(From HMS Pegasus Facebook page)
Three grading instructors from 727 Squadron have achieved something most aviators only ever dream about – building and flying their own aircraft.
Over the past year, Lt Cdr Dave Childs, former Lynx pilot Mark Jameson, and Capt (Civ) Tim Pearson, an ex-RAF AWACS pilot, have transformed a collection of parts into a fully functioning KFA (Kitplanes for Africa) Safari – a rugged kit-built bush aircraft designed for adventure flying.
All three serve as grading instructors at 727 Squadron and share a long-standing passion for light aviation. Having owned and operated light aircraft for many years, they combined their experience, knowledge and enthusiasm to take on the ambitious project.
Mark explained:
“I have always wanted to build an aircraft and, as we all have a background in owning and operating light aircraft, we were a natural fit as a team.” 
Determined to complete as much of the work themselves as possible, the team embraced a number of new challenges along the way. From mastering specialist skills such as fabric covering and painting to recovering and rebuilding an engine from a crashed aircraft before fitting a turbocharger conversion , the project demanded patience, ingenuity and countless hours of dedication.
For the team, the first flight was a particularly memorable moment. Mark and Dave describe the experience as surprisingly emotional, comparing it to the excitement and sense of achievement of a pilot’s first solo flight. Between them, they have already accumulated five hours in the aircraft and report that it is performing exceptionally well.
While the technical achievement is impressive in its own right, the project is also a testament to teamwork. Completing a home-built aircraft in just one year is a remarkable accomplishment, particularly given the complexity of the build and the breadth of skills required.
Reflecting on the experience, the team joked that perhaps their greatest success was completing the entire project without a single falling out!
Congratulations to Mark, Tim and Dave on an outstanding achievement and an inspiring example of what can be accomplished through teamwork, dedication and a shared passion for aviation.
