RIP Jon Egging: Red Arrows Pilot Killed In Crash At Bournemouth Airshow (Photos)
ANORAK was in Bournemouth today to see the Red Arrows. A plane crashed. Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, 33, was killed when his Red Arrow crashed into the River Stour near the village of Throop.
This is terrible news. The show is brilliant. I joked that in Dorset people point at planes. But when you see the jets move so fast and so close it is hard not to be impressed.
The beaches were packed. The day before had seen a deluge. The parks had been flooded. The seas was too dangerous to swim in – too polluted from the sewage pushed along by the rain. Last year’s air show had been cancelled – the weather had been that bad. This year’s show looked grim. And then Red Arrows appeared…
Jon flew the Harrier GR9 before joining the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team.
Age – 33Education – Jon attended Southam School in Warwickshire gaining A-Levels in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. He was a member of 2028 (Southam) Sqn Air Training Corps from age 13. During the sixth form he was awarded a Royal Air Force Flying Scholarship and had his first solo flight in a Cessna 152 flying from Wellesbourne Mountford Aerodrome. Following a gap year spent working in the UK and travelling around Australia, Jon went on to read a BSc in Environmental Science at Southampton University. He joined Southampton University Air Squadron and was awarded a Royal Air Force Bursary in his second year.
Career – Whilst at University Jon completed Elementary Flying Training with the University Air Squadron, flying the Bulldog; he went on to join the Royal Air Force in 2000. Selected for fast jet training Jon flew the Tucano and Hawk before becoming a ‘Creamie’ Qualified Flying Instructor on the Hawk at Royal Air Force Valley, teaching both students and instructors. Jon went on to serve with IV(AC) Squadron – ‘Happy IV’ – based at Royal Air Force Cottesmore, flying the Harrier GR9. During his time on the front line Jon was proud to support coalition ground forces when flying operational missions in Afghanistan. He has also taken part in exercises in the United Kingdom and America. As part of Joint Force Harrier, Jon served with IV(AC) Squadron on HMS Illustrious, flying training missions off the UK coastline. He became the Squadron Qualified Flying Instructor during his last year on ‘Happy IV’, making the transition to teach on the Harrier Operational Conversion Unit, based at Royal Air Force Wittering, in April 2010.
Background – Jon became interested in flying at an early age, inspired by his airline pilot father who used to take him ‘down route’, allowing him into the cockpit for take off and landing. Jon currently lives in Rutland with his wife Emma. In their spare time they enjoy road and fell running as well as travelling the world together.
It really is dangerous flying a jet to entertain us…
Posted: 20th, August 2011 | In: Reviews Comments (5) | TrackBack | Permalink
