The Royal Air Force (RAF) Tutor Display Team has released an exciting schedule for its 2024 season, which promises to be full of thrilling aerial displays. The team has also announced that Flight Lieutenant Bob Dewes will be taking over as the new display pilot for the 2024 season, replacing Flight Lieutenant David-John Gibbs, who was the pilot for the 2023/2024 season.

Bob, who is a highly experienced and skilled Qualified Flying Instructor stationed at RAF Wittering's 115 Squadron, has been chosen to fly the RAF Tutor Display for the 2024 season. He is well-known for his exceptional flying skills, and his selection as the new display pilot has been met with great excitement and anticipation.

The RAF Tutor Display Team's first display of the season is set to take place at the Midlands Air Festival, which will be held from 31st May to 02nd June. The team is looking forward to showcasing their skills and thrilling the crowds with their mesmerizing aerial displays. Spectators can look forward to an action-packed show, featuring a range of exciting maneuvers and stunts that will leave them on the edge of their seats.

Flt Lt Bob Dewes 2024 Display Pilot

Born and raised in Carmarthen, South Wales, Bob's passion for aviation began at a young age. He was a member of the 621 Squadron Air Training Corps before joining the RAF. Bob left school at 16 and started working as an electronics apprentice at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Aberporth. During his apprenticeship, he had the opportunity to work with fast jets in the Cardigan ranges, which inspired him to pursue a career as a pilot.

Bob's first posting was to 10 Squadron, where he flew the VC10 airliner. He was deployed globally in the air transport role and as an air-to-air refueling tanker on operations over Iraq. During his time with the squadron, Bob proved to be an exceptional pilot and quickly gained a reputation for his professionalism and skill.

In 2000, Bob was posted to the University of Birmingham Air Squadron at RAF Cosford, where he spent three years teaching university students how to fly the Bulldog and Tutor training aircraft. He then chose to fly helicopters at RAF Shawbury and was posted to 22 Squadron, Search and Rescue Flight at Wattisham airfield in Suffolk, where he flew the yellow Seaking helicopter.

During his ten years at Wattisham, Bob was involved in many rescues and completed six detachments to the Falklands Islands. On his last shift, he was part of the crew that rescued 174 passengers from a burning cruise ship. His bravery and skill were recognized, and he was awarded the Air Force Cross for his role in the operation.

Following the disbandment of the Search and Rescue Force, Bob returned to the Tutor on 16 Squadron before becoming an Exam Wing instructor and then a Grob 120TP Prefect instructor at RAF Cranwell. He returned to 115 Squadron in 2023 and applied to become the Tutor Display Pilot.

Having joined the RAF at the age of 19, Bob has had the chance to fly most of the RAF's training aircraft. He has approximately 19 different aircraft types and around 8500 hours in his logbook. His vast experience and exceptional skills make him the perfect choice for the 2024 RAF Tutor Display.

RAF Tutor Display Team 2024 Schedule

May

• 31st - ​Midlands Air Festival, Ragley Hall, Warwickshire

June

• 01st/02nd - ​Midlands Air Festival, Ragley Hall, Warwickshire

• 09th - RAF Cosford Air Show, Shropshire

• 22nd - Northern Ireland Armed Forces Day, Jordanstown, Newtownabbey

• 29th/30th - North East Lincolnshire Armed Forces Weekend, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire

July

• 06th/07th - Wales Airshow, Swansea

• 13th/14th - Southport Airshow, Lancashire

• 25th - RAF Honington Families Day, Suffolk August

August

• 09th - RAF Odiham Families Day, Hampshire

• 16th/18th - Airbourne, Eastbourne International Airshow, East Sussex

• 21st - RAF Syerston - National Air & Space Camp, Nottinghamshire

• 22nd/23rd - Clacton Airshow, Essex

• 29th/31st - Bournemouth Air Festival, Dorset

September

• 07th/08th - Northern Ireland International Airshow, Portrush, Coleraine

• 14th/15th - IWM Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow, Cambridgeshire