David Best (pilot)

Air Commodore David Best (OBE FRAeS) (born 23 December 1960) is a British test pilot and businessman. He served in the Royal Air Force from 1979 to 2012. In 2012 he co-founded Nova Systems International and in 2022 he founded SkyBoss Aerospace Ltd. He is a Fellow of both the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.

David Best
Born23 December 1960 (1960-12-23) (age 62)
Alma materBristol University
Occupation(s)Test pilot
Business executive
Employer(s)SkyBoss Aerospace Ltd (founder and CEO)
TitleCommander of the Empire Test Pilots' School (1998-2001)
AwardsRP Alston Medal from the Royal Aeronautical Society

Early life and education

David Best was born on 23 December 1960 in County Durham, England and moved to South East London at age 7, he attended Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School where he became Head of School. He studied physics at Bristol University, graduating in 1982, and was a member of Bristol University Air Squadron, and test pilot training at the Empire Test Pilots ' School in 1989.[1] In 1993 he was awarded Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.[2]

Military career

Best was commander of the Empire Test Pilots’ School from 1998 to 2001 and was UK MoD Chief Test Pilot from 2004 to 2007.[3] Best was appointed Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2001.[4]

In 2010, Best was appointed as NATO's Director of Air Operations and Plans in Kabul, Afghanistan.[5]

Business career

Best became the co-founder and executive director of Nova Systems International and he was the company's Chief Test Pilot from 2012 to 2021. In 2022, Best was awarded the RP Alston Medal from the Royal Aeronautical Society. He was cited for his “outstanding career contributions to test flying, operational military leadership and industrial entrepreneurialism including the exploitation of novel aerospace technologies in the fields of flight control, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).”[3] In 2022 Best founded SkyBoss Aerospace.[6]

Recognition

Best has been elected a Fellow of both the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.[6]

References
  1. Cockpit. Society of Experimental Test Pilots. 1992. p. 55.
  2. "Page 1 | Supplement 53332, 11 June 1993 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
  3. "2021 Honours, Medals & Awards" (PDF). Royal Aeronautical Society. 2021. p. 12.
  4. "Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE), Supplement 56430". London Gazette. December 31, 2001. p. 6.
  5. "Viewpoints". Air Power Review. Summer 2012. p. 87.
  6. "Oxford Lecture: Test Pilot - still a good job?". Royal Aeronautical Society.
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