It’s been reported that Ken Broomfield, well known operator of Jackaroo G-AOIR, passed away on 6 May following a heart attack.
Ken was a real character and organised some great little air shows at his farm strip. He was a great supporter of vintage aviation and will be remembered for his airshow act where a parachutist exited his Jackaroo – not a common sight.
I last saw Ken in the Winter when he helped us load up a Gemini at his farm strip for transportation by low loader to Coventry. Ken used his JCB as a crane to lift the wing onto the truck.
He was telling me then that he intended to resurrect the wings and wheels show at Baxterely this year.
He was never one to be daunted – some years back I flew with him in a Tiger then I heard that a short while later he was in it when it pranged – he hurt his back but was flying again as soon as he could and continued to attend events in his Jackaroo.
RIP Ken.
Tim
By: mickmills - 2nd July 2014 at 22:11
SO VERY SAD TO HEAR THIS UNFORTUNATE NEWS,,,,, i KEPT MY JODEL FOR A SHORT TIME AT BAXTERLEY AND ENJOYED MY TIME AND CHATS WITH KEN, EVERYONE SEEMED TO KNOW KEN,,,,,A GREAT CHARCTER , YOU WILL BE MISSED KEN BUZZING AROUND IN YOUR JACKEROO. OUR THOUGHTS GO OUT TO YOUR LOVED ONES AT THIS TIME. MM
By: Rob68 - 11th May 2014 at 22:51
Ken and his Jackaroo, based at Baxterley are 20 min from me so would occasionaly see them flying around as well as his occasional air shows, flyins etc and seemed to me part of the scene for as long as I can remember.
few years ago there was a very small event at Shugborough hall where Ken had landed, towards the end of the day I stood behind the fence watching Ken pre flight and start up while another person cleared sheep from his take off direction, when clear of sheep Ken rolled and took off over the fields and between the trees towards the river and up into the clear blue early evening warm summer skies to return home.
Even though I never knew Ken, I thank him for operating the Jackaroo and will miss them. RIP Ken
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 11th May 2014 at 12:52
Very sad news, he was a real character – Sywell Aviation Museum secured the cockpit of G-AOES from him last year – glad to hear the Gemini has been saved-
Blue skies Ken.
By: scotavia - 10th May 2014 at 13:44
So sad he has passed,I met him a few times a true aviation enthusiast.This short article gives his story to recent years..http://www.tamworthherald.co.uk/Ken-s-taking-Tiger-wing/story-17959422-detail/story.html
By: Arm Waver - 10th May 2014 at 09:24
It was indeed sad and shocking news to hear of Ken’s passing. Bumped into him many times over the years at various places both originally in his Tiger then in the Jackeroo. A genuine enthusiast and supporter of vintage aviation.
Blue skies Ken, it was a privilege.
By: Consul - 9th May 2014 at 22:29
Here’s a picture of Ken with his Jackaroo visiting Coventry in 2009.
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th May 2014 at 20:10
Sad news indeed.
I got to know Ken quite well some years ago.
He once very generously offered me a “lift” from Bruntingthorpe back to his strip at Baxterley. 1st or was it 2nd January, in his Tiger Moth.
I wasn’t about to pass up on such an offer but wasn’t dressed for open cockpit flying, especially not in January. The best he could come up with was a pair of welder’s gloves from the luggage locker.
He asked me to keep my hands outside the cockpit lest I interfere with the controls. We played with the clouds on the way home and it was a truly memorable flight, but it took hours to get the feeling back in my fingers!
What a loss to the aviation scene.
By: Wulfie - 9th May 2014 at 19:25
I would echo that, Ken was a real character, and a lovely man. He was a massive aviation enthusiast, particularly for de Havilland, but loved most things mechanical. He helped us at StART immensely, letting us keep many of our aircraft there for no other reason than that he liked them. I shall be there on Sunday, and it will be very strange not to see him coming limping over to tell us about his latest project.
The Baxterley Air Show scheduled for 29th June has had to be cancelled.
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May 9, 2014 at 5:38 pm