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NATO is a part of my DNA // Humans of NATO Days

The display of the F-35B Lightning aircraft of the Royal Air Force at the NATO Days in Ostrava & the Czech Air Force Days was the first ever of the variant on the European continent. In the cockpit of the plane sat Tim Flatman, Commander of 207 Squadron based in RAF Marham. The Squadron is the Operational Conversion Unit for UK Lightning which contains a joint workforce of Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. 
Commander Tim Flatman has been in the Navy for 26 years, originally wanting to fly helicopters. But how did he get into the armed forces and what does he enjoy most about flying? And what is it like to land an airplane on an aircraft carrier?

How did you get into flying? 
I got into flying through an interest in gliding. So I did that when I was 16 years old, and I kind of never looked back. I joined the Navy initially to fly helicopters, but I was selected to go fast jets about halfway through my basic training. I was asked if I wanted to do it, and I said yes. I spent most of my 26 years flying jets. The first ten years I was flying Sea Harriers and then Harriers GR7s. During the first part of my career, I spent a bit of time flying Hawk T1, which is a small training aircraft, and I'll be flying the F-35 now for about two and a half years.

What is the thing that you admire about flying? 
I think the reasons for enjoying flying change over time. Initially it's all about just getting airborne and the pure joy of flying and being in the sky. After a while, that does change. And certainly flying something like the F-35, the challenge and the joy is the operating. It's a challenge every single day to be the best pilot that you can be. The F-35 is probably the most challenging aircraft I've flown in that sense. I get a tremendous sense of satisfaction out of that and also out of instructing the student pilots, because that is our main role on 207 Squadron. The other thing that I enjoy about the kind of flying that we do, we fly to the aircraft carrier. That's one of the main reasons why the UK bought the F-35B variant – that it can perform short take off and vertical landing. The challenge of flying around the ship and taking off and landing on the aircraft carrier is a great challenge and one that I don't think I'll ever get bored of.

You said you enjoyed operating the F-35. Can you tell us more about it? 
The F-35, it's a 5th generation multi-role aircraft. So the range of mission sets that it can perform are very, very wide, very, very varied. Because of that, it is a challenging aircraft to stay competent and come to the flying state to stay good at. That's really the main reason. One day you could be doing an air to air mission, the next day you could be doing an air to surface or you could find yourself doing a combination of the two things. So really, that's the joy, the challenge of this aircraft is just that it's so varied. Aircraft I've flown before have either been air to air or air to surface. This is both and more as well. So that's kind of the challenge, I think, with the F-35, and that's where you get your job satisfaction. For me, anyway.

How was it landing on an aircraft carrier for the first time? 
It is absolutely terrifying. The first time you do it at night it is really, really terrifying. And that kind of never goes away. But certainly flying the F-35 to the carrier is much more user friendly than it was when I was flying Sea Harriers and GR7 Harriers. We've invented an aircraft that is essentially easier to fly if not to operate, but certainly to fly. And landing on the carrier - I don't think it will ever get boring. 

How is it flying the F-35 here in Ostrava?
It's been a fantastic weekend. I've really enjoyed it. Even though the display was quite short. But we were very keen to demonstrate the capability of the F-35B in the air, which is clearly the ability to hover. We would love to come back and do it again some time. But certainly this weekend has been great. The weather's been fantastic, we've had a great time. The team have enjoyed themselves, so it's just nice to be here in the Czech Republic. 

What does NATO mean for you? 
NATO's always been a part of my life ever since I joined the Navy back in 1997. I think these days, for obvious reasons, it's become a lot more important. And so it's just about the sense of partnership. We've always worked with our NATO partners and allies. I've spent many exercises, many operations working with NATO. So it's just part of my DNA. And so I really just feel completely natural to be here in the Czech Republic working with our NATO partners again. 

What does pushing the limits mean for you?
Pushing the limits can be many things for me. I suppose that means operating the aircraft to its absolute limit and to try and develop and discover what new capabilities the aircraft is capable of, and what the team is capable of delivering. With the F-35 it's a constant voyage of discovery because the aircraft is capable of so much. So I think it feels to me like pushing the borders, pushing the limits is something that we do on a daily and on a weekly basis with the F-35. 

What does a typical workday look like for you?
A typical workday for me on the squadron, a good day will be one or maybe two flights. Usually one. And very little in terms of emails or admin, if I can get away with doing none of that in a day, that's great. But certainly any day that I get to go flying is a good day. But my role is a lot broader than that. So there are many things that I have that keep my interest as the OC that I enjoy. 

Do you have any advice that you would give to someone who would want to follow in your footsteps, who would want to become a pilot?
I'd say for anyone that wants to do it, absolutely go for it. Do it. Don't be put off. Don't think that it's something that only a few people can do. If it's your dream, then you absolutely have to follow that. Try and don't give up until someone tells you no.