Test Pilot Jimmy Dell Passes Away

jimmys last live lightning run

in august 2004 when we celebrated 50th of the first flight of the p.1b with xs458 i invited jimmy to be our guest and to honour the occasion i asked him to pull the paper off the fin to unvail the big 50th then we surprise him by telling him that he was making a high speed run with brian carrol in the l/h seat sadly for both of them its was to be there last time that they where in a live lightning i always remember this day because there combined age was 150 years plus and for the orange flying suit jimmy wore for the run when they where both together in the cockpit just before start up i went up the ladder and said to them both dont get any ideals about having i trip somewhere bring her back brian!S an

swer was we will try too. great guys i hope where ever they are that now that they have met up and are swapping stories rmc

Niel

Thankyou for your informative post, I would certainly like to own a copy of ‘Tarnsh 6’ when it is published, for those who might have missed the news stand today, here is the on-line page…….

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/2044882/Wing-Commander-Jimmy-Dell.html

Kindest Regards,

John.

Test Pilot Jimmy Dell -Another fitting tribute – 29 May 08

Just to say that the Daily Telegraph has today, 29th May 08 published a superb detailed obituary celebrating Jimmy’s career in aviation.

Those of us who were fortunate enough to know him personally feel a great sense of loss at his departure and are celebrating his memory in various ways.

Kev Darling has just published a new Lightning book with a dedication to him. The LPG are dedicating the next Lightning Fast Taxy Day at Bruntingthorpe to him. His ghost written memoirs entitled ‘Tarnish 6’ will soon be published and we at ‘Lakes Lightnings’ have the privilage of having Jimmy as an absent patron to our Lightning collection.

We have on display a section of our collection dedicated to Jimmy and all his collegues at English Electric/BAC.

I have written a missive for Flypast magazine about our recent times with Jimmy which i hope will be published in a near future issue.

Another legend gone, him & ‘Bee’ Beaumont are two gentlemen who I would have loved to have spent an afternoon chatting to. Good Night and God Bless Jimmy 🙁

I’ll second that. Chatting to those two gentlemen would have filled a good many wet afternoons with light.

Jimmys funeral – 3rd April 2008

Just to say thank you to Kevin Dell and family for allowing all of us to attend Jimmys’ funeral, held today in St Thomas Church, St Annes.

A congregation of 200 plus attended the church service to say a fond farewell, before a private family cremation.

The service was a fitting send off. It began with the lowering of The R.A.F.A. standard as Jimmy entered the church draped in an R.A.F. Ensign.

A series of appropriate hymns and prayers followed by an excellent eulogy by legedary Test Pilot, colleague and friend, Don Knight.

On departure from the church Kevin and family personally thanked everyone individually as they left the church.

A fitting send off for Jimmy, one of lifes true heros and gentlemen, and a good friend to many.

Gone but never will be forgotten…..chocks away

Is there any way of this years CWJ day run of 904 could be in memory of him?? 🙁

Yep, its being talked about 😉

Is there any way of this years CWJ day run of 904 could be in memory of him?? 🙁

Hi all,

Here’s a little tribute from AVM Ret. Peter Collins:

I served with Jimmy on Air Fighting Development Squadron when we accepted the Lightning into RAF service at the end of 1959. He had been the RAF Liaison Officer with English Electric during development of the aircraft (replaced by John Nicholls who died last year). Together with Ken Goodwin, Ron Harding, Alvin Moore (USAF) and myself we developed the tactics for using this fantastic aircraft as a Fighter Command interceptor. Jimmy was a marvellous boss, generous, fair, extremely knowledgeable and , of course, a superb pilot. It was really no surprise when he was tempted back by English Electric to become second only to Bea Beamont on the Lightning test pilot team. He remained very supportive of his RAF colleagues and we enjoyed a very fruitful relationship with EE and a friendship with Jimmy which endured. He will be much missed.

Peter Collins

And a shot of Jimmy in P1A WG763 in 2004, at Manchester Museum of Science & Industry, taken by Hugh Trevor of the LPG

I was lucky enough to have been introduced to Mr Dell by XM172. A true gentleman who lived the dream. A wonderfull man full of stories of flying. R.I.P.

another star in the sky, passing of a true legend and hero, rest in peace

Rest in peace Jimmy.
My thoughts are with his family.
Such a shame and was only last week xm172 told me over the phone that he wasnt very well.
He shall surely be having fun in lightning heaven with bee.
Rip Jimmy

RIP good sir….although i never met mr Dell…i shall make sure he gets a mention when i speak to the lot at NEAM next

your part of the formation now sir…fly well once again

Very saddened to hear this. My condolences to his friends and family – Blue Skies forever Jimmy.

I’m just imagining the formation fun taking place ‘up there’ now with Bee, Carol and Dell.

We had the great privilage of meeting Mr Dell a couple of years ago, and he was a true gentleman, it was an honour to shake his hand.

Blue skies Sir.

Mark & Samantha

My Respects

Jimmy You will be sadly missed…a true fighter Pilot and Gentleman…

I met Jimmy Dell at the Bruntingthorpe open day in 2006, it was a wonderfull experience to be with him listening to the stories he had to tell.

As 904 completed her run he had a tear on his cheek, a poignant moment in my life I shall never forget.

Blue skies Mr Dell, Blue skies.

John.

RIP Sir, A legend no longer with us but his memory will live on!

Thats very sad news, I have had the pleasure over the years of meeting and chatting with Jimmy many times, both under the wing of a Lightning, in the bar or sitting in the hotel breakfast room after at our annual ‘gatherings’, he was a true gentleman and the world is a poorer place without him.

He like Roly Beamount and Brian Carroll will be missed by all of us LPGer’s

I had the honour of strapping him in on the occasion of his fast run in 904 about 11 years ago,a test pilot to the last, after his run he gave us the list of snags that he had noticed.

RIP Jimmy, fly high and make it supersonic

Another legend gone, him & ‘Bee’ Beaumont are two gentlemen who I would have loved to have spent an afternoon chatting to. Good Night and God Bless Jimmy 🙁