Women’s History Month: The RAF’s first female fast jet pilot

For Women’s History Month this March, we want to honour the achievements of Britain’s first female RAF fast jet pilot, (Honorary) Group Captain Flight Lieutenant Jo Salter MBE.

Jo joined the RAF at the age of 18, initially as an engineering officer, but once it was announced that women would be allowed to fly, she decided to train as a pilot.

Jo earned her wings in 1992, going on to become a fast jet pilot flying the Panavia Tornado GR1 ground attack aircraft with 617 Squadron, a squadron made notable as the Dambusters in the Second World War.

Reflecting on how it felt to become the RAF’s first fast jet pilot, Jo said: “It was exciting, dramatic, and demanding – flying can be exhilarating but it can be tough too, so it’s a mixture of challenge versus adventure.

"Shortly after I finished my degree the government announced women would be able to fly in the RAF. I’ve always been the type of person to make the most of every opportunity, so I grabbed this one with both hands and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done!"

Jo described the recipe to her success, saying: "Being a fast jet pilot comes with immense pressure and requires a great deal of resilience, so managing that stress was very important. It’s the ability to think ahead whilst also making decisions about the now.

"Leadership was a focus throughout my time in the RAF – leading self and others as well as building a successful team."

Jo remained passionate about inclusivity throughout her flying career and has been undeterred by any discrimination she has faced over the years. She said: "Because of the way I was brought up, gender roles were irrelevant. I was brought up with two brothers and a sister and when doing jobs in the house, we weren’t assigned the traditional (at the time) male or female roles – we would all sweep the drive or cook and clean. It never crossed my mind that I couldn’t do something men do."

When Jo left the RAF following 12 years of service, she continued as a reservist, flying Air Cadets on Air Experience Flights and is now an Honorary Group Captain on 601 Squadron.

Jo said: "While flying cadets, I had a number of people come up to me and say they didn’t know women could fly. It’s so important to have different role models from various backgrounds. It doesn’t matter what gender you are or what school you went to, it’s about giving people the opportunity to use their talents."

With her experiences as a pilot, trainer and public speaker, Jo is a huge inspiration for women looking to start a career in the RAF. Today, Jo leads PwC’s global Centre for Transformative Leadership and continues to use her wealth of experience to motivate others as an author and public speaker.

Jo is a proud supporter of the Fund saying: "The RAF Benevolent Fund is an amazing institution that I've been aware of since I joined the RAF at the age of 18. Whilst I haven't had to call upon it personally, I've read some moving stories of the impact it has had on so many alongside a knowledge that it's there if anyone in the extended forces family needs it. I'm proud to support such a charity."