2010 HAWK T.MK.1/1A DISPLAY Manager

Flight Lieutenant Tom Sawle

Among other duties, the Hawk Display Manager is responsible for the smooth running of the display season. He coordinates the display diary and will attend most of the displays in the spare jet and also provide a live commentary at the venues. This year, the Hawk Display Manager is Flight Lieutenant Tom Sawle.

Flight Lieutenant Tom Sawle, aged 31 grew up on a family farm near St.Agnes in Cornwall and attended Truro School. During his school years Tom was a keen member of the Air Training Corps with whom he learnt to glide and at the age of 17 he gained RAF Flying and Sixth Form Scholarships which, with the aid of a scholarship from the Air League allowed him to qualify for his Private Pilots Licence.

Following A-levels, Tom spent four years studying for a Masters Degree in Physics at Imperial College London on an RAF University Bursary. During his time at university Tom completed his Elementary Flying Training on the Bulldog and Tutor aircraft as a member of the University of London Air Squadron, and in October 2001 joined the RAF to start Initial Officer Training at RAFC Cranwell. On completing Basic and Advanced Flying Training Tom was posted to the Tornado GR4 and after the Operational Conversion Unit he joined 14 Sqn at RAF Lossiemouth.

Over the next three and a half years Tom flew in support of Op Telic over Iraq as well as participating in exercises from Cyprus to Turkey and North America. Tom returned to RAF Valley in May 2009 to become a Qualified Flying Instructor on 208(R) Sqn and currently lives on Anglesey with his wife Susanna and a menagerie of pets.