Some of you will pull your head in (dmdbt)...on the Vampire crash (dude was a Kiwi):
Sir Ken's sons insisted Biggin Hill air show went on - report
05 June 2001
Flying continued at London's Biggin Hill air show after New Zealander Sir Kenneth Hayr and his crewman were killed in a fiery crash on Saturday on the express wishes of Sir Kenneth's three sons, it was reported yesterday.
But organisers were forced to abandon the event on Sunday after a second pilot died when his World War 2 fighter nose-dived into trees and erupted into a fireball metres from the main stand.
Air Marshal Sir Kenneth, a former British Deputy Chief of Defence, and his copilot and engineer, Jonathon Kerr, were killed instantly when their 1950s De Havilland Vampire went out of control during a two-plane stunt and crashed.
The Vampire disintegrated on impact, setting fire to trees and bushes.
The Times newspaper in Britain reported yesterday the show continued on the wishes of Sir Kenneth's three sons and Mr Kerr's family but the organisers cancelled remaining events after Sunday's second crash.
A full review of safety proceedings is expected after the weekend's tragedies.
A crowd of 50,000 spectators watched as the World War 2 Bell Kingcobra involved in Sunday's accident stalled at the top of a loop and failed to regain power.
Witnesses said that the pilot tried to pull the aircraft away from the main stand. He had not been named on Sunday night, although it is believed the plane is registered in Duxford, Cambridgeshire.
The American-built aircraft was the only one of its kind still flying in Britain and had recently undergone renovation work.
Chief Superintendent Gerry Howlett said the 40-year-old pilot was experienced.
Air accident investigators were called in to sift through both sets of wreckage in an attempt to find the reasons behind the crashes.
Meanwhile, in a tribute to Sir Kenneth, Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper said he held senior positions in the RAF during both the Falklands campaign and the Gulf War.
"His abiding passion, however, was piloting fighter aircraft," the newspaper said.
Since retirement, Sir Kenneth had divided his life between his homes in New Zealand and Britain in order that he would get the best of two summers and could fly throughout the year. He was particularly enthusiastic about undertaking aerobatics in either of two Russian Yak 52 aircraft which he kept near his Whangaparoa, north Auckland, house.
Kenneth William Hayr was born on April 13, 1935 at St Heliers, Auckland, and educated at Auckland Grammar School before attending RAF College, Cranwell.
After honing his fighter skills with Hawker Hunter and English Electric Lightning jet squadrons in the Middle East between 1957 and 1964, Sir Kenneth transferred to the Central Fighter Establishment/Fighter Command Trials Unit. He served there from 1964 to 1967, before becoming Phantom OCU Squadron Commander at Coningsby, Lincolnshire, the following year. Thereafter he concentrated on piloting the Hawker-Siddeley Harrier.
In 1980, Sir Kenneth attended the Royal College of Defence Studies before his appointment as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations), a post he held for the next two years. During this period he was instrumental in planning the RAF's role in the Falklands War.
Sir Kenneth then took command, in 1982, as AOC No 11 Group before being appointed, in 1985, commander of British Forces in Cyprus and administrator of the sovereign base areas on the Mediterranean island.
He returned after two years as Chief of Staff UK air forces and deputy commander-in-chief, Strike Command, until 1988.
Finally, in 1989, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Defence staff (commitments) which involved preparing and implementing Operation Granby – the code-name for the RAF's role in the Desert Shield and Desert Storm Arabian Gulf operations. He retired in 1993.
Sir Kenneth was appointed chairman of the New Zealand Aviation Heritage Trust in 1993. He was awarded the AFC in 1963 and Bar in 1972. He was appointed CBE in 1976, CB in 1982, KCB in 1988 and KBE in 1991. He was awarded the Kuwait Liberation Order (1st Grade) in 1991.
A courteous and popular man, with a slightly old-fashioned air, Sir Kenneth was respected as one of the best pilots in the RAF. He was always eager to get his hands on any airborne craft, and counted paragliding and parachuting, as well as display aerobatics, among his hobbies.
In 1971, he married Joyce Gardiner, who died in 1987. They had three sons.
