Howard has been involved in the historic aircraft world for more than 30 years although his career was in running and building sports and leisure centres, writing funding bids and running large events. This was after service with the Parachute Regiment – so the only service aircraft he flew in he always jumped out of! Howard’s working with historic aircraft started in 1989 when he joined the Messerschmitt 109 “Black 6” team and learned the ways of flying vintage biplanes with the Tiger Moths of the Cambridge Flying Group. He later “moved up” to fly Harvards
Howard became Display Director of the Rougham Air Display to learn the ropes in the display world before becoming a Display Pilot himself. After nine years with Black 6 Howard joined the Historic Aircraft Collection and later Vintage Wings of Canada.
He has flown many types including the Spitfire Mk.V Hurricane Mk.XII and Mk.IV, P51 Mustang, P40 Kittyhawk, Feiseler Storch and at the time he was the only person in the world flying historic fighters that was not a professional pilot, engineer or owner. A self-confessed Hawker devotee he has displayed the Hurricane and Nimrod II. He also flew the Hurricane in France and Malta during the Merlins Over Malta commemorations and has led the Little Diamond, Red Sparrows, and Four Chip Formation Teams.
Howard is Honorary Commander of the 493rd Fighter Squadron US Air Force “the Grim Reapers”, callsign “Magnum” (it’s the moustache!) and has flown the F15 Eagle
Howard has for years been instructing pilots for their initial and renewal Display Authorisations. Howard also has an MA History from the University of Birmingham, is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and is a Liveryman of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots. For years he knew many of the greats of aviation history – from Erich Hartmann to Eric “Winkle” Brown. He writes articles for Pilot, Flypast and the German Klassiker magazines (and for the HAA website and Facebook sites) and when not around the world of historic aircraft he is a lecturer on cruise ships and is a 3rd Dan Black Belt and Kendo instructor.