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| Nimrod 2000 display team
Nimrod MR2 XV246, KMW, Waddington (Sunday) 2000. Copyright Gary Parsons, f4 Aviation 2000 Flight Lieutenant Kevin Hughes, 34, was a member of 399 Squadron Air Training Corps in Beverley where he gained his gliding wings and won a Flying Scholarship. Joining the RAF as a Direct Entrant in 1985, following Initial Officer Training and pilot training on the Jet Provost at Cranwell and multi-engine flying training on the Jetstream at Finningley, Kevin was posted to the Nimrod at St Mawgan in 1987. After a period as co-pilot and as a First pilot, he was posted to be Officer Commanding the pilot simulator at St Mawgan until its closure in October 1992. Kevin left to go to the Central Flying School at Scampton, where he graduated as a Tucano Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI). Posted back to the Nimrod in 1996, this time at Kinloss, he spent fifteen months as co-pilot before becoming a captain. Whilst a Captain with 206 Squadron, his crew were awarded an Air Officer Commanding in Chief’s Commendation for their part in the successful rescue of the crew of the fishing vessel 'Sonia Nancy'. Kevin was posted to 42(R) Squadron in 1998 and currently serves as a QFI on the Nimrod Operational Conversion Unit. This is Kevin's first season with the display crew and he has over 3,300 flying hours. Flight Lieutenant Al Gray, 32, was a member of 423 Squadron Air Training Corps in Elgin and a Gliding instructor with 663 Volunteer Gliding School. Al joined the Royal Air Force in 1987 and after training was posted to 201 (Guernsey's own) Squadron at Kinloss and was almost immediately sent out to participate in the Gulf Conflict. After a period as co-pilot, including display co for the 1992 season, Al became a first-pilot then captain in 1993. Following a successful season as display pilot, he was posted to the Central Flying School in 1995. Al spent the next three years as a Tucano QFI at Linton-on-Ouse. He returned to the Nimrod and Kinloss in 1998 where he currently serves as an Instructor on the Nimrod OCU, 42(R) Squadron. This is Al's third season on the display crew and he has over 3,700hrs flying. Flight Lieutenant Ade Chapman, 37, was educated at King's Grammar School in Grantham before joining the RAF as groundcrew in 1981. He served as a Radar technician on Bloodhound missiles with 85 Squadron at West Raynham and North Coates before applying for Air Engineer training in 1989 and, on completion of basic training was posted to the Nimrod where he served as an Air Engineer with 201 Squadron for five years before applying for a commission in 1995. In 1998 Ade became the Chief Air Engineer Instructor on 42(R) Squadron. This is his fourth season with the Nimrod Display Crew, having previously completed the 1998 season with 42(R) Squadron and two seasons with 201 Squadron in 1994 and 1995. Ade has 2,500 flying hours to his name.
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