John Dodd
John Dodd
Spitfire Pilot & Instructor
About John
John developed his passion for old aeroplanes during his time at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough
He started flying Chipmunks, Tiger Moths, the Tipsy Nipper and the mighty DC-3. After two-and-a-half years, the urge to fly full-time was too much. So he left Farnborough to live in Germany and fly for a parachute centre.
After 2 years, 700 hours on turbine Islanders, 40 parachute jumps and a logbook full of adventures, he returned to the UK to fly low-level operations for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency. He then went on to the Boeing 737 with British Midland International.
Over the past 12 years, John has been flying for various operators of classic aircraft, as well as his own Pitts Special. He’s now part-time with British Airways and spends the rest of his time flying for operators of classic prop and jet aircraft. In his words, he’s “living his own dream!”
John flies the Chipmunk, Harvard and Spitfire for the Academy, and also instructs and displays the Spitfire.
