OMMANDER T J H GEDGE AFC ROYAL NAVY Tim Gedge started flying in Glasgow University Air Squadron and joined the Royal Navy in January 1963 aiming to fly fighter aircraft. He flew Sea Vixens and Phantoms from aircraft carriers during the 1960s and 70s before commanding the first operational Sea Harrier squadron in 1980. In 1982 he commanded a new Sea Harrier squadron for the Falklands War, initially flying from a converted merchant ship MV ATLANTIC CONVEYOR. Qualified both as a military and civilian Flying Instructor, an Instrument Rating Examiner and also as an Air Warfare Instructor he became a leading expert in air warfare. Other appointments included the frigate HMS JUPITER, the aviation officer at the Naval College Dartmouth and 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. Since the Falklands Conflict Tim Gedge has served in the Falkland Islands as the Deputy Senior Naval Officer and as Queens Harbour Master; in the Ministry of Defence, London on future combat aircraft; in the British Embassy Washington and as the aviator on the Staff of the seagoing NATO Striking Force. His active service career completed back in Whitehall and he retired from the RN in 1996. In 1997 he founded the Boat Building Academy Lyme Regis to offer intensive, practical training in boat building and related marine skills to men and women of all ages looking for a change of career. Courses last from a few days to ten months. This highly successful private enterprise has now trained over 350 people on the 10-month course plus over 1,000 on shorter courses. TOPICS: The Falklands Air War 1982 Naval Air War in the Falklands 1982 Life after aviation in boat building How the Boat Building Academy teaches boat building in Lyme Regis Air combat in jet fighter aircraft Naval aircraft carrier operations past present and future The use of STUFT (Ships Taken Up From Trade) in the Falklands war

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