Leadership Team
Dave Webber
President, Director
Full Time job: Retired – Most of my time is now spent working on the Buccaneers.
How I got involved with TBAG: I am lucky to have been involved with the restoration of XW544 from day one, it’s been a very long job but what the group have achieved in the last 20 years is remarkable. 15 years of my working life was spent in the RAF as a Fireman and was lucky to be posted to three Buccaneer units. I soon grew to appreciate how interesting the Buccaneer was. In 1980 I started a research project detailing the history of all Buccaneer’s built which is ongoing. Once the Buccaneer fleet had been retired I started to get involved with maintaining various airframes that were being preserved. As time went on my knowledge of the aircraft systems grew and I was soon restoring components from the hydraulic system the engines.
What I get involved with at TBAG: Over the years I have rebuilt the brakes on both XW544 and XX894 as well as changed most of the tyres they run on. Some of the repairs are done at the airfield but equally some are done at home ready for the next visit. I am proud to say I am part of T-BAG and one of the team that keeps XW544 and XX894 in fast taxing condition.
Francis Wallace
Director, Chairman, Owner of Cockpit XW550, Lead of Engineering
Full-time Job: Electrical Design and Controls Manager.
How I got Involved with TBAG: A chance conversation in early 2004 regarding the restoration of Buccaneer XX894 and my ability to work on electrical systems saw me join the team late in 2004. This was prior to the formation of TBAG in 2010, by which time I had expanded my skill set to hydraulics, pneumatics, engines, and fuel systems. Being an electrical and mechanical engineer by trade had come in handy in the restoration to fast taxiing condition of both XX894 and XW544.
What I get Involved with at TBAG: All things engineering, troubleshooting and general care and maintenance. I also hold the privileged position of being able to ground-run the Buccaneers as and when required. Aside from on-site aircraft care and maintenance, my role sees me refurbishing parts away from the airport in my small workshop. These are typically electrical, hydraulic, engine, and fuel system-related parts.
Andy Webber
Director
Jake Wallace
Director, Owner of Cockpit XW550, Lead of Media & Marketing
Full-Time Job: Plant & Machinery Sales and Marketing Assistant
How I got Involved with TBAG: One of my first ever aircraft-related trips was a family day out to Bruntingthorpe on a grim, wet August open day in 2008 which my Dad (Francis) invited us to. At just 4 years of age, I distinctly remember having a taxi ride on the Comet, watching the Canberra roar down the runway, and seeing XX894 having its hydraulic systems exercised. From that day on I was hooked on vintage jet aircraft preservation with my first maintenance weekend visit just weeks later, I’ve been a regular member of the team ever since!
What I get Involved with at TBAG: From 2020 onwards, helped update TBAG’s presence on social media, creating the vast majority of media posts, as well as assisting Charlie with website administration and taking on our supporters club, Buccaneer Buddies by mid-2023. Also during 2023, I jumped at the opportunity of being project lead of XW544’s external revamp.
Mike Birt
Director, Treasurer
Full-Time Job: B787 pilot for British Airways.
How I got involved with TBAG: I was a regular visitor to the Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets days, and one time I found that an airline colleague was taxying XX894 after her restoration. When he left to live overseas I approached the group and was appointed as their pilot.
What I get involved with at TBAG: My main role is to pilot the aircraft on Anti Det and Fast Taxi days.
Ollie Suckling
Director, Chief Pilot
Full-Time Job: RAF Fast Jet Pilot
How I got involved with TBAG: I saw an article in flypast in 2010 about the Buccaneers at Bruntingthorpe that had a large input from Francis Wallace. I emailed him and visited the group and that was that! I have always been interested in historic aviation and this was an opportunity that I didn’t want to miss.
What I get involved with at TBAG: Anything and everything! As chief pilot I am responsible for the operating SOP whilst on the active side of the airfield and ensuring the aircraft are operating in a safe manner. I am not afraid to get my hands dirty and will work on any system on the aircraft and enjoy the diagnostic side of fault rectification.
Kay Bennett
Lead of Operations
Full-time Job: I work within the aviation industry supporting with the recycling and movement of aircraft.
How I got involved with TBAG: I’ve always been into aviation and having attended the Cold War jets days at Bruntingthorpe I got the bug. I started attending the maintenance weekend back in 2012 and haven’t looked back really!
What I get involved with at TBAG: I’m currently responsible for overseeing all the running activities that happen at Cotswold Airport. I plan who will be doing what on any given weekend. It’s also my responsibility to ensure the team are trained in all jobs that are required. There is a lot of planning behind the scenes so that we can make sure everything runs as smooth as possible on the day
Steve Hancock
Lead of Shop Operations
Volunteers
Mike Allman
Michael Bailey
Jai Barber
Full-Time Job:
RAF Officer, training to be a Weapons Controller.
How I got Involved with TBAG:
I have had a great interest in aviation since I can remember, my first encounter with TBAG was as a result of another of the volunteers, Luca Jeffery, who was invited to attend a maintenance weekend back in 2021, I attended with him to witness the TBAG in operation and a chance to see XX894 having an engine run, since then I’ve had a keen interest in wanting to help out in restoring such an iconic Cold War aircraft. Since then, I have attended a number of events and maintenance weekends and became an official volunteer as of January 2024. When I can, I aim to visit the Buccaneers as often as possible, balancing it with my current work in the RAF.
What I get Involved with at TBAG:
My main involvement with TBAG has been with the part of the sanding crew, preparing XW544 for its repaint during the summer of 2024. I am still new to the crew but have been improving my skills and will be looking forward to helping with the repaint. I look forward to many more years at TBAG and doing my part to preserve these amazing aircraft.
Carolyn Cordran
Full Time Job: Freelance consulting engineer, property manager and Mum
How I got involved with TBAG: I’m passionate about aircraft, especially Cold War Jets. We enjoyed occasional visits to Bruntingthorpe on the running days and watching the Buccaneers was always a highlight. In 2019 my daughter was displaying instrument panels at Newark Cockpitfest. My son Marcus spent most of the day talking to TBAG constantly asking questions having read the Buccaneer Haynes manual at length – and sitting in 550. TBAG really encouraged him and was patient with his many questions at this and all subsequent events and days. As a volunteer at a more local museum, and being involved in a team ground running another jet, it is great to support Marcus’s dreams and to be hands-on helping TBAG.
What I get involved with at TBAG: Anything and everything I can! It is useful working on other aircraft to improve my skills, so much so that we were offered, and took, the chance to buy a Buccaneer cockpit to restore over time when we’re not at Kemble! I’m now helping with some admin when we can’t travel down due to other family commitments. I’m really enjoying the hands-on ground crew training with the Buccaneers.
Marcus Cordran
Full-Time Job: School and working on Buccaneers!
How I got involved with TBAG: We enjoyed occasional visits to Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets days and watching the Buccaneers and sitting in the cockpit of XW550 was always a highlight. TBAG really encouraged me and was very patient with my many questions at this and other events. I also volunteer at a more local museum, I help with restorations there and other bits. It is great as I really appreciate everyone is supporting me to help me follow my dreams. I joined the ground crew in late 2019 on a very rainy day! I joined aged 9 learning things like how to top up on engine oil and engine stripping.
What I get involved with at TBAG: Everything I can! I love the atmosphere and how everyone is so encouraging and involving of me. I have been learning how to bleed the brakes and fuelling up XX894. I also put on and take off blanks and help with pre-run checks. I love showing visitors the cockpit of XW550, XW544, and XX894. I am keen to encourage other young ones to pursue their dreams and get their hands dirty! When I leave school, I would like to go into engineering, probably aircraft.
In October 2020 we bought our own Buccaneer to restore with TBAG’s advice and to fulfill another dream of mine along with working with the living Buccaneers!
Charlie Cumming
Steve Cutler
Edward Cutting
Will Dee-Cutler
Taylor Harvey
David Heath
David Hutchinson
Luca Jeffery
Full-Time Job:
I work as an IS Application Support Analyst for DB Cargo (UK), supporting the business portfolios of Engineering & Maintenance, Safety & Training. I find my technical background helps bring a structured approach to my work with TBAG, especially the IT/media side!
How I got involved in TBAG:
I began a project on the Buccaneer S.2 for a video game called War Thunder, creating digital textures for the aircraft representing various airframes and paint schemes. TBAG volunteer Jake Wallace saw the work I had done, and invited me down to see the real things – and as they say, the rest is history!
What I get involved with at TBAG:
Historically, I’ve been involved in our media team – taking photos & documenting all the work the group has done to keep the jets running. More recently, I’ve been involved with the sanding and preparation of XW544 prior to her repaint in 2024. Whilst the preparation is ongoing, I also began working on TBAG’s first video content, producing short cinematics to help publicise our activities more. Starting with time-lapses of XW544’s sanding progress, it quickly progressed to highlighting our “30 Years & Still Going Strong” event – something which has been a brilliant success!
David Malcolm
Mike Overs
Full-Time Job: Retired but working harder than ever as a TBAG back office volunteer.
How I got involved with TBAG: I came to TBAG at Bruntingthorpe in 2015 via a call for Shackleton volunteers a few months earlier. Progress had halted on the Shackleton and wanting to keep busy, Andy Webber suggested that I might like to help on VC10 ZA149’s forward fuselage in TBAG’s Rubb. From there a few months later, I moved on to helping on the Buccaneers and joining TBAG. Many unimagined adventures later, a tow bar claimed “Bambi” and now activities are confined to Back Office.
What I get involved with at TBAG: Nowadays its external facing activities as Group Secretary, and TBAG’s letterbox. I find great satisfaction in raising funds for the group and interacting with TBAG’s many great supporters, including many of the incredible aircrew that flew and looked after the Buccaneer.
Kenneth Perring-Fraser
Will Robertson
Josh Ryan
Mahalia Ryan