Ed Straw joined the RAF in 1986. After flying training, he flew search and rescue Sea King helicopters with both 202 Squadron in the UK and with 78 Squadron on detachments to the Falkland Islands.
Ed was the RAF Sea King display pilot for two years before becoming a qualified Helicopter Instructor at RAF Shawbury. He taught on the Wessex aircraft and then joined 203 Squadron at St Mawgan to instruct on the Sea King Operational Conversion Unit.
Ed was granted a long requested move to fixed wing aircraft in 1999. Given a choice of posting, he joined 8 Squadron to fly the E3D AWACS at RAF Waddington, and subsequently participated in both the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.
The E3D posting at RAF Waddington was chosen purely to be considered for the BBMF at nearby RAF Coningsby. In 2001, Ed achieved his lifetime’s ambition, and joined the BBMF to fly the Lancaster and Dakota aircraft. Ed spent 6 full seasons at BBMF, including the 50th anniversary season in 2007. Ed was instrumental in having the BBMF Lancaster painted as the Phantom of the Ruhr due to his great friendship with wartime captain Ron Clark DFC.
At the end of 2007, Ed joined the team at East Kirkby. At the same time, he left the RAF to become a long-haul airline pilot with Virgin Atlantic. He flew the Airbus A340 and A330 aircraft before converting to the Boeing 787 in 2015. Still a full time Boeing 787 Captain, Ed is flying to destinations all over the world. On The 65th anniversary of the Dambuster Raid, Ed taxied in Just Jane as Co-Pilot with legendary pilot and Dambuster Les Munro at the controls, which, despite being on the ground, Ed cites as the highlight of his flying career. Ed still loves taxiing the Lancaster and Mosquito here at East Kirkby.