[2] Torpy joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer on 8 September 1974,[3] and spent his early career, after he left the RAF College Cranwell, undertaking flying duties in Jaguar aircraft before qualifying as a weapons instructor on Hawk aircraft.

[2] He was promoted to flying officer on 8 March 1975, with seniority backdated to 8 June 1973,[4] flight lieutenant on 8 December 1975,[5] and squadron leader on 1 July 1983.

[1] Promoted to group captain on 1 July 1993,[9] Torpy was appointed station commander at RAF Bruggen, Germany, in 1995.

[2] He was awarded the Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer) from the United States in "recognition of gallant and distinguished services during coalition operations in Iraq" in 2003.

[20] In July 2008, Torpy hosted the RAF's biggest air display in two decades, as a 35-mile-long (56 km) procession of aircraft flew past the queen to commemorate the service's 90th anniversary.

[21] Controversially, in June 2009, he argued for consolidation of all British air power in the hands of the RAF, effectively questioning the future of the Royal Navy's jet aircraft.