Virgin Atlantic targeted RAF pilots in 2024 recruitment ads, asking for applicants who were operating, or had operated in the last three years, on F-35B Lightning II or Typhoon FGR4 aircraft. The airline said those pilots would join the UK’s only exclusively long-haul carrier, flying from London Heathrow to destinations including New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Delhi, Barbados and Antigua.
The advert also said suitable applicants must have that recent fast-jet experience, putting a narrow military skill set at the center of a commercial hiring push. Ben Wallace said in late 2022 that there were only 30 qualified British F-35 pilots plus three exchange pilots, and the number had risen to 34 by 2023, with seven more soon to graduate.
Virgin Atlantic recruitment ad
The wording was specific. Virgin Atlantic said: “In order to be suitable, you must be operating, or have operated in the last three years on one of the following RAF Aircraft: F-35 B Lightning II, Typhoon FGR4. As a member of our Flight Crew, you will be joining the UK’s only exclusively long-haul airline. Flying out of London Heathrow to exciting destinations such as New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Delhi, Barbados, Antigua, and many more.”
It also described its widebody aircraft as “youngest, cleanest, and most technologically sophisticated”. London Loves Business reported in 2024 that RAF pilots who had operated on F-35 B Lightning II and Typhoon FGR4 were being offered double their annual salary to join Virgin.
RAF pilot numbers
The scale of the target pool is small. The United Kingdom has around four dozen trained F-35B fighter jet pilots and around 150 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet pilots, while new pilots graduating annually are often measured in the single digits. In a typical Western air force, there should be around 1.3 to 1.5 trained pilots for every fast jet.
That gap explains why the issue is being watched closely inside the RAF. Training an F-35 fighter jet pilot can cost around $10 million, and the article says Britain has far fewer military pilots than the United States.
Virgin Atlantic and fighter pilots
The unusual part of the recruitment push is the type of pilot it targeted. Airlines commonly recruit military transport pilots, but this case focused on fighter pilots with F-35B Lightning II or Typhoon FGR4 experience.
The RAF ideally should have around 60 to 70 trained F-35B pilots, but the available figures point to a much smaller pool. The key issue for readers inside the RAF is simple: the advert opened a route to civilian flying for a small number of highly trained pilots, and the number who may take it has not been stated.
