The Pilots

Including the five full-time display pilots, there are eight ex-RAF, fully-qualified commercial pilots who fly passengers during The Blades' corporate flying events.

The eight Blades’ pilots have two OBEs, a Distinguished Flying Cross and a ‘Mentioned in Dispatches’ between them. With over 20,000 hours of military flying between them, their heritage is outstanding. Two of them commanded RAF Harrier Squadrons in the most exacting of circumstances (in Iraq and Afghanistan) and one of them led the Red Arrows. Six of the Blades were Harrier pilots, two were Jaguar pilots, all were RAF instructors and Blades 1 to 4 are all former Red Arrow pilots.

The Support Team

Meet the team behind the scenes!

Display Flying

An exclusive interview with Blade 1...

Corporate Events

Fly with us!

Blade 1 Myles Garland

Myles Garland (37) is the new Blades leader for 2009. Educated at St. Boniface’s College, Devon, Myles developed a keen interest in aviation at an early age and was subsequently awarded a Royal Air Force Flying Scholarship. He joined the Royal Air Force immediately after completing his A-levels. After flying training on both the Jet Provost and the Hawk, Myles’ operational career began on the Harrier GR7. He was posted to No1 (Fighter) Squadron based at RAF Wittering and took part in exercises all over the world. In 1997 he embarked onto HMS Illustrious for the first Royal Air Force deployment on an aircraft carrier. Shortly after, his squadron were deployed to the Gulf onboard HMS Invincible during Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.

In 1999, as a Qualified Weapons Instructor on the Harrier, Myles took part in operations over the former Yugoslavia where he was ‘Mentioned in Dispatches’ for gallantry. On completion of his first operational tour, Myles was posted to instructional duties, teaching weaponeering and tactics.

In 2000, Myles successfully applied to join the Red Arrows and flew with them for the 2000-2002 display seasons. During this time, Myles was promoted to Squadron Leader at the early age of 29 and was chosen to fly as part of the famous ‘Syncho Pair’.

On leaving the Red Arrows Myles returned to operational front-line duties on the Harrier as a flight commander then Deputy Squadron Commander on No 3 (Fighter) Squadron based at RAF Cottesmore. In 2005, Myles left the Royal Air Force with over 3,000 fast-jet flying hours and became one of the founding members of The Blades.

2009 is Myles’ fourth year with The Blades but his first year as Blade 1. During his time on the team he has flown in a number of positions. These have included two years as Blade 4, developing, inventing and performing the dynamic solo display manoeuvres.

“I really enjoy the challenge of leading The Blades.” said Myles: “Being the solo display pilot was immensely fun as well, but the responsibilities are completely different”.

Born in Vancouver, Myles now lives in Stamford and has two sons. His hobbies include every type of water sport especially windsurfing and he runs whenever he can.

Blade 2 Chris Carder

Chris was born in Saffron Walden, Essex and joined the RAF straight from school in 1983. He spent the next 22 years in continuous flying tours amassing over 5500 flying hours. After an initial tour flying the Canberra he became a Qualified Flying Instructor on the Hawk as well as displaying the aircraft for the 1991 season. Chris was then posted to the Jaguar single-seat ground attack and reconnaissance fighter and he spent 4 years on a front line attack squadron at RAF Coltishall followed by 3 years instructing on the Jaguar Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. He served operationally on peace-keeping duties in Northern Iraq and Bosnia as well as flying on exercises and operational trials work throughout Europe and North America. Whilst serving at Lossiemouth Chris was the 1999 RAF Jaguar display pilot, taking over the role from fellow Blade pilot Mark Cutmore.

In 1999 Chris fulfilled a long held ambition when he was fortunate enough to be selected for the Red Arrows and flew over 240 displays during the 2000-2002 seasons, flying as Red 4 in 2000 and Red 8 in 2001 and 2002. He flew on the team alongside Blade pilots Andy Offer, Myles Garland, Andy Evans and Mark Cutmore.

After leaving the team Chris went on to command a flying training school, before leaving the RAF to fly commercially as a long-haul airline pilot on the Airbus A340. He also flies and displays vintage Hawker Hunter jet fighters. Chris is in his first season with the Blades, flying as Blade 2. Chris is married to Louise and has two sons, Jake and Archie. In his spare time he enjoys running, cycling and skiing.

Blade 2 Dave Slow

Dave Slow – Blade 2 (39) is in his third year with The Blades, continuing to fly on the right-hand side of the formation as Blade 2. Born in Hitchin and educated at Hitchin Boys School, Dave’s interest in aviation began when studying agriculture at Reading University when he became a member of the Lasham Gliding Club. After graduating, Dave joined the Royal Air Force, carrying out his flying training on the Chipmunk, Tucano and Hawk.

After Tactical Weapons training Dave was selected to fly the Harrier and saw active service over Kosovo and Serbia. On completion of his first operational tour, Dave was posted to carry out instructional duties at RAF Valley on the Hawk aircraft before returning to the Harrier front line in 2001. Dave also became the RAF’s Harrier Display Pilot, demonstrating the aircraft’s awesome capability around the UK and Europe.

After successfully applying for the Red Arrows, Dave joined the team during their five-week tour of the Middle and Far East. Dave flew as Red 4 for his first two years and then moved to Red 8 for his final season, during which he had day-to-day responsibility for flying operations as the Squadron Executive Officer. Dave left the Royal Air Force in 2006 with over 3,000 fast jet flying hours, joining The Blades only two weeks after his last display with the Red Arrows.

“It’s a real privilege to be able to continue formation flying with such a professional team. The principles of formation flying are always the same but the Hawk has more momentum than the Extra and so is less affected by the bumps. In the Extra you have to work harder to keep the aircraft in its place and I’m flying manoeuvres that would snap the wings off a jet. I’m exposing myself to a completely new regime of flight in the Extra and joining The Blades has refreshed my love of flying.”

Dave lives in Lincolnshire with his wife Kerstie, their two young sons and their trusty black Labrador, George. He loves the outdoors, enjoying hill-walking, fell-running, mountain climbing and skiing in his rapidly diminishing spare time.

Blade 2 Andy Offer OBE – Director

Andy Offer (43) was born in Bishop’s Stortford and educated at St Edmund’s College, Ware. He dreamt of becoming a pilot from the early age of 10 and applied to join the Royal Air Force at the first opportunity.

By 22, Andy was a Qualified Flying Instructor and was already representing the Royal Air Force at public air shows by displaying the Jet Provost. Andy moved on to fly the Harrier and was based in Germany before returning to the UK to the Harrier Operational Conversion Unit as a Flying and Weapons Instructor. There he displayed the Harrier for the 1994 season.

With a wealth of display flying under his belt, Andy was in the perfect position to join the world-famous Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team: the Red Arrows. Flying as Reds 2, 4 and 8, Andy spent three years as a wingman before returning as Team Leader in 2000. As the Red Arrows’ Commanding Officer, he was responsible for maintaining the team’s exceptionally high standards and for promoting British excellence around the world. One of the Red Arrows’ youngest-ever team leaders, Andy was promoted to Wing Commander at the age of 35 and was awarded an OBE for his outstanding service.

After attending Military Staff College, Andy returned to the Harrier front-line after as Officer Commanding IV (Army Cooperation) Squadron, leading it on operations in Afghanistan in 2005 and 2006. He left the Royal Air Force to co-found The Blades.

With over 4,500 flying hours, Andy is one of the UK’s most experienced formation display pilots. He led The Blades for their first three seasons but has now decided to concentrate on the business development of the company. He will, however, be putting in guest appearances throughout 2009 as Blade 3.

“It has been a real challenge to hand over the reins as team leader, but also to learn how to fly as a wingman again. I haven’t flow as a formation pilot since my first tour with the Red Arrows and the skills required are quite different to those of a leader. It is the perfect solution to allow me to pursue my other goals at the same time as fulfilling my love of flying. It continues to be a privilege to work with a team of like-minded individuals, all striving for excellence.”

Andy lives in Lincolnshire with his wife Amanda and their four children. When he is not working, Andy enjoys skiing, swimming, golf, motorcycling and watching his boys play rugby.

Blade 2/3 Andy Evans

Andy Evans, Blade 2 or 3, is the 'ambidextrous' member of the team as he can fly on the either the right or left hand side of the box. The challenge of being a dual position Blades pilot means that Andy has to be able to fly the show perfectly from two different positions, something that even the Red Arrows do not do. This however affords The Blades the flexibility to allow one of their 5 pilots a well earned day off every now and again!

Having joined the RAF in 1985 through Yorkshire University Air Squadron, Andy was awarded his wings in 1989 and selected to be a Flying Instructor on the Hawk

Following his Tactical Weapons Training, Andy joined No 6 Squadron and subsequently No 41 (Fighter) Squadron on the Jaguar front line. He saw active service over Bosnia Herzegovina before being chosen to fly with the world famous Red Arrows.

With its stringent selection process the Red Arrows has some of the best pilots in the world and is renowned for its professionalism, precision and excellence. Andy flew with the Team between 1997 and 2000 as Red 2, 4 and 8 (on the right hand side) and was then the first Red Arrow pilot to be chosen to manage the Team as Red 10. The following year Andy was seconded to the Royal Saudi Air Force to be the Air Show Advisor to the Saudi Arabian National Aerobatic Team, The Saudi Hawks.

Returning from The Gulf, Andy left the RAF in 2006 to join 2Excel bringing his wealth of formation aerobatic experience to The Blades; he has over 4000 fast-jet flying hours including 9 years as a formation aerobatic pilot.

“The best thing about flying is the freedom to manoeuvre in three dimensions, the opportunity to travel and the knowledge that every flight can provide a new challenge. I love working with fellow professionals who share my passion for excellence and who have the same values.”

Andy is the proud owner of G-MLLE in which he commutes to Sywell from Cranwell where he lives with his wife Kate and his two children Milly and Nicholas.

Blade 4 Mark 'Cutty' Cutmore

Mark ‘Cutty’ Cutmore (39) was educated at Dartmouth School and Community College. Before deciding to pursue a career in the Royal Air Force, Cutty spent time working in his father’s butcher’s shop and a car garage as an apprentice.

After graduating from the Royal Air Force’s Initial Officer Training, Cutty originally trained as an Air Traffic Controller before applying to become a pilot. After completing flying training, Cutty was selected to fly the Jaguar aircraft. Based in Scotland, Cutty trained as an Electronic Warfare Instructor, seeing active service over ex-Yugoslavia. During his time as a Jaguar pilot, Cutty became a Qualified Weapons Instructor and helped to train new Jaguar pilots. He also represented the Royal Air Force as the Jaguar Display pilot.

Cutty joined the Red Arrows in 1999, flying as Reds 3, 5 and 9. In his final year he was appointed Squadron Executive Officer, second in command to Red 1, who coincidentally is now his current boss, Blades co-founder Andy Offer. After leaving the Red Arrows, Cutty undertook a staff appointment at the RAF’s Air Command, with responsibility for Jaguar Force training, before returning to the front line as a Flight Commander.

Cutty’s last role in the Royal Air Force was as Special Advisor to the Royal Saudi Air Force Aerobatic Team; The Saudi Hawks. As a position only open to ex Red Arrows pilots, he took over in Saudi Arabia from his current Blades team-mate, Andy Evans.

Cutty concluded his service with the Royal Air Force on his return to the UK and joined The Blades only a week later. In his second year on the team, Cutty now flies at the back of the formation as Blade 4 and has spent the winter perfecting the extreme manoeuvres expected of the team’s solo display pilot.

“My feet really haven’t had time to touch the ground. First I had to learn how to fly the Extra aircraft last year, and now I’m able to fly it in the most insane ways possible; it’s great!”

Cutty lives in Stamford with his wife Emma, their two daughters and a menagerie of animals including guinea pigs, chickens and a dog. During his spare time, Cutty enjoys running, horse racing and occasionally a spot of DIY.

Chris Norton OBE DFC - Director

Awarded his wings in 1988 Chris was selected to fly the RAF’s most challenging single seat aircraft, the GR7 Harrier. Having become a Qualified Weapons Instructor in 1993, Chris flew his first operational mission with No 1(F) Squadron in 1994 on Operation WARDEN in Northern Iraq to protect the Kurds from Saddam Hussein.

Chris was the Force’s first ab-initio junior pilot to become Combat Ready at night on the Harrier using its electro-optic systems (night vision goggles and forward-looking infra red) which made him a prime candidate to become an operational test and evaluation pilot at Boscombe Down on the Strike Attack Operational Evaluation Unit. From there he developed a wide variety of equipment, tactics and procedures to improve front-line operational capabilities. These included embarked operations on Invincible Class aircraft carriers, precision and medium-level weaponeering techniques, and tactical survival techniques against surface to air missile and gun systems.

In 1998, Chris returned to the front line as a Flight Commander on No 1 (F) Squadron during which time he led more than 40 missions over Kosovo and Serbia during Operation ALLIED FORCE and for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for leadership, decisiveness and moral courage under fire. Promoted to Wing Commander aged 35 Chris was appointed command of No 1 (F) Squadron in November 2001. He commanded the Squadron until 2004 including leading it in the war in Iraq in 2003 as part of Harrier Force South at Al Jabber in Kuwait.

In 2004 Chris moved to the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall providing strategic planning expertise and air power vision, first to the Air Staff and subsequently to all three Services in the Directorate of Force Development. He became an Officer of the British Empire in the 2005 New Year’s Honours list for his long devotion to duty to the front line.

Chris Margiotta

‘Mags’ grew up as part of an Air Force family and joined the RAF as soon as he left school in 1992. Selected to fly Harriers, he flew with No 3 (Fighter) Squadron and as the Qualified Weapons Instructor on No 1 (Fighter) Squadron. He flew on exercises in the USA, Canada, Oman, Norway, France, Germany and Spain and on Operations over Bosnia, Kosovo and Sierra Leone from the Aircraft Carrier HMS Illustrious. Chris flew as the Harrier Display Pilot throughout Europe and the Middle East during the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

In The Blades' first season Mags was the team's full time commentator drawing on his vast flying experince he set the precedent for The Blades. Mags now flies as a First Officer for BA on 757/767s.

Richard Mackintosh

“Kiwi” grew up on a farm just outside Wanganui, New Zealand and joined the Royal Air Force shortly after leaving school at the age of 19. After completing his initial training he was selected to fly the Harrier and went on to fly for both 3 (Fighter) Squadron and 4 (Army Corporation) Squadron in Germany. Kiwi amassed over 2000 hours flying the Harrier GR Marks 3, 5 and 7 and flew exercises all over Europe and other parts of the world including Iraq, Malaysia and the USA. His last tour was as a Weapon/Electronic Warfare Instructor on the Harrier Conversion unit at RAF Wittering, where he also displayed the Harrier for two years. Kiwi joined Virgin Atlantic Airways in 1998 starting on the 747-200 and later converted onto the newer 747-400 where he is now a Training Captain.