_____Mike,

Another update for you, to fill you in on the background to a loss of a
Gnat:

XP501 was a Red Arrows 'Tinship' - a normal Gnat with no smoke sytem
installed (ie it was able to hold a full fuel load), but painted in Red
Arrows colours. There were, at most, a couple of these aircraft that were
used to fly urgent spares to the Team, etc.

On 13 June 1969, XP501 was kitted out as the CFS Commandant's aircraft, ie
it had 'Star' side panels fitted - to show it was carrying the CFS
Commandant - Air Commodore Ivor Broom.

We had an Senior Aircraftsman (SAC), Robin Williams, who was leaving the
team and emigrating, with his mother, to New Zealand, who had always wanted
to fly in a Red Arrow before he left the RAF.

Now it was usually quite difficult to get a flight with the Team during a
Display Season for someone who was not part of the 'Flying Circus' of the
Teams Groundcrew - as these engineers were required to service the Team
aircraft after a transit flight, to make them quickly available for a
display. By this method we were able to find any defect that required
attention before the support aircraft arrived, and with it the main part of
the Teams Groundcrew, and with the aircraft spares.

So it was decided that we could kill two birds with one stone - we needed
someone to fly with the Commandant, and with Robin's request it was easy to
pair them together.

XP501 took off before the Team - we were transitting to Germany for a series
of displays, when the Commandant reported difficulties with the aircraft. He
was advised to land at RAF Fairford, with it's long runway, as a precaution.
It was on approach to Fairford that the aircraft crashed and Robin was
responsible for pulling the Commandant from the burning aircraft on the side
of the runway. The Commandant broke a foot and one toe, I believe, and Robin
was burned around the face.

As an aside on this crash, Air Commodore Broom, making use of the 'Old Boy'
network, was able to arrange for Robin, and his mother, to fly all the way
out to New Zealand - with their full household goods and chattals, and they
were able to stay in accomodation in New Zealand until they were able to
settle where they were going to stay.

This story, and others is covered in a recent book, (on Page 177),  called
'RAF Little Rissington, the Central Flying School Years, 1946-1976'
published by Pen & Sword Books Limited - ISBN 1 84415 1381 9.

Keep up the good work, I've still not had an update from Terry Whelan, yet,
but the aircraft was XR987.

Cheers, Brian
in email 8th March 2007_________________________________________________________