Jim Schofield

Jim learned to fly in a Super Cub at Clacton, then joined the University of Wales Air Squadron. After university he got his Commercial Pilot’s Licence then joined the RAF. During 20 years of service Jim became the MoD’s lead Harrier and F-35 test pilot, the Empire Test Pilot School chief instructor and finally the wing commander in charge of UK F-35 requirements. On leaving the RAF Jim flew for British Airways for three years while running an aerospace consultancy business. He left BA for Boultbee in 2018.

Jim has flown over 100 types and a century of front-line fighters: 1917 Bristol Fighter, SE5a, Spitfire, Mustang, Viggen, Jaguar, Harrier, Tornado, Gripen, Typhoon, F-15, F-16, F/A-18 and F-35. He was one of the first pilots to land a Lockheed-Martin F-35 on a ship at night.

He is a UK (CAA) and US (FAA) instructor, a display pilot, a display pilot evaluator, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and a father of two.

Jim is one of Spitfires.com’s pilots and flies our Spitfires as well as all other aircraft types we operate. He also manages our Spitfire conversion courses for military and civilian pilots.