Brian Brown died in the tragic accident at the Shoreham Airshow on 15th September, a few days ago. He was flying the Hurricane owned by Tom Blair’s outfit, Spitfire Ltd and formerly operated by the Real Aeroplane Company at Breighton. An aircraft that he had flown regularly in airshows for many years and one with which he was very familiar, having flown it for a considerable number of hours.

This personal Tribute to Brian comes from Barry Tempest FRAeS, HAA Council Member for Regulatory Matters:

"A greater enthusiast for historic and vintage aviation would be almost impossible to find. I had known him for over 15 years as a good friend, a fine pilot, a reliable holder of a Display Authorisation and quite the finest small airfield manager I have ever come across. In addition to "warbirds" like the Hurricane, Spitfire and Mustang he displayed the Chipmunk, Harvard, Nanchang CJ6, Jungmann and Jungmeister. These along with British classics like the Miles Magister, the UK built Aeronca C3, the Mew Gull and, especially, the Arrow Active.

The Real Aeroplane Company and Breighton were his passion along, of course, with his family. Brian was a Yorkshireman with a dry sense of humour and a dislike, which was second to none, of those who dwell in the "Belgrano". I know because I was often the butt of his humour. Those evenings in the beer tent at PFA rallies when the jokes flew thick and fast will be remembered always.

He played a vital role in the organisation of many airshows and other events open to the public at Breighton over the past decades. Countless thousands of those members of the public who have attended his shows will miss his huge talent in the future."

The President, Chairman, and Council of the Historic Aircraft Association, together with all its membership, join with "Taff" Smith and Brian’s huge number of aviation friends at Breighton and elsewhere, in expressing their sympathy, and offer sincere condolences to his family.