Jo Salter
Encyclopedia
Joanna Mary Salter was Britain's
first female fast jet pilot
flying the Panavia Tornado
ground attack aircraft with 617 Squadron
, she later became an inspirational speaker.
at the age of 18 to be an Engineering Officer but she went on to train as a pilot
after the British government announced that women would be allowed to fly jet aircrtaft in 1992. As part of her engineering training she had studied at the Royal Military College of Science.
Salter was awarded her wings on 3 Apr 1992 and in August 1994 joined 617 Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth
in August 1994] as a Flight Lieutenant
, and was declared combat ready by the RAF on 21 February 1995. Salter was the first woman to be an operational Tornado pilot and she later flew from both Turkey and Saudi Arabia in protection of the No-fly zone
over Iraq
. Whilst flying ground attack Tornados, Salter started a MBA
course with the Open University
in 1996, being sponsored by the MoD
, she completed the course in 1999.
Following maternity leave Salter left the RAF in 2000 to become head of technical services with a IT infrastructure company.
and University Air Squadron cadets at the weekend. She married Robert Ashfield in January 1998 in Broughton
, Hampshire
. They have two daughters (born July 1998 and January 2002).
She has written two books: Energy - 52 ways to fire up your life and become an Energy Angel (Trafford Publishing
) and Energize (Hamlyn
, Jan 2009).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
first female fast jet 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...
flying the Panavia Tornado
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...
ground attack aircraft with 617 Squadron
No. 617 Squadron RAF
No. 617 Squadron is a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. It currently operates the Tornado GR4 in the ground attack and reconnaissance role...
, she later became an inspirational speaker.
Royal Air Force
Salter joined the Royal Air ForceRoyal 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...
at the age of 18 to be an Engineering Officer but she went on to train as a 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...
after the British government announced that women would be allowed to fly jet aircrtaft in 1992. As part of her engineering training she had studied at the Royal Military College of Science.
Salter was awarded her wings on 3 Apr 1992 and in August 1994 joined 617 Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth is a Royal Air Force station to the west of the town of Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. It is one of the RAF's biggest bases and is currently Britain's main base for Tornado GR4s. From 2013 the Northern QRA force of Typhoon F2 will relocate to Lossiemouth following the closure of...
in August 1994] as a Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
, and was declared combat ready by the RAF on 21 February 1995. Salter was the first woman to be an operational Tornado pilot and she later flew from both Turkey and Saudi Arabia in protection of the No-fly zone
No-fly zone
A no-fly zone is a territory or an area over which aircraft are not permitted to fly. Such zones are usually set up in a military context, somewhat like a demilitarized zone in the sky, and usually prohibit military aircraft of a belligerent nation from operating in the region.-Iraq,...
over 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....
. Whilst flying ground attack Tornados, Salter started a MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
course with the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
in 1996, being sponsored by the MoD
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
, she completed the course in 1999.
Following maternity leave Salter left the RAF in 2000 to become head of technical services with a IT infrastructure company.
Civilian career
Salter gives motivational talks, and trains ATCAir Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
and University Air Squadron cadets at the weekend. She married Robert Ashfield in January 1998 in Broughton
Broughton, Hampshire
Broughton is a village and civil parish in the Test Valley district of Hampshire, England, about ten miles north of Romsey. According to the 2001 census it has a population of 1,029. There is also a herd of water buffalo....
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. They have two daughters (born July 1998 and January 2002).
She has written two books: Energy - 52 ways to fire up your life and become an Energy Angel (Trafford Publishing
Trafford Publishing
Trafford Publishing is a publisher using print on demand technology, formerly based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and now based in Bloomington, Indiana, USA.-History:...
) and Energize (Hamlyn
Hamlyn (publishers)
Hamlyn is a UK publishing company founded by Paul Hamlyn in 1950 with an initial investment of £350. His desire was to create "fine books with the common touch" which remains the foundation of its commercial success...
, Jan 2009).