Vampiredave

I hope that someone can answer this?

I believe that Flt Lt Andy Offer of No.1 FTS was the last Jet Provost pilot to win the Wright Jubilee Trophy? Is there a list of other Jet Provost pilots who won this trophy between 1968 and 1989?

TIA

Dave W

PPRuNeUser0139

Flt Lt Rome Ryott, a Finningley staff JP pilot, won it during my time there (1974).
There's a sad end to his story.
More winners here (scroll down)

spekesoftly

1976 Flt Lt Dave "Duk" Webb - Jet Provost QFI at No.1 FTS

Wander00

I see Bob Turner won it (in a Gnat) in 1966. I flew my IRT with him, and then he asked if I "minded" him practising his Wright Jubilee sequence. As he rolled into the start of his sequence he mentioned casually that he was cleared to 200ft! I politely declined a second run through, but it was some experience. Oh, and I had passed the IRT!

Old-Duffer

Winners are published in the back of the Air Force List - when that august publication was actually printed, rather then appeared as an Excel spreadsheet or whatever.

AFL 2007 shows 2004 and 2005 were a chap called Flt Lt C Parkinson but he was at YUAS and so of no interest to this Thread.

O-D

Vampiredave

I may have been in error when I stated that Flt Lt Andy Offer was the last Jet Provost display pilot as I have just been advised that it could have been Flt Lt Steve Howard of No.1 FTS in 1992?

Thank you to those who have contributed, so far.

DW

Haraka

In 1968 "Dinger" Bell used to regularly run through his Wright Trophy routine in the skies over the Towers.
His "falling leaf" in a J.P. was always impressive.
I believe he subsequently left the Service to fly for the Missionary Aviation Fellowship.

Vampiredave

Haraka: very interesting. I have yet to find out his Christian name - all I have is: 1968: Flt Lt Bell RAFC Cranwell - D A Bell?

BEagle

I recall my first encounter with Dinger. It was during 'Scholarship Visit', a freebie we RAF Scholars were given before actually entering the Towers.

We were all at some do or other when Dinger came over and engaged us in conversation about flying. Of course we'd only had our brand new PPLs for a few months, so when he asked us "Would you like to come over to Whittle Hall and see a film about instrument flying?", we gladly accepted. Naïve fools that we were!

It was titled something like 'Signposts in the Sky'. After a few minutes about instrument flying, it turned into bible-bashing religious propaganda - we'd been well and truly had by the god-squad! During the break we bolted down our coffee and legged it at the first polite opportunity.

Yes, I remember Dinger.....

PPRuNeUser0139

I remember watching a number of Rome Ryott's display practices overhead Finningley - the highlight of which (to my untutored eye) was the 45° AOB inverted 360° turn at low level.

Groucho

Dick Bell, went on to Lightnings and went on to be UTP at the Leconfield MU before retiring to Missionary piloting as said.

Want the whole story?

Seaton man wins MBE for helping underprivileged - News - Midweek Herald

'Lord' - he hasn't changed a bit!!

Wander00

I recall being beaten around the head at Sunday School about MAF. The flying looked interesting but the God squad (HQ our house) were beginning to get me down

Audax

Ah--Dinger Bell, could I tell you some stories about his exploits, libel laws make me prudent!

Groucho

Rumour had it that it wasn’t so much a case of ‘Dick got God’ but ‘God got Dick’

scotbill

I see the late PD (Pete) Jarvis won it twice in '64 and '65 and went on to a lifetime of aerobatics in civilian life with the Tiger Club and The Old Flying Machine company - as well as a distinguished commercial career.

Vampiredave

I have been fortunate to have been sent a complete list of WJT winners. Can anyone please confirm what aircraft the following would have flown during their respective display seasons?


1977:Flt Lt M D Ashton No.6 FTS
1978: Fg Off R Coates No.1 FTS
1979: Flt Lt M B R Marriott No.6 FTS
1981: Flt Lt L Hatcher No.7 FTS
1983: Flt Lt C R Topham No.7 FTS

TIA

spekesoftly

1978: Fg Off R Coates No.1 FTS - Jet Provost T5A

Rossian

....I do seem to remember him being on a Shack sqn at Ballykelly for a while. He had a photo on his wall from the gun camera on "his" Lightning. The Vulcan was v.high and turning more tightly than he could so he dropped down and converted into a vertical climb aiming at the centre of the V's turning circle. The last frames were of a Vulcan intake WAY too close for anyone's comfort.

He did a bit of godbothering there as well.

The Ancient Mariner

skwerl

Hello. I know that my Dad, Flt Lt Martyn Ashton, won the trophy in '77 with a JP. He was based at Finningley at that time. I know that one of his colleagues crashed during competition training the year prior (I think). He survived but broke his back. Not sure of his name though

I found this forum thread doing some research. My Dad passed away a couple of weeks ago and I've been trying to find out where the WJ trophy is kept, in the hope that I could pay it a visit. Do any of you know how I can track it down?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Jon Ashton

TheiC

Hello Jon, a tweet from Red Ten suggests that it was presented in January this year to the 2014 Tucano Display Team. A bit of googling or similar might find it via them. Best of luck tracking it down.