4000 hours for RNR Air Branch pilot
A Royal Naval Reserve Air Branch Pilot from Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton has clocked up 4000 military flying hours on the newly formed 736 Naval Air Squadron.
Lieutenant Commander Tim Taylor celebrated his record achievement with colleagues and friends by “attacking” Royal Navy warships who were participating in the weekly “Thursday War” off the Cornish coast. His British Aerospace Hawk T1 Jet was on a mission tasked to launch simulated air attacks on vessels from many nations operating with Flag Officer Sea Training, (FOST) out of Devonport near Plymouth.
Tim joined the Royal Air Force in 1986 and gained his wings in 1988 before starting his first of three operational tours flying the RAF Tornado F3 Air Defence Interceptor. In 1995 he was offered the opportunity of an “exchange tour” to the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm and the Sea Harrier (SHAR) FA2. Four years later, smitten with the versatility of arguably the world’s best fighter jet, Tim transferred and served on all three SHAR Naval Air Squadrons, 899, 800 and 801 achieving the role of Senior Pilot of 800 NAS before leaving the Fleet Air Arm in 2003.
Still hooked on flying naval jets, Tim joined the RNR Air Branch and continued to fly the SHAR until it was eventually taken out of service in 2006. A quick requalification to the Hawk followed and he continues to fly with the recently reformed 736 NAS, formerly Fleet Requirement and Direction Unit (FRADU) at RNAS Culdrose.
“I've had a brilliant career so far”, said Tim. “Flying fast jets with the Navy and RAF, has truly been an outstanding experience and I hold many fantastic memories. Landing back at Culdrose from a taxing mission, having completing 4000 hours, on a bright sunny day is quite magnificent.”
Outside the Military Tim has also flown over 4000 hours for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways and is now a training captain on the Falcon 900 business jet for TAG Aviation UK. He is also a qualified Hawker Hunter pilot carrying out MOD sponsored trial and evaluation work.