David Jason (Del Boy) visits - Tony Cunnane's Life and Times

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David Jason (Del Boy) visits

Scampton 1989-01

What we did not know then, on that dark and wet Friday evening, was that the BBC wanted the British Airways "City of Lincoln" and the Battle of Britain Flight "City of Lincoln" Lancaster to be at Scampton for the concert, the Lancaster inside the hangar with the audience around it and the B747-400 just outside the hangar on Echo dispersal. When I questioned this requirement for aircraft to be in position at a radio concert, the BBC researcher assured me that, although this was one of a series of radio concerts, they always tried to make their sets look as pleasing and impressive for the audience at the recording session as possible. The theme for this programme would be the two City of Lincoln aircraft in a programme coming from the City of Lincoln itself and it was, therefore, important that the audience at the recording could see both aircraft and get up close to them even if the audience on the radio could not.

The week before the concert was recorded David Jason, Del Boy from the popular TV series ‘Only Fools and Horses, came to fly with the Red Arrows. The image shows David clearing his ears after landing following his full display practice with the Red Arrows. During the Gulf War, David and his co-star Nicholas Lyndhurst had done a lot of welfare work on behalf of British Forces in the Gulf. They had, for instance, bought a three-wheeler yellow Reliant and had it painted up like the Trotters’ vehicle in the TV series. They had then filled the vehicle with goodies, including food and videos, and had it flown out at their own expense to the Middle East. Some time later the Commander-in-Chief of Strike Command had invited David and Nicholas to lunch at High Wycombe to say an official thank you for their generosity. During the meal the C-in-C asked them if there was something he could do in return.

David Jason immediately replied that what he would really like was to have a trip with the Red Arrows. The Strike Command C-in-C was a little put out. He had expected, and hoped, that the pair would ask for a trip in a Strike Command aircraft such as the Harrier or Tornado. That would have made a good PR story for his command. However, he did the decent thing and arranged matters with Support Command C-in-C who did own Scampton.

Unfortunately Nicholas Lyndhurst was appearing in the West End at the time and his manager would not allow him to undertake what he, the manager, perceived as a dangerous activity. No such problem with David. He thoroughly enjoyed his 30 minute flight in Red One’s back seat, a full nine aircraft practice of the display routine, very rare privilege for a non-pilot.

"David discovered where the radio press-to-transmit button is," said Team Leader Adrian Thurley after the flight. "After that I could hardly get a word in edgeways to control the display. David kept transmitting 'Come in number two', 'you’re too close Red Three' and similar remarks. It was amazing. I’ve never flown a civilian passenger in any jet who was so at ease as David was."

There were no media folk present because David had requested that it should be a private visit. I was out of the flight line with my own camera when they landed and watched as he rushed along the flight line with seemingly boundless energy shaking hands with all the pilots. He then disappeared into the ground crew coffee bar and regaled them with jokes and stories non-stop for about half an hour.

It was greatly appreciated. What a good thing it had been the last sortie of the day because the Hawks’ turn-round servicings were delayed for quite some time.

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