Find your Space Series 3: Britain's First Female Fast-Jet Pilot

Jo Salter MBE (born 1968) is Britain’s first female fast‑jet pilot, having flown the Panavia Tornado GR1 with the Royal Air Force’s 617 Squadron after joining the RAF at 18 to train initially as an engineering officer before transitioning to pilot training when fast‑jet roles opened to women; she earned her wings in 1992 and later flew operational missions enforcing no‑fly zones over Iraq, marking a historic breakthrough for women in military aviation.

After leaving the RAF in 2000 following maternity leave, she went on to build a significant career in business and leadership, holding senior roles at PwC—including Director and Chief of Staff in the People & Organisation practice, Director of Global Transformative Leadership, and Global Advisory Lead for Generative AI—where she contributed to major global transformation programmes.

A celebrated speaker and author, she has written on personal energy and wellbeing, supported the development of future generations through work with the Air Cadets, and was awarded an MBE in 2022 for services to aviation, continuing to inspire as a pioneering figure in both aviation and leadership.