Born in 1964 in Australia, Mark Anthony Said started his flight training with the Italian Military Mission in Malta, gaining his Helicopter Pilot�s Wings on the Agusta Bell 47G-2 in October 1987. This was closely followed by a conversion course on the Agusta Bell 206A Jetranger.

In 1991 Mark placed first in Officer Cadet Selection, and as part of the Officer�s course was sent to the Italian Air Force, Fixed Wing, Selection and Basic school at Latina, south of Rome, where he flew his favourite mount, the SIAI Marchetti SF 260. Two months later he was flying with the Italian Light Army Aviation in Viterbo, north of Rome, for conversion and further pilot training on the Cessna L-19E Bird Dog, five of which had been earlier donated to Malta. One year later, Mark became a Bird Dog check pilot, and later underwent flight training in America, from where he obtained civilian aeronautical licences. Mark holds United States, Federal Aviation Administration, Multi-Engine Instrument Instructor�s ratings as well as similar United Kingdom, Civil Aviation Authority licences.