The Annual Meeting and Flying Forum of the Historic Aircraft Association on Sunday 21st March saw the chairmanship of the Association formally handed over by outgoing chairman Wally Epton to fellow Council member Rick Peacock-Edwards.
Wally will remain on the HAA Council and will head the Association’s newly-established Engineering Group which is in discussion with the agencies such as the CAA on the ongoing airworthiness and certification of older aeroplanes and their components.
Rick, who spent over 30 years in the RAF and retired as an Air Commodore in 1999, and who was also Master of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN) in 2008/9, has a long connection with historic aviation, display flying and flight safety. The son of a Battle of Britain pilot, his flying career has been spent mainly on fighters and he has over 1000 hours on each of the Lightning, Phantom and Tornado, as well as a further 1000 hours as an instructor on the HS Gnat.
Rick has flown many other types including the Hawk and Hunter, but in display flying is best remembered as the Tornado element in the unique Tornado F3/Spitfire display combo in the mid 1980s. He also led the massed flypasts for the Queens 60th Birthday and also the opening of the 1986 Commonwealth Games.
In addition to his HAA activities, Rick is actively involved with the supervision of air displays and in this capacity he is currently Chairman of the Imperial War Museum Duxford Flying Control Committee (FCC). He is also a member of the FCCs for Farnborough, RIAT Fairford, Biggin Hill and Dawlish Air Displays.
“After six years as Chairman, Wally has handed over the HAA to me in fine shape, with a strong presence and a meaningful role in helping frame future legislation and airworthiness policies in a rapidly changing political environment” says Rick.
“This is a very exciting time for the HAA. I look forward to my term of office and to taking up the challenge of ultimately passing on the HAA, as my predecessor has done, in even stronger and better shape than I have inherited it.”