Forum for residents of St Georges Park and Long Leys Road Lincoln

[john shipton]

Hope this is useful to people reading this web site and especially one of the local residents who lives on St Georges Park and is is a pilot from RAF Coningsby flying the European Fighter called the Typhoon...

NEWS ITEM for distribution

Squadron Leader Mike Baulkwill has many talents and as as well enjoying playing cricket, a keen skier, sailing, involved with vintage MG cars, he likes to fly the multi-operational Typhoon, now operating from RAF Coningsby.

Mike joined the Royal Air Force in 1991 after completing a B Eng Honours degree in Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Bristol. Following officer training, his first assignment was flying training on the Tucano piston aircraft at RAF Linton on Ouse.

He was awarded his wings in 1996, having completed Tactical Weapons Training at RAF Valley on the Hawk jet aircraft. He was then posted to RAF Wittering to convert to the Harrier GR7 and served on 20 (R) Squadron.

His overseas posting came later when he was posted to 3 (F) Squadron at RAF Laarbruch in Germany where he did a tour of duty.

Mike extended his career in the Royal Air Force to become a Qualfied Weapons Instructor with 20 (R) Squadron and later when after completing the course, was posted to No 1 (F) Squadron as a QWI. Further on and following this tour of duty he became an instructor for the Harrier Operational Conversion Unit with 20 (R) Squadron.

His experience led him to fly operational tours patrolling the Balkans and the No Fly Zone in Southern Iraq where he operated from HMS Illustrious.

In wanted to fly other aircraft, S/L Baulkwill was selected on a pilot exchange with the Royal Netherlands Air Force, where he learned to fly the F16 from Leeuwarden Airbase.

When returning back to the United Kingdom, Mike was then posted to be a Requirements Manager on the Typhoon Intergrated Project Team at the Defence Procurment Agency, in Bristol. He stayed at Bristol in this important position for two years and his career took a further leap when he was selected to fly the Typhoon, previously known as the Euro Fighter, on 11 Squadron based at RAF Coningsby. He is now the squadron's Executive Officer after being on secondment with the United States Airforce for two months.

Squadron Leader Mike Baulkwill will be talking about his experience of "Flying the Typhoon FGR4" at the next aviation lecture to be held at the Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre, near Lincoln, on Wednesday, 24th September, beginning at 7.30pm.

Admission is £4.00 for visitors which includes refreshments. It is free for members of the Friends of Metheringham Airfield and 106 Squadron.

For further information telephone 01526 378604.