David Harrison (RAF officer)
Encyclopedia
Air Commodore
David Harrison, BSc
RAF
, is a retired RAF
Officer and former Commandant
of the Air Cadet Organisation
(ACO).
just outside Derby
and went on to complete a BSc (Hons) degree in Geography at Liverpool University.
. Following flying training, he was posted to fly the Phantom FGR2, became a Qualified Weapons Instructor and flew over 2,000 hours on the aircraft. On promotion to squadron leader
, he was a Flight Commander on 19 (F) Sqn in Germany before serving in the Falkland Islands
as Commanding Officer
of No. 1435 Flight
. In 1990, he completed Staff College with the Royal Navy
at Greenwich
and was then posted as Personal Staff Officer to the Air Officer Commanding
No 11 Group
.
On promotion to Wing Commander
, he completed two short staff tours in the DIS and back at 11 Group before converting to the Tornado F3 and taking command as OC Operations Wing at RAF Coningsby
. During his time at Coningsby he also spent 2 seasons as a display pilot with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
, flying the Spitfire
and Hurricane
accumulating over 100 hours on both types.
In April 1999, following promotion to Group Captain
he was posted to the Training Group Defence Agency
to lead "Project 08 – A Strategic Study into Future Flying Training". After completion of the Study he went on to develop the outline requirement for the procurement programme to deliver future flying training for the RAF – the UK Military Flying Training System. Group Captain Harrison then became Group Captain Flying Training within the Training Group Defence Agency
, with oversight of the majority of the flying training system for Royal Navy, Army and RAF pilot
s and aircrew
. During this period he also completed the Higher Command and Staff Course at JSCSC Shrivenham. He took up post as Station Commander at RAF Linton-on-Ouse
in December 2002, having converted to the Tucano
and completed training to become a Qualified Flying Instructor.
Before taking up his position as Commandant Air Cadets
, Air Cdre Harrison completed a 6-month OOA deployment based in Qatar as the UK Air Component Commander for the RAF's air operations in Iraq
, the Gulf area and Afghanistan
.
in July 2005 and retired from the RAF in October 2006 to train civilian pilots for CTC Aviation Training in New Zealand, where he has taken up the position of Chief Flying Instructor on the multi engine fleet.
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
David Harrison, BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, is a retired RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Officer and former Commandant
Commandant Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets is the title given to the Royal Air Force officer who is responsible for running the Air Cadet Organisation, embracing the Air Training Corps and the RAF Sections of the Combined Cadet Force...
of the Air Cadet Organisation
Air Cadet Organisation
The Air Cadet Organisation is the collective name for the UK cadet forces sponsored by the Royal Air Force. The organisation is subordinate to No. 22 Group RAF, with a serving RAF officer as Commandant Air Cadets. The current Commandant is Air Commodore Barbara Cooper CBE...
(ACO).
Early life
Air Cdre Harrison was educated at John Port SchoolJohn Port School
John Port Specialist Technology, Mathematics and Computing College is a very large academy in the village of Etwall, Derbyshire, England.-Admissions:...
just outside Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
and went on to complete a BSc (Hons) degree in Geography at Liverpool University.
Military career
He joined the RAF in 1977 having completed 3 years as a VR member of Liverpool University Air SquadronUniversity Air Squadron
University Air Squadrons are training units of the Royal Air Force which primarily provide basic flying training, force development and adventurous training to undergraduate students at British universities...
. Following flying training, he was posted to fly the Phantom FGR2, became a Qualified Weapons Instructor and flew over 2,000 hours on the aircraft. On promotion to squadron leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
, he was a Flight Commander on 19 (F) Sqn in Germany before serving in the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
as Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of No. 1435 Flight
No. 1435 Flight RAF
No. 1435 Flight is a Eurofighter Typhoon unit of the Royal Air Force, based at RAF Mount Pleasant, providing air defence for the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.During the Second World War, No...
. In 1990, he completed Staff College with the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
at Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
and was then posted as Personal Staff Officer to the Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group...
No 11 Group
No. 11 Group RAF
No. 11 Group was a group in the Royal Air Force for various periods in the 20th century, finally disbanding in 1996. Its most famous service was during 1940 when it defended London and the south-east against the attacks of the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.-First World War:No. 11 Group was...
.
On promotion to Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
, he completed two short staff tours in the DIS and back at 11 Group before converting to the Tornado F3 and taking command as OC Operations Wing at RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby , is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. It has been commanded by Group Captain Martin Sampson since 10 December 2010.-Operational units:...
. During his time at Coningsby he also spent 2 seasons as a display pilot with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is a Royal Air Force flight which provides an aerial display group comprising an Avro Lancaster, a Supermarine Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane...
, flying the Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
and Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
accumulating over 100 hours on both types.
In April 1999, following promotion to Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
he was posted to the Training Group Defence Agency
Training Group RAF
Training Group of the Royal Air Force was the group that controlled the stations of Personnel and Training Command.- History :It was formed on 1 April 1994 from the AOC Training Units with Personnel and Training Command its controlling formation. On 30 October 2006, Training Group was renamed as...
to lead "Project 08 – A Strategic Study into Future Flying Training". After completion of the Study he went on to develop the outline requirement for the procurement programme to deliver future flying training for the RAF – the UK Military Flying Training System. Group Captain Harrison then became Group Captain Flying Training within the Training Group Defence Agency
Training Group RAF
Training Group of the Royal Air Force was the group that controlled the stations of Personnel and Training Command.- History :It was formed on 1 April 1994 from the AOC Training Units with Personnel and Training Command its controlling formation. On 30 October 2006, Training Group was renamed as...
, with oversight of the majority of the flying training system for Royal Navy, Army and RAF pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
s and aircrew
Aircrew
Aircrew are the personnel who operate an aircraft while in flight. The composition of the crew depends on the type of aircraft as well as the purpose of the flight.-Civilian:*Aviator** Pilot-in-command** First officer** Second officer** Third officer...
. During this period he also completed the Higher Command and Staff Course at JSCSC Shrivenham. He took up post as Station Commander at RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Linton-on-Ouse is a Royal Air Force station at Linton-on-Ouse near York in Yorkshire, England. It is currently a major flying training centre, one of the RAF's busiest airfields...
in December 2002, having converted to the Tucano
Short Tucano
|-See also:-External links:*...
and completed training to become a Qualified Flying Instructor.
Before taking up his position as Commandant Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets is the title given to the Royal Air Force officer who is responsible for running the Air Cadet Organisation, embracing the Air Training Corps and the RAF Sections of the Combined Cadet Force...
, Air Cdre Harrison completed a 6-month OOA deployment based in Qatar as the UK Air Component Commander for the RAF's air operations in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, the Gulf area and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
Commandant Air Cadets and post military career
Air Commodore Harrison was appointed Commandant Air CadetsCommandant Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets is the title given to the Royal Air Force officer who is responsible for running the Air Cadet Organisation, embracing the Air Training Corps and the RAF Sections of the Combined Cadet Force...
in July 2005 and retired from the RAF in October 2006 to train civilian pilots for CTC Aviation Training in New Zealand, where he has taken up the position of Chief Flying Instructor on the multi engine fleet.