Wing Commander Dicky Patounas RAF

Wing Commander Patounas, 41, was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1989.  After initial flying training he was posted to Royal Air Force Valley and then on to Royal Air Force Chivenor, as a first tourist Qualified Flying Instructor where he taught students advanced flying on the Hawk aircraft.  His next tour was with No. 54(F) Squadron, based at Royal Air Force Coltishall on the Jaguar aircraft, where he took part in operations over the Balkans and in international exercises in Europe, the USA and the Middle East.  In 1997, aged 27, he became one of the youngest pilots ever to join The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows, where he flew in the Synchro Pair for two of his three years.  At the end of this tour Wing Commander Patounas was posted to No. 16(R) Sqn, the Jaguar Operational Conversion Unit, as a Flying Instructor where he again took part in exercises around the world.

In 2002 on promotion to Squadron Leader, he undertook a staff tour as the Typhoon Introduction to Service Project Officer where he served on No. 17(R) Squadron, the Typhoon Operational Evaluation Unit.  His next appointment was as Officer Commanding The Red Arrows where he led the Team in displays in over 20 countries around the world.  After promotion to Wing Commander and completion of the 2006 display season Wing Commander Patounas was posted to the Australian Advanced Command and Staff College in Canberra.  His next posting was to the Ministry of Defence where he was responsible for the Future Combat Air Capability within the Deep Target Attack capability area.  During this tour in the Ministry of Defence Wing Commander Patounas spent 4 months as the Air Commander for the Air and Aviation assets supporting all UK Special Forces Operations in Afghanistan.  He has been posted to Royal Air Force Coningsby as the Officer Commanding No 3(F) Sqn.  Wing Commander Patounas has just returned from Gioia Del Colle where he commanded the Typhoon Force Elements Op ELLAMY.

Wing Commander Patounas over 4000 hrs on 5 different aircraft types.  He is married to Joanne and his interests include running, motorcycling, wine and breeding Rhodesian Ridgebacks.