Captain Tim Flatman

Deputy Commander, Combat Air Force Royal Air Force

Tim Flatman joined BRNC in 1997, and upon completion of flying training served with both 800 and 801 NAS on the Sea Harrier FA2, embarking in both HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS INVINCIBLE. In 2005 he converted onto the GR7/9, and subsequently served with 3(F) Sqn and the newly reformed 800 NAS and the Naval Strike Wing. He completed 2 operational deployments in Afghanistan on OP HERRICK between 2005 and 2007, flying Close-Air Support missions in support of coalition forces. He also embarked in HMS ILLUSTRIOUS in this period. Following his front-line time he was appointed to RAF Valley as a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) on 19(F) Sqn instructing the Fast-Jet Tactics and Weapons course, as well as RAF Valley Senior Naval Officer upon promotion to Lt Cdr. In command he cut his teeth with Yeovilton Hawkdet Flight commander on completion of ACSC at JSCSC, before taking command of 736 NAS from April 2013 until December 2015, where he was responsible for delivery of the transition from a civilian contracted unit to a Naval Air Squadron. As OF4 he commanded the RN Fixed-Wing Force at RNAS Culdrose, comprising 736, 750, 727 and 700X NAS' as well as the wider RN FJ diaspora. Subsequently, he took command of 207 Squadron, the Lightning Operational Conversion Unit following conversion to the F-35B in 2020. As SO2 his staff appointments included 2 years at Wittering in the team charged with relocating then disbanding the Harrier Force, followed by a brief spell in HMS OCEAN as SO2 A3/5(FW) to COMUKTG during OP ELLAMY (Libya). Promotion to Cdr in 2016 was followed by an OPTOUR as Chief Air Coordination Element (ACE) for Combined Maritime Forces, Bahrain. On return to the UK he joined MOD MB as SO1 Maritime within the Carrier Enabled Power Projection area of FMC. Most recently on promotion to OF5 he was the Chief of Staff in the Defence Safety Authority. He lives in Cambridge but is a keen sailor whenever he can make it down to Gosport.