| Fighter Pilots Forum |
Nearly 150 people gathered at Cranfield on the evening of 12 June 2001 for the Fighter Pilots Forum. They were entertained in grand style by a panel of nine distinguished pilots, chaired by Air Marshall Sir Roger Austin KCB AFC FRAeS RAF (Retd). Experience ranged from Second World War Hurricane and Spitfire operations, through just about every type of fighter since that time, right up this year's Tornado F.3 display crew from 56 (Reserve) Squadron at RAF Coningsby. Pilots present were: Roger Austin - Hunter and Harrier. Jack Biggs - Hurricane and Spitfire (Burma campaign). George Black - Vampire, Meteor, Sea Hawk, Lightning and Harrier. Charlie Browning - Hurricane (Burma). John Marriott - Attacker and Sea Hawk. Dave Roome - Hunter, Lightning, Phantom and now Managing Director of Delta Jets. Jonathan Whaley - Hunter, Sea Vixen and Phantom. Si Stevens - this year's Tornado F.3 display pilot, together with his navigator Dave Chadderton. Regrettably Ian Black had to withdraw at the last minute due to his attendance at the funeral of Guy Bancroft-Wilson, so tragically killed in the Kingcobra crash at Biggin Hill earlier in the month. In total the panel's experience combined something in excess of 160 years military service and 200 plus aircraft types flown. Not content with this, there were yet more pilots n the audience, including Spitfire (North Africa campaign), Hurricane (Burma), hellcat and Corsair (Far East), Seafire (RNVR), all of whom were encouraged to take a full part in the proceedings. Following individual introductions under the able chairmanship of Roger Austin, the panel was subjected to wide-ranging questions from the audience, covering such diverse topics as their favourite - and least favourilte - aircraft, most frightening and most amusing experiences to for example, what they thought about the decision to eliminate a fixed gun from the Eurofighter Typhoon's armament. In addition the Tornado team presented an overview of their aircraft and the day-to-day operations in which the air defence force is now involved. Supporting displays ranged fron Jonathan Whaley's magnificent Hunter F.58A G-PSST "Miss Demeanour" on static display, local man Tony Collins with his Lightning F.6 cockpit open for inspection, plus a photo gallery of fighter aces, model aircraft and flying clothing displays. At the end of the evening, a programme signing session was held, and both the pilots and the audience overwhelmingly expressed their delight at a highly entertaining and informative event, intended to be the first of a series of forums. Steve Bond - MKAS President. Back to Home Page |
| A Tremenduous Success |
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| Kings Norton Lecture Theatre, Cranfield, Beds. |
| Tuesday 12 June 2001 |