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Old 17th April 2004 | 07:54
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ShyTorque

Avoid imitations
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: ATPL
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From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Lost two RAF mates during formation flying, separate accidents.

The first was during a Red Arrows low level display practice in a Gnat, he flew into the ground. Later, in the early 90s, another Reds mate flew into the back of the leader's Hawk, but they all escaped courtesy of Messrs Martin and Baker.

The other was in RAFG in the 1980s. During a run and break in a Jaguar, he got it badly wrong, resulting in a mid air between his aircraft and a 2 seater. He was probably dead before he hit the ground.

I might have also been a statistic myself, flying as No 2 one day. The boss had a brain fart and forgot what we were doing. He very unexpectedly called "break left, break left GO" from close echelon port. He did, too, but nos 2, 3 and 4 didn't! He flew a circuit to land by himself. We continued on the flypast as per the brief and number 2 assumed the lead! Glad we missed as we didn't have bang seats.

Not as close as a certain RAF CFS instructor who, whilst leading a tailchase of 3 aircraft, suddenly carried out a stall turn and passed head on by his very surprised nos 2 & 3 in the vertical on his way down! By all acounts, it was quite spectaculer but The Red Arrows later declined to include that one in their display!
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