Dave was born in Grimsby, U.K., in 1973. After a stint in the Air Cadets and as a reservist in the RAF Regiment, he joined the RAF proper in 1996. He was selected to fly helicopters, starting on Pumas in 1999. After a tour with 230 Sqn in Northern Ireland, Dave joined 33 Sqn in time for Iraqi Freedom and 2 other tours of Iraq in Basra and Baghdad.

Dave took a position on the survival school due to his wife's ill health (which was mostly an excuse for surfing) before transitioning to the Sea King in the SAR role at C Flt, 22 Sqn at RAF Valley, conducting approximately 200 missions. He joined the RCAF in 2013, flying Cormorant helicopters with 413 Sqn in Nova Scotia (SAR) and then to the conversion unit on Vancouver Island.

Ulcerative Colitis became a real issue along with the stress from above so he was forced to leave. Today Dave flies air ambulance for Helijet and ski patrols in his spare time.

Dave’s Instagram: Click Here