Ian Hewitt RIP 24th Sept 2020
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 3,968
Ian Hewitt RIP 24th Sept 2020
I've just received the news that Ian Hewitt passed away on 24th September after a short illness.
He was ex CFS Instructor and Examiner and, I believe, a display pilot in the Rothmans team.
He was my boss in the 1990s at RAF Newton when I was a civilian employed military flying instructor.
He was also a Panel Examiner and conducted instructor tests so some may recall him from being tested by him.
I always thought he was a top bloke and certainly one of the best pilot/instructor I've ever had the pleasure of flying with - he made aerobatics look easy!
RIP
He was ex CFS Instructor and Examiner and, I believe, a display pilot in the Rothmans team.
He was my boss in the 1990s at RAF Newton when I was a civilian employed military flying instructor.
He was also a Panel Examiner and conducted instructor tests so some may recall him from being tested by him.
I always thought he was a top bloke and certainly one of the best pilot/instructor I've ever had the pleasure of flying with - he made aerobatics look easy!
RIP
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: uk
Posts: 543
Yes he was a good bloke. I am surprised that there are no more comments regarding Ian. He was staff at CFS when he appeared in my log book way back in 1977, and faded but fond memories surfaced when I read that another one of my generation has gone.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: France
Age: 61
Posts: 53
If this is the same Ian Hewitt that was on the T3A Firefly test team, then he wasn't with the Rothmans. However he was on the Vintage Pair team flying the Meteor, being the last Meteor instructor in the RAF.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 105
Ian was indeed on the Vintage Pair. He did my check out when I was selected to fly the Meteor, including taking part in the Lord Mayor’s Parade in Nov 77. The incoming LM had been a VR pilot and requested a flypast as part of the ceremonies, we overflow London in formation with a Nimrod. Regrettably I never got to display the machine as I was posted and promoted out of CFS before the season started.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 50
Oh dear, that is sad news. I knew Ian when he was on exam wing at Scampton and I was on the waterfront.
Ian kindly flew with me for my civilian FI rating. We flew twice more over the next 6 yrs to revalidate the rating. Each time Ian was a perfect gentleman in his examiner role. Each time Ian took a very practical approach to the instructional aspect of the sortie and quietly offered a pearl of wisdom when required. Although the flights were civilian flights, at a local flying club, Ian wouldn’t accept any payment as we were both still serving. The last two renewals I was seconded to the Saudis in Riyadh and Ian was keen to glean information about the RSAF / BAe setup. I quite thought he might have applied but I don’t think he ever did ? I’ll remember Ian as a quiet, modest and yet very professional pilot.
RIP Ian, I’ll raise a belated glass.
Ian kindly flew with me for my civilian FI rating. We flew twice more over the next 6 yrs to revalidate the rating. Each time Ian was a perfect gentleman in his examiner role. Each time Ian took a very practical approach to the instructional aspect of the sortie and quietly offered a pearl of wisdom when required. Although the flights were civilian flights, at a local flying club, Ian wouldn’t accept any payment as we were both still serving. The last two renewals I was seconded to the Saudis in Riyadh and Ian was keen to glean information about the RSAF / BAe setup. I quite thought he might have applied but I don’t think he ever did ? I’ll remember Ian as a quiet, modest and yet very professional pilot.
RIP Ian, I’ll raise a belated glass.
