gnat in 2009. Closely followed by fast jet formation flying – Truly a sport of kings!