The RAF Tucano will be displaying on Saturday 1st September at 5:10pm with Flight Lieutenant Jon Bond “Bondy” at the controls. Bondy, 27, grew up in Epping, Essex and is the elder of 2 children. He was educated at Chigwell School, Essex and later went onto gain a BSc and MSc at Loughborough University. Jon’s interest in aviation started at an early age and at University he joined the East Midlands Universities Air Squadron and completed Elementary Flying Training on the Grob Tutor at RAF Cranwell in 2005.

Following Initial Officer Training in 2007 he was streamed Fast-Jets and posted to RAF Linton on Ouse to undertake Basic Fast Jet Training on the Tucano. He completed Basic Fast Jet Training in 2008 with 207 (R) Sqn, graduating and receiving his Wings with HRH Prince William in March 2008. He then moved to 208(R) Sqn, RAF Valley, to undertake Advanced Flying Training (AFT) on the Hawk T1.

In December 2008, he successfully completed AFT and was selected to return to RAF Linton-on-Ouse, to become a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI). This continued a long RAF tradition of selecting a small number of graduating trainees for this role. This selection process is known as being “creamed off”, giving rise to the rather unusual title of “creamie” instructor. Jon graduated as a QFI on the Tucano in May 2009 and began instructing Basic Fast Jet Trainees on 207 (R) Sqn. In Jan 11 he was awarded his A2 QFI category and was posted to the Central Flying School (Tucano) Flight where he taught new Tucano Instructors before being selected to be the Tucano Display Pilot for 2012.
Bondy’s next posting will be to 4(R) Sqn at RAF Valley to complete Tactical Weapons Training on the Hawk T2, before progressing to a front-line squadron. In the future he hopes to fly the Typhoon.