Lt
McCall grew up in Redditch, Worcestershire. Leaving St Augustine's
High School aged 16, he signed a 2-year contract with Walsall FC before
leaving for sunnier climes, attending the University of North Florida.
There he gained a BA in Graphic Design whilst working hard to perfect
his tan. Joining the Royal Navy in April 1997 to commence officer training
and flying grading, he started basic fixed wing training at RAF Barkston
Heath flying the Firefly M260. Moving on to 705 NAS at RAF Shawbury,
he completed the basic rotary flying course on the Squirrel helicopter.
Lt McCall moved to 702 NAS at RNAS YEOVILTON in April 2000 to fly the
Lynx Mk3, receiving his 'Wings' and joining the 'front line' with 815
NAS in May 2001. Embarked on HMS EDINBURGH, he completed a South Atlantic
deployment before joining HMS GRAFTON as Flight Pilot in early 2002.
During this time he spent time in the Caribbean Sea, enjoying a very
successful period on Counter Drug Operations. On completion of Instrument
Rating Instructors Course he rejoined 702 NAS again in November 2003,
where he remained until rejoining RAF Shawbury in April 2005 for Qualified
Helicopter Instructor's course. Lt McCall is now back at 702 NAS where
he looks forward to a successful season as Black Cat Lead 2007.
Black 2 - LtCdr Lars Harpoeth
Lt Cdr Lars Harpoeth is from Copenhagen, Denmark and is serving with
the RN on a 3-year pilot exchange from the Royal Danish Navy. He
joined the Royal Danish Navy in 1993 for officer training and achieved
a ships master degree in 1996 at the Royal Danish Naval Academy.
After being commissioned as Lieutenant in 1998 he started basic fixed
wing-flying training at the Royal Danish Air Force Flying School
where he graduated top of his class in 1999. His intermediate and
advanced pilot training was completed in Pensacola Florida USA, where
he enjoyed the golden sands and flew the T-34C Turbo Mentor and TH-57
Jet Ranger before being awarded his wings in 2000. During pilot training
in the USA he achieved numerous awards and was selected for the “Commodores
List” for outstanding performance during fixed wing flying
training and later again for advanced helicopter-flying training.
He then joined the Royal Danish Naval Air Squadron and was converted
to the Navy Lynx helicopter flying from the THETIS class, mainly
in the North Atlantic conducting search and rescue missions during
deployments around Greenland, Faeroe Islands and Iceland, experiencing
small ships flying operations in severe weather conditions. After
several deployments as flight commander he joined the Royal Danish
Naval Academy for Staff course. In 2006 he joined 702 NAS as Exchange
Pilot and Instrument Rated Instructor. Lt Cdr Harpoeth was selected
for the Black Cats in 2007 where he looks forward to the challenge
of flying as Black 2 in the 2007 season.
Black 3 - Lt Simon Hilton
Lt Simon Hilton was born in Tavistock, and promptly spent his formative
years in a variety of places ranging from Gibraltar to Bracknell.
Having successfully escaped school at the earliest opportunity
he became an apprentice for BMW. Five years later he found himself
studying
Engineering at the University of Nottingham; additionally he joined
the Royal Naval Reserve. After tasting life on the ocean wave he
joined up full time in 1997. His aviation career started as a Sea
King Observer with 849 NAS conducting Airborne Early Warning, and
served on all 3 carriers and deployed to the Gulf, Med, Baltic
and Sierra Leone. A brief respite from aviation saw him complete
the
Staff Course before converting from Sea King to Lynx in 2002. Once
fully converted he joined 815 NAS to assume Flight Commander duties
with HMS SOMERSET. During this time he returned to the Gulf and
repeatedly deployed to the Adriatic and Med. At the latter stages
of this appointment
he managed the Flight transfer to HMS CORNWALL. On completion of
this Frontline tour, he became an Electronic Warfare Instructor
and a Qualified Observer Instructor now serving on 702 NAS. Married
to
Natalie, he lives in North Somerset and they share a barn conversion
with numerous unwelcome insects. A top-level exponent of Uckers
and a keen golfer; he represents the Fleet Air Arm at the latter.
Black 4 - Lt Craig Holliehead
Born and raised in Sussex, Craig Holliehead joined the Navy in January
2000 after graduating from the University of North Wales. He completed
the standard Lynx Pipeline training before going front line with
815 Squadron in early 2003. He served as the Flight Observer on
HMS NORFOLK, and HMS PORTLAND, which included a 6-month deployment
to the South Atlantic. His last front line appointment was on HMS
SUTHERLAND taking part in a multinational exercise off the West
African Coast. On returning to the UK he undertook the Qualified Observers Course
and is now working at 702 Squadron as a QOI teaching trainee Observers
in both the Lynx Mk 3 and Mk 8. When not flying he can usually
be found at the beach surfing.
Black 5 - Lt Simon Collins
Born
and raised in Surrey, Simon Collins joined the Royal Navy in September
1999 after graduating from the University of Portsmouth. Having completed
flying training on the Lynx MK 3 he deployed in HMS NOTTINGHAM to the
Far East for five months before returning to 815 Sqn to take over as
the Flight Observer HMS LIVERPOOL. Deploying operationally in 2003
to the Arabian Gulf, and subsequently to the Far East for a second
time, he completed his time in LIVERPOOL and joined 815 Sqn in the
Headquarters element in 2004. Later that year he took over as one of
the two Observers in HMS ENDURANCE, the Ice Patrol Ship, deploying
on two occasions to the Antarctic and South Georgia, conducting operations
in support of British Antarctic Survey, The Hydrographic Office and
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. On returning to the UK he undertook
the Qualified Observer Instructors Course and is now working at 702
Squadron, having converted to the Lynx MK 8 DSP, as an Instructor teaching
trainee Observers in both the Lynx Mk 3 and Mk 8 as well as conducting
NVG training. Married to Jenny, a Dentist, he can usually be found
out running or at home looking after his 6 month year old son.
To see the archived Team page for 2006, please click here.
Lt
McCall grew up in Redditch, Worcestershire. Leaving St Augustine's
High School aged 16, he signed a 2-year contract with Walsall FC before
leaving for sunnier climes, attending the University of North Florida.
There he gained a BA in Graphic Design whilst working hard to perfect
his tan. Joining the Royal Navy in April 1997 to commence officer training
and flying grading, he started basic fixed wing training at RAF Barkston
Heath flying the Firefly M260. Moving on to 705 NAS at RAF Shawbury,
he completed the basic rotary flying course on the Squirrel helicopter.
Lt McCall moved to 702 NAS at RNAS YEOVILTON in April 2000 to fly the
Lynx Mk3, receiving his 'Wings' and joining the 'front line' with 815
NAS in May 2001. Embarked on HMS EDINBURGH, he completed a South Atlantic
deployment before joining HMS GRAFTON as Flight Pilot in early 2002.
During this time he spent time in the Caribbean Sea, enjoying a very
successful period on Counter Drug Operations. On completion of Instrument
Rating Instructors Course he rejoined 702 NAS again in November 2003,
where he remained until rejoining RAF Shawbury in April 2005 for Qualified
Helicopter Instructor's course. Lt McCall is now back at 702 NAS where
he looks forward to a successful season as Black Cat Lead 2007.
Lt Cdr Lars Harpoeth is from Copenhagen, Denmark and is serving with
the RN on a 3-year pilot exchange from the Royal Danish Navy. He
joined the Royal Danish Navy in 1993 for officer training and achieved
a ships master degree in 1996 at the Royal Danish Naval Academy.
After being commissioned as Lieutenant in 1998 he started basic fixed
wing-flying training at the Royal Danish Air Force Flying School
where he graduated top of his class in 1999. His intermediate and
advanced pilot training was completed in Pensacola Florida USA, where
he enjoyed the golden sands and flew the T-34C Turbo Mentor and TH-57
Jet Ranger before being awarded his wings in 2000. During pilot training
in the USA he achieved numerous awards and was selected for the “Commodores
List” for outstanding performance during fixed wing flying
training and later again for advanced helicopter-flying training.
He then joined the Royal Danish Naval Air Squadron and was converted
to the Navy Lynx helicopter flying from the THETIS class, mainly
in the North Atlantic conducting search and rescue missions during
deployments around Greenland, Faeroe Islands and Iceland, experiencing
small ships flying operations in severe weather conditions. After
several deployments as flight commander he joined the Royal Danish
Naval Academy for Staff course. In 2006 he joined 702 NAS as Exchange
Pilot and Instrument Rated Instructor. Lt Cdr Harpoeth was selected
for the Black Cats in 2007 where he looks forward to the challenge
of flying as Black 2 in the 2007 season.
Lt Simon Hilton was born in Tavistock, and promptly spent his formative
years in a variety of places ranging from Gibraltar to Bracknell.
Having successfully escaped school at the earliest opportunity
he became an apprentice for BMW. Five years later he found himself
studying
Engineering at the University of Nottingham; additionally he joined
the Royal Naval Reserve. After tasting life on the ocean wave he
joined up full time in 1997. His aviation career started as a Sea
King Observer with 849 NAS conducting Airborne Early Warning, and
served on all 3 carriers and deployed to the Gulf, Med, Baltic
and Sierra Leone. A brief respite from aviation saw him complete
the
Staff Course before converting from Sea King to Lynx in 2002. Once
fully converted he joined 815 NAS to assume Flight Commander duties
with HMS SOMERSET. During this time he returned to the Gulf and
repeatedly deployed to the Adriatic and Med. At the latter stages
of this appointment
he managed the Flight transfer to HMS CORNWALL. On completion of
this Frontline tour, he became an Electronic Warfare Instructor
and a Qualified Observer Instructor now serving on 702 NAS. Married
to
Natalie, he lives in North Somerset and they share a barn conversion
with numerous unwelcome insects. A top-level exponent of Uckers
and a keen golfer; he represents the Fleet Air Arm at the latter.
Born and raised in Sussex, Craig Holliehead joined the Navy in January
2000 after graduating from the University of North Wales. He completed
the standard Lynx Pipeline training before going front line with
815 Squadron in early 2003. He served as the Flight Observer on
HMS NORFOLK, and HMS PORTLAND, which included a 6-month deployment
to the South Atlantic. His last front line appointment was on HMS
SUTHERLAND taking part in a multinational exercise off the West
African Coast. On returning to the UK he undertook the Qualified Observers Course
and is now working at 702 Squadron as a QOI teaching trainee Observers
in both the Lynx Mk 3 and Mk 8. When not flying he can usually
be found at the beach surfing.
Born
and raised in Surrey, Simon Collins joined the Royal Navy in September
1999 after graduating from the University of Portsmouth. Having completed
flying training on the Lynx MK 3 he deployed in HMS NOTTINGHAM to the
Far East for five months before returning to 815 Sqn to take over as
the Flight Observer HMS LIVERPOOL. Deploying operationally in 2003
to the Arabian Gulf, and subsequently to the Far East for a second
time, he completed his time in LIVERPOOL and joined 815 Sqn in the
Headquarters element in 2004. Later that year he took over as one of
the two Observers in HMS ENDURANCE, the Ice Patrol Ship, deploying
on two occasions to the Antarctic and South Georgia, conducting operations
in support of British Antarctic Survey, The Hydrographic Office and
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. On returning to the UK he undertook
the Qualified Observer Instructors Course and is now working at 702
Squadron, having converted to the Lynx MK 8 DSP, as an Instructor teaching
trainee Observers in both the Lynx Mk 3 and Mk 8 as well as conducting
NVG training. Married to Jenny, a Dentist, he can usually be found
out running or at home looking after his 6 month year old son.