Background
David Mackay was born in Scotland, and lived in Helmsdale, Highland.
David Mackay was born in Scotland, and lived in Helmsdale, Highland.
David studied Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Glasgow. In 1988 he graduated from the French test pilots" school, École du personnel navigant d"essais et de réception - EPNER, through an exchange with the Royal Air Force"s Empire Test Pilots" School.
David"s father was a police officer He would see aircraft flying (low) from Royal Air Force Lossiemouth. He first piloted an aircraft in 1977.
Royal Air Force He joined the Royal Air Force in 1979.
He flew the Harrier GR3 in Germany and the Falklands. Test pilot In 1986 he was selected for test pilot training.
He became Commanding Officer of the Royal Air Force"s Fast Jet Test Flight in 1992 at Royal Air Force Boscombe Down. The fastest speed he reached was Mach 1.4 in a French Mirage.
He conducted trials on the Harrier GR7, the Sea Harrier FA.2, and the Tucano.
He flew with the Fixed Wing Test Squadron. He was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1992. Virgin Atlantic He joined Virgin Atlantic in 1995, flying Boeing 747s as a Captain from 1999.
He also flew the Airbus A340 from 2002.
He finished his flying career with over 11,000 hours flying. Virgin Galactic He joined Virgin Galactic in 2009 as its test pilot.
He will be the Chief Pilot when Virgin Galactic launches. The aircraft, SpaceShipTwo, will reach a height of 360,000 feet.
On its journey into space, the aircraft will reach Mach 3.5.
The first aircraft to fly, which he will pilot, will be called VSS Enterprise. He is working with Brian Binnie, who became the first Scot in space, when he piloted SpaceShipOne on 4 October 2004.