I have the utmost pride and respect for these guys - I watched them just
last month and they blew the whole crowd away with a stunning display.
Wanted to catch them last weekend at Bristol too but couldn't make it
The fact that the pilot sent a Mayday signal, flew a few feet from the ground
and impacted into trees isn't good and the TV crews being told to switch off
cameras seems to seal the pilot's fate. Hope I'm wrong.
Unfortunately you aren't wrong it has now been reported that the pilot was killed.
A great tragedy.
2001 406 Rapier 2.0 HDi 90 Estate - Sold Scrap after being viciously attacked by a falling tree
2001 Toyota MR2 1.8 VVTi - To be sold for spares/repair - dead gearbox
2014 Seat Ibiza Eastate 1.4 FR ACT (bought in an emergency, but a nice enough low mileage car)
My Cars: 2008 C6 2.7 Exclusive in Mativoire Beige with Vitali Leather. 2019 C5 1.6 Aircross Flair+ in Platinum Grey with Claudia Rimini Leather 2017 1.6HDi Berlingo Van - the works van
Toby and I attended all four days though that was not the initial plan. Thursday was a washout meaning we missed seeing the yankee F-15 strike eagles flyby - I could live with that.
Friday made up for it though, the Red Arrows were stunning as usual with some moves I'd never seen before. We didn't attend the Night Air but Saturday I was most keen on as I hadn't seen a Panavia Tornado since I was a nipper.
Unfortunately, we didn't see the Red Arrows display on Saturday as we were helping a 406 owner discover his V6 had become a four-pot due to LPG damage.
Later, as we drove toward the show, the Red Arrows roared overhead after doing their show, towards Bournemouth Airport. It was approxiametly 10 minutes before that fatal crash.
The first we knew anything was wrong was as we waited for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight to begin. I had my scanner with me and heard they were approaching some 20-odd miles out over the needles. While we scanned the eastern skies for their apporoach I heard the coastguard helicopter pilot requesting to land on Bournemouth seafront. This caused concern as the show was well attended by St John's and NHS paramedic's so I knew it was a serious accident but guessed it might have been a watercraft accident.
As the helicopter took-off from the beach, I heard the pilot state he was heading toward the "crash site" and my heart sank.
Once the coastguard was airbourne and on it's way, the Spitfire was given clearance to begin it's display and that's when I feared the Lancaster and Hurricane had collided. Only later did a fellow spectator alert us to the fact it one of the Red Arrows that crashed. Toby immediately began scanning the news websites on his phone and eventually confirmed it was indeed a Red Arrow - Red 4 - Flight Lieutenant Jon "Eggman" Egging. I didn't want to listen to further speculation, secretly praying no-one had suffered life-threatening injury and tried to enjoy the rest of the show, preferring to wait until I got home, telling myself any unconfirmed reports will be just that.
As we now know, he did lose his life in the crash and the rest will come out in the accident report in good time.
Apparently, the coastguard was simply diverting to the beach to collect Mrs Egging who had been on the seafront from where she had been seeing her husband and his team perform for the first time!
After reading what seemed like thousands of sympathy messages on the festival's facebook page, I noticed suggestions about wearing red on Sunday and gathering on the seafront for a candle-lit vigil in the evening.
We decided we would attend and as a result, I have compiled a (somewhat amateurish) video tribute from my (also amateurish) recordings.
For those that want to see it best get in quick as it contains copyright music which will probably cause youtube to remove the complete soundtrack, including the Red Arrows jets.
Best viewed full screen and with speakers up loud-ish.
That is a very moving video. Lovely choice of music too.
Such a sad day indeed.
Read this on an aviation forum which put a lump in my throat...
Someday we will know, where the pilots go
When their work on earth is through.
Where the air is clean, and the engines gleam,
And the skies are always blue.
They have flown alone, with the engine's moan,
As they sweat the great beyond,
And they take delight, at the awesome sight
of the world spread far and yon.
Yet not alone, for above the moan, when the earth is
out of sight,
As they make their stand, He takes their hand,
and guides them through the night.
How near to God are these men of sod,
Who step near death's last door?
Oh, these men are real, not made of steel,
But He knows who goes before,
And how they live, and love and are beloved,
But their love is most for air.
And with death about, they will still fly out,
And leave their troubles there.
He knows these things, of men with wings,
And He knows they are surely true.
And He will give a hand, to such a man
'Cause He's a pilot too.
