Gary began his flying career via an RAF Flying Scholarship at Leicester in 1983 and went on to gain his PPL.  Whilst studying for a mechanical engineering degree he flew the Bulldog with Southampton University Air Squadron.  He joined the RAF full time in October 1987 and following officer training and flying training on the Jet Provost and Hawk he was ‘creamed off’ as a QFI and after CFS taught on the Jet Provost and Tucano at RAF Cranwell becoming an A2 QFI on the way.  He then undertook Hawk weapons training before being streamed to fly the Tornado GR1/4. He flew this aircraft for almost 10 years gaining just short of 2000 hours on it and taking part in many peace time exercises and operational flying over Iraq including the second Gulf War in 2003.  He was a squadron QFI and IRE as well as an Air-to-Air Refuelling Instructor and air test pilot.

He was awarded the MBE in 2004 for services to the Tornado Force including extensive standardisation during a tour as Staneval Flying at RAF Marham. Gary gained a CPL and left the RAF in 2004 but did not return to flying until 2025. He currently works as a solicitor in Solihull, and lives in Balsall Common with his wife and 2 cats, his adult sons having left home recently.