Ray Hanna

I met Ray Hanna when he was a QFI on Meteors at Strubby 1964,the singleton at that time was one Fl Sgt, Soames-Waring sadly he passed on last year a true gent who wore a paisley pattern cravat whilst flying, both men are sadly missed.

Mark and Ray both sorely missed. Nice post DC.

A couple of clips of Ray in action….

Empire of the Sun

Piece of Cake

I remember Ray and Mark flying at East Fortune in 1998 – Ray in the Spitfire, Mark in the Buchon.

Magic. A display never to be forgotten.

Hard to believe it’s been ten years. I’ve written a few personal recollections of Ray and the impact both he and Mark had on an impressionable young aviation enthusiast – anyone interested can have a look at http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/2015/12/01/editorial-december-2015-remembering-ray-hanna/. Photos courtesy of our own JDK!

R I P ,Never forgotten

Thanks for sharing that picture.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]242292[/ATTACH]

The much missed Ray Hanna & Bert Goodchild (sat on the wing) preparing for a flight in MH434 back in the 1970’s at Booker.

(picture copyright & courtesy of the Goodchild family with thanks and featured in the book Wycombe Air Park – A Photographic History).

Never forgotten. Memories. Thanks for the reminder Anna

Ten years. I remember crying when I heard the news. I watched Warbirds Over Wanaka videos most weekends as a child, along with reading the books and Classic Wings Downunder. I really looked up to Ray and Mark. I was lucky enough to meet Ray, briefly, at Wanaka in 2004. I very shyly walked up to him, clutching a copy of The Best Of Warbirds Over Wanaka and a pen, hoping to get an autograph. He saw me and said to his companion, “Excuse me a moment, I think this young man wants to talk to me” (or words to that effect). I still have the book, and will never forget those last Breitling Fighters routines. I also saw him the following Easter at Omaka, his final New Zealand show, flying P-40E ZK-RMH. I feel extremely lucky to have seen him fly, and feel tears coming again now.

If you ever want to get an insight into how sorely he is missed, check out his Obituary thread at PPRuNe. It was wonderful to see the esteem in which he was held by his fellow airmen.

Much missed.

Agreed and hard to believe its now ten years.

Crikey…ten years!!

By strange co-incidence, Ray was born on the same day (28th Aug 28) as my Godmother, who bizarrely also died on the same date in Dec, but in 2001.

I make no apologies for posting this again!

Cheers

Paul

Both an old pilot and a bold pilot, a rare breed.

Blue skies. May you and Mark be gobsmacking the heavenly crowds as we speak.

Adrian

Timely reminder. Thank you.

Moggy

Agreed and hard to believe its now ten years. I will never forget the paired display he did I guess around 08 -or 09 at the last Duxford show of that season, September or October. Flying the other Spitfire was Cliff Spink, the loops and tight formation they kept between both aircraft was simply breath taking. Coupled with a day that had a slight haze it was akin to taking a step back in time, watching two maestros performing at their absolute peak. I have yet to see a display to better this, I would hope it was captured on video, does anyone have a link please? RIP Grey Hammer as he was called by my then young son.

Timely reminder. Thank you.

Moggy

First name I heard in regards to Spitfires was Hanna. Sorely missed.

I think in short OFMC has continued in the way they would have wanted it to. I agree that the current pilots are doing a good job of upholding the standards set by Ray and Mark though I still don’t think their finesse will be seen again for may a year.

I agree, I would add Alister Kay to the list, his displays are very much in the Ray Hanna style.
My experiences are similar to Duxfordhawk, Biggin Hill airshow’s and Ray Hanna were always linked in my mind.

I saw MH434 last Sunday, and the Phantom in the hangar at Duxford, and spared a thought for Ray and Mark, thanks for the memories.

OFMC’s Pilots display MH434 & Ferocious Frankie in a way Ray and Mark would be proud of.:)

He and Neil Williams turned me on to flying!

Both taken tragically early, both sadly missed.

I don’t suppose Alain DeCadenet has forgotten Ray Hanna either…:D

Thanks for the memories, gents.

Adrian