Aerobatic Displays Ltd has been operating a formation display team since the late 1970's providing an exhilarating demonstration of 3-dimensional freedom with a combination of a high performance state-of-the-art monoplane and three classic bi-planes. The spectacular action includes close formation flying, synchronised and opposition manoeuvres and a world-class solo.

Initially the team flew mostly in the United Kingdom before increasing to four aircraft and displaying throughout Europe and the Far East, including an extensive tour of China. It has represented companies such as Breitling, Marlboro, Ford, Toyota/Lexus, Benson & Hedges.

www.breitling.com

The highly mobile team can be shipped anywhere in the world at short notice and this flexibility has enabled various sponsors to be the first to use this unique medium in such countries as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and China.

Team leader, Nigel Lamb is one of the worlds top aerobatic pilots and in addition to competing in what has been described as ‘the worlds’ most exciting motor sport’: the new Red Bull Air Race World Series, Nigel has:

• 27 years experience as a professional display pilot
• flown more than 1,650 public displays
• won the British Unlimited Aerobatic Championships 8 times in succession

Flying aerobatics in such close proximity requires outstanding flying skills.  Our formation pilots have it in abundance. They are all professional pilots with many years display and passenger flying experience; they have all flown hundreds of public displays and, above all they all share the same passion for flying!

AIRCRAFT

Our team flies a combination of aircraft, each of which has superb aerobatic agility and symmetrical wings. This means that they can fly equally well upside down as the right way up.

Pitts special S2A

• world famous factory-built bi-plane
• light-weight wood, fabric and tubular steel construction gives an excellent power to weight ratio
• enormous strength / exceptional agility / rugged reliability
• +6 / -3 G
• Roll rate 200 degrees/second
• Fuel injected, air-cooled four cylinder flat 4 200 HP Lycoming engine
• Capacity 360 cubic inches
• AEIO-360-A1A
• 3.1 Kgs / HP at display weight
• 125 Knots cruise / 138 kts/ 253kmh/157mph max level speed
• Maximum Diving Speed 327 km /203 mph (This is called VNE: speed never to exceed)
• 90 litre fuel tank
• 250 Nautical Mile range +- 500km

MX2

• Latest state-of-the-art display and competition machine
• Carbon monocoque fuselage
• Carbon wing stressed to over 30G
• + / -12 G operations
• Full-span ailerons produce a roll rate in excess of 400 degrees / sec
• Engine AEIO 540 EXP
• Fuel injected, air-cooled, six cylinder flat 6 300 HP Lycoming engine
• Capacity 540 cubic inches
• 2.3 Kgs / HP at display weight
• 180 kts cruise / 210 kts max level speed
• Maximum diving speed 240kts/408km (VNE)
• 225 litre fuel tank
• 650 nautical mile range

Nigel Lamb

Nigel Lamb has been a professional display pilot for more than 25 years and has flown over 1,650 public displays in over 30 countries world-wide. He has a wide variety of flying experience ranging from helicopters to DC8 freighters and World War ll fighters which he flew all over Europe as Chief Pilot for the Breitling Fighters display team. Nigel has been British National Aerobatic Champion 8 times and is currently flying an MXS in the Red Bull Air Race World Series.

Steve Privett (‘Priv’)

Steve gained his pilot’s licence before he could drive! A fast jet career in the Royal Air Force was followed by flying jobs around the world, ranging from a weapons instructor in Saudi Arabia to a Safari Pilot in Kenya. He has been display flying since 1991, accumulating over 500 displays around Europe and in the Far East. With over 10,000 hrs flying experience, Steve is now a Training Captain on the Boeing 767 / 757.

Steve Johnson (‘Jos’)

Jos learned to fly in the Royal Air Force. He was the European Display pilot in the Harrier before joining the Red Arrows Aerobatic Team where he became the synchro pair leader. On leaving the RAF, Jos flew the Pitts Special in a professional formation display team and displayed World War ll fighters throughout Europe. He is now a training captain with Virgin Atlantic flying the Airbus A340.

Lee Proudfoot

A professional formation display pilot since 1991, Lee has flown more than 8,000 hours in over 60 different types of aircraft. He has flown for various commercial airlines and spent 7 ‘exciting’ (and very cold!) years ‘Bush’ flying in the Antarctic for the British Antarctic Survey team where he became Chief Pilot. Lee was a display pilot and Flight Operations Manager for the Breitling Fighter Display Team for 4 years. He is now a Boeing Business Jet Captain.

Cocky Benecke

'Cocky' has flown approximately 100 displays in the Pitts Special. He has a total of over 14,000 flying hours and has flown helicopters and jet fighters (including the Mirage III) in three different air forces. He is a training captain for MK Cargo Airlines flying the Boeing 747.

Al Wade

Alan has flown the Pitts Special and Extra 300 for nearly 20 years. As a professional Display Pilot, he has flown more than 1,500 displays worldwide and has 7,000 hours on 140 different aircraft types. His solo displays have won many awards including the Royal Air Force PTC Aerobatic Championship. He lectures in aerodynamics and teaches military pilots to fly, specialising in aerobatics, low-level and formation flying.

Al Kay

As 8 times British Gliding Champion, Alister has achieved 14 UK gliding records including the fastest 750 km triangle and a height climb to 36,600 feet. He has more than 8,000 flying hours on 150 aircraft types. In addition to flying and displaying the Pitts Special for nearly 20 years, Alister has been displaying World War ll fighters throughout Europe as a member of the Breitling Fighters display team.

Al Hoy

Al flew in the Royal Air Force for 12 years. After an operational tour on the Jaguar he qualified as a fast jet instructor and then spent three years in the elite RAF Aerobatic Team the Red Arrows. Since leaving the RAF, he has flown and displayed several types of aircraft including the Venom, Vampire, Harvard and Pitts S2A. He is a captain with Virgin Atlantic flying the Airbus A340