Wing Commander Adam Collins

About Wing Commander Adam Collins

Officer Commanding

RAF career

Wing Commander Adam Collins commands a team of Royal Air Force regular and reserve personnel, working alongside civil service colleagues, who deliver a precise, dynamic and world-renowned ‘soft’ power capability, in support of national interests, at home and across the globe. 

He graduated from initial officer training at RAFC Cranwell in 2000.

After completing fast-jet flying training, his first operational tour was on IX(B) Squadron at RAF Marham, flying the Tornado GR4.

He was then fortunate enough to be selected to fly the F-111 for three years on exchange with the Royal Australian Air Force at RAAF Amberley in Queensland. He took part in numerous exercises in Australia and Asia and was the last exchange pilot to fly the aircraft type.

Further tours on the Tornado GR4 followed on the return to the UK, before promotion to Squadron Leader, a posting to a role working with the British Army and then as a Flight Commander operating the Hawk T1 – the same aircraft as used by the Red Arrows – to provide aggressor training.

He then took up the position of Red 10, the Red Arrows’ safety supervisor and ground commentator at events, for the 2018 season – the RAF’s centenary year. After leaving the team, and more recently, he was deployed overseas, supporting operations in the Middle East.

Education and life before the RAF

• Prior to joining the RAF, Adam attended Solihull School in the West Midlands, where he was a member of the Combined Cadet Force and received an RAF Sixth Form Scholarship.
• He went on to study aeronautics and astronautics at Southampton University and was a member of the University Air Squadron.