Red Arrows plane crash

[rbarry]

I'm sure there are many here who have been to countless Red Arrows fly past displays.
Sad news from Bournemouth suggests the pilot may not have ejected.

[hssutton]

According to the Mail 0n-line the pilot did not survive.

Living relatively close to scampton I take many photos of this fantastic air display team. Many of them during practice sessions such as this one.

Harry

[andydo]

he did eject but died r.i.p ive a lot of respect for the forces lads nd lasses moreso the raf as i nearly signed up

[Cathus]

That's dreadful news. I see these guys every year & love photographing them.

It's been announced that Red 4, Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, died in the crash.

R.I.P.

I'm reminded of one of my favourite poems, High Flight, written by Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, a Spitfire pilot during World War II who was inspired to write the poem following a flight in his Spitfire. He was killed 3 months later flying his Spitfire...

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

— John Gillespie Magee, Jr

[greenwing]

These guys do it because they can.
I'm sure that they realise the risks.
Fly on in peace, Jon.

[Jediboy]

Very sad news. May he rest in peace.

[silversnapper1]

A sad day.

[ap4a]

Very sad indeed, RIP