November 16, 2025

Benjamin de Grijff

Benjamin’s fascination with aviation began in childhood on the Mornington Peninsula, where weekends were often spent at local air shows such as Tyabb and Avalon. Inspired by Top Gun and the dream of becoming a fighter pilot, he joined the Air Force Cadets at 13 — an experience that gave him his first taste of flying from inside the cockpit.

After finishing high school, Benjamin took a gap year to travel through Europe before returning home to begin his pilot training. He moved to Queensland to work toward his Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and Multi-Engine Instrument Rating (MEIR), later completing his Flight Instructor Rating with Learn To Fly in 2025.

Becoming an instructor has strengthened not only his flying skills but his understanding of the deeper “why” behind aviation. Teaching students has given him a new appreciation for the craft and the discipline required to excel.

Looking ahead, Benjamin aims to progress toward an airline career. He plans to build his experience as a flight instructor before moving into a multi-crew environment, where he hopes to bring his strong safety mindset and passion for aviation into the airline cockpit.