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Guest: Craig Compain, ex-RNZAF and ex-Royal Navy Fighter Pilot
Host: Dave Homewood
Recorded: 9th of January 2025
Published: 9th of January 2025
Duration: 1 hour 57 minutes, 58 seconds
In this episode Dave Homewood speaks with Craig Compain, who grew up in Wanganui as an aviation-minded kid and ATC cadet, and he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1992 as a pilot. His initial training began at the General Service Training School at RNZAF Base Woodbourne, in an experiment the Air Force was conducting to train Officer Cadets like Craig with the non-officer Air Force Cadets. He then joined what was the final Wings course conducted at RNZAF Base Wigram before the Flying Training Wing moved to Ohakea, learning to fly on the NZAI CT/4B Airtrainer.
He was then sent to Ohakea for the advanced course on the Aermacchi MB339C Macchi jet, before gaining his wings and being posted to No. 14 Squadron, on the path towards strike jet training. After time on the Macchi, Craig was posted to Royal Australian Navy Base Nowra (HMAS Albatross), to convert to No. 2 Squadron RNZAF’s TA-4K Skyhawks. Following the conversion course he stayed on with the squadron and took part in many exercises around Australia.
Returning to New Zealand, Craig was next posted to No. 75 Squadron RNZAF, again flying Skyhawks. He talks about the two Exercise Vanguards that he took part in up in Malaysia and around Asia, and adventures he had in the Skyhawk.
By late 1999 he was on an instructor’s course and then was posted to the Pilot Training Squadron, training pilots on the PAC CT-4E Airtrainers. It was while he was there and looking forward to returning to fast jets that the Labour government cancelled the General Dynamics F-16 deal, and then dismantled the RNZAF Strike Wing. Craig found himself out of a job.
He travelled to London and approached the Royal Navy with the hope of flying for them. Like the Skyhawk, the Sea Harrier was another jet fighter that had long been a childhood dream of his to fly. Luck was on his side and he was accepted quite readily, and very soon found himself doing the year-long Harrier conversion course.
Eventually Craig became operational on the Harrier, and served with the famous No’s 800 and 801 Naval Air Squadrons, embarking at different times upon all three aircraft carriers that were in service at that time, HMS Invincible, HMS Ark Royal and HMS Illustrious. He talks about his first carrier landing in a Harrier, having a major aircraft issue during the Red Flag exercise in the US right next to Aera 51, instructing pupils on the Harrier and more. He also talks about flying both the Harrier and the Hawk through the famous Mach Loop. He also flew numerous types of aircraft in training roles, and for a while flew the Sea Harrier in airshow displays in its last season, until scaring himself too much at a Biggin Hill Air Fare and quitting the display flying.
Craig experienced another career ending political move when the UK government decided to scrap the Sea Harriers. He left the Royal Navy and very nearly joined Virgin Galactic in a flying role, which may have led to him becoming New Zealand’s first astronaut – but an unexpected turn of events before he got there saw him end up in the City of London’s financial district working for a hedge fund firm.
When the Global Financial Crisis hit, Craig then returned to flying when a position came up as pilot of a Challenger private jet. He worked through a few different business jet jobs till landing a dream job as private pilot to Sir Richard Branson. He talks about how that job took him around the world and gave him many opportunities. Sadly the COVID pandemic ended this and Craig returned to New Zealand with his family, and now lives here permanently. He and his wife are about to embark on a whole new career, buying a McDonalds restaurant.
Below: All photos copyright Craig Compain
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