Top 10 British Pilots
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I would say that there are a couple of hundred pilots who would ALL have a right to be included in any list of the TOP TEN.
This current list is non-representative of the wider aviation scene. It is insular in the extreme. Many great aviators have a far greater claim. Indeed, we have a few of them right here on PPRuNe.
This current list is non-representative of the wider aviation scene. It is insular in the extreme. Many great aviators have a far greater claim. Indeed, we have a few of them right here on PPRuNe.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Please Sir, Can I have a vote?
Richard Hill - I think not!
Roger Markwick - now you're talking!
How about Max Pete ?
How about Stuart Clapson, RIP?
How about the guys who were stuffed by lax security in September alst year?
The list goes on; listen to what the Beagle said. Wise words.
As to a hostie list I'm game for that!
First votes go to every Gill hostie! Howay!
Richard Hill - I think not!
Roger Markwick - now you're talking!
How about Max Pete ?
How about Stuart Clapson, RIP?
How about the guys who were stuffed by lax security in September alst year?
The list goes on; listen to what the Beagle said. Wise words.
As to a hostie list I'm game for that!
First votes go to every Gill hostie! Howay!
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Pete,
It would appear that Richard Hill is just to self effacing to comment on his selection for the list.
That must be the cause as we know for a fact that he reads and prints off sections from PPrune and can identify the posters from their comments. You will reacll that he produced print outs and gave evidence to the Employment Tribunal saying just that.
It would appear that Richard Hill is just to self effacing to comment on his selection for the list.
That must be the cause as we know for a fact that he reads and prints off sections from PPrune and can identify the posters from their comments. You will reacll that he produced print outs and gave evidence to the Employment Tribunal saying just that.
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Just a side-thought, but re Moneyshot's comment on Ray Hanna: I appreciate he was almost entirely single-seat, but wouldn't all the guys who flew with him on the Red Arrows have a view on what it was like to fly with him? Or any of the people at Cathay Pacific during his time there? And Breitling Fighters....
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Shame that nobody has yet mentioned Neil Williams. Apart from all else that he did, his incredible feat of flying an aircraft with a failed mainspar inverted back to the airfield, approaching inverted and rolling out at the last second, thus saving his life, should put him up there with the best.
approaching inverted and rolling out at the last second
Some of the great training captains ought to feature in the list (Roger Markwick's already been mentioned), for example, in the UK Chris Cureton, Jim Pegram and Roger Wise, in Australia Mike La Delle; all proper instructors, not trappers, box tickers or egomaniacs.
Last edited by Hew Jampton; 26th Jul 2002 at 12:55.
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Off topic slightly I know, but I'd nominate Robbie Whittall, a dyslexic lad from Leeds, who at the age of 18 became the world hang gliding champon & three years later, won the Paragliding World cup.
This double feat has never been equalled in the eleven years that have passed since Robbie's Hang gliding triumph. Nowadays, he's given up competing & runs Ozone Paragliders, manufacturing state of the art gliders from his base in the Alpes Maritime. A proper flying hero who was and remains an inspiration to many with his irresistable combination of skill & enthusiasm.
This double feat has never been equalled in the eleven years that have passed since Robbie's Hang gliding triumph. Nowadays, he's given up competing & runs Ozone Paragliders, manufacturing state of the art gliders from his base in the Alpes Maritime. A proper flying hero who was and remains an inspiration to many with his irresistable combination of skill & enthusiasm.
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Yes, what about the poor guys who fought (and died a lot of them) for their country, while being a long way from home and on not much money etc., etc.
If it was not for these people, we could all possibly be speaking another European language as a mother tongue.
If it was not for these people, we could all possibly be speaking another European language as a mother tongue.
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pilots
as a non pilot(yes there a such people) heres a few thoughts.
1. douglas bader, why is he famous? its because he flew in the battle of britain with no legs. i take my hat off to him for that, but how did he lose them? thats right in a flying accident when showing off, he admitted himself that he was wrong to do what he did. in fact if he hadnt lost his legs he would probably have been court martialled and dismissed.
2. tornados and jaguars are not toys. ive seen the damage they can do.
3. my choice of top pilot would probably be sqn ldr (retired) geoff timms. he was flying harriers at wittering until he was 62.
1. douglas bader, why is he famous? its because he flew in the battle of britain with no legs. i take my hat off to him for that, but how did he lose them? thats right in a flying accident when showing off, he admitted himself that he was wrong to do what he did. in fact if he hadnt lost his legs he would probably have been court martialled and dismissed.
2. tornados and jaguars are not toys. ive seen the damage they can do.
3. my choice of top pilot would probably be sqn ldr (retired) geoff timms. he was flying harriers at wittering until he was 62.
Join Date: Mar 2000
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Blimey,the current leader of the red arrows must be wondering what he has to do to be a 'top pilot' compared to the BA/BD penpushers.As for the upside down set I can't really comment but it doesn't really do it for me.Airline-wise,and I think I can comment being in the biz,I vote for the guys who uncomplainingly continue to operate year in and out regardless of weather and political climate and amazingly keep their sense of humour,essentially the unsung heroes of the industry.Cheers.
The Reverend
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Moneyshot, sorry for the late reply. I have many happy hours in my logbook, flying with Ray Hanna. A great operator and a thorough gentleman, on and off duty. I would vote him amongst the top 10 any day.
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Gentlemen, Gentlemen,
We all seem to be missing two vital classes of pilot on the list...
1. The SAR pilots of the Coastguard and the Millitary. (with out whom, many of you wouldn't be alive and flying today!) Those who risk their lives on a daily basis, to help others, sometimes to save the 'Top Pilots' after they have taken the wrong choice of action, in the cockpit, whilst trying to show how good they are...
2. Every Pilot who can leave his or her 'aerodrome', fly safely and smoothly, without incident to their destination and then return safely to terra firma with their crew and passengers (where applicable) and aircraft in one piece.
These are the best pilots.
(I dont include the ladies in the above address because they are not and don't have to prove the size of their manhood!)
We all seem to be missing two vital classes of pilot on the list...
1. The SAR pilots of the Coastguard and the Millitary. (with out whom, many of you wouldn't be alive and flying today!) Those who risk their lives on a daily basis, to help others, sometimes to save the 'Top Pilots' after they have taken the wrong choice of action, in the cockpit, whilst trying to show how good they are...
2. Every Pilot who can leave his or her 'aerodrome', fly safely and smoothly, without incident to their destination and then return safely to terra firma with their crew and passengers (where applicable) and aircraft in one piece.
These are the best pilots.
(I dont include the ladies in the above address because they are not and don't have to prove the size of their manhood!)