Ray Hanna: Another one bites the dust...

[alex smit]

Haven't seen this sad news on this messageboard:
Ray Hanna of the Old Flying Machine Company has passed away. Ray and his son were responsible for quite a few of the warbird aircraft seen in the UK skies. My condolences to his family, friends and warbirdlovers.

The following is from the OFMC website at: http://www.ofmc.co.uk

Ray Hanna 28 August 1928 - 2 December 2005

It was with great sadness that we announce the death of Ray Hanna.

Ray, who was 77 years, joined the Royal Air Force in 1949 having learned to fly in New Zealand in 1947/48. Following training on the Prentice, Harvard and Meteor he was fortunate enough to fly such piston types as the Tempest V, Sea Fury, Balliol and Beaufighter.

His first operational posting was to 79 Squadron, 2ATAF flying FR9 Meteors. In the fifties, he flew nearly all the early British jets including Vampires, Venoms, Attackers, Sea Hawks, Swifts and Javelins.

Ray first led a team of four Hunters in 1957, in 1963/64 was a member of the College of Air Warfare Meteor Team and was selected for the newly-formed Red Arrows as No 3 in 1965.
To the best of my knowledge, he remains the longest serving Leader in the history of the team.

Ray's leadership is widely regarded as making the Arrows the world-renowned aerobatics team they ultimately became and, in recognition of his contribution, he was received a bar to the AFC he had previously been awarded for several feats of airmanship.

Ray retired from the RAF in 1971 for a new career in civil aviation, initially on the Boeing 707 with Lloyd International Airways followed by seven years with Cathay Pacific, again with the 707, and for two years the Lockheed L-1011 Tri-Star. In 1979 he was asked to head a private diplomatic 707 company with world-wide operations.

With his son Mark, who was so tragically killed flying an Me109 six years ago, he built up a vintage warbird collection at Duxford which ultimately became the renowned 'Old Flying Machine Company.' In addition to achieving acclaim on the display circuit, the OFMC has numerous movie credits.

Ray was undoubtedly one of the finest display pilots ever, and regarded by many as the best of the best. Ray displaying his famous Mark IX Spitfire MH434 was a joy to behold, and a sight which will be sorely missed on the display circuit.

Far more important, he was a fine man.
_________________
Priveet, Alex Smit
http://www.yakkes.com/join

[Morpheus]

I saw Ray in 1992? At the last " Pinkstervliegfeest" at Eelde. As far as I can remember he was a nice man indeed and very open to the public.