On Saturday 4 September 2021, David Barrell was the formation lead pilot for the AeroSuperBatics wing-walking display team and suffered a partial engine failure mid display at the Bournemouth Air Festival. An engine failure being even more of a concern for display pilots due to the low heights at which displays are flown, this situation was further complicated by performing formation aerobatics over water. The problem first manifested itself whilst inverted performing a formation loop.

David first started display flying in 1999 and joined AeroSuperBatics in 2006 and has completed well over 1300 displays (not counting practice displays). This experience and the well planned and rehearsed procedures used by AeroSuperBatics, together with David’s calmness under pressure, led to a textbook handling of a difficult situation.

David immediately terminated the display and informed the Flying Display Director by radio of a partial power loss. He also signalled the wing-walker to get down from the rig and secure herself in the front cockpit and remove the safety tether, in readiness to evacuate the aircraft. The number two aircraft was also instructed to move further out in case David needed to make an abrupt manoeuvrer or suffered control difficulties.

During this time David continued to evaluate the state of the aircraft, which was still producing power, albeit reduced but sufficient to maintain height. Options were considered whether to ditch in the sterile display area on the water, or attempt to make it back to the airport, or an off-field landing. A prime consideration was not to overfly the spectators or built-up areas. David considered that a route to the west along the coast and into the Poole harbour entrance would ensure no risk to those on the ground and potentially enable a return for a safe landing.

However, the engine continued to lose power and approaching the harbour entrance, it became clear they would have to ditch. David continued to assess the safety of others and selected a touch down point out of the boating lanes and away from the chain ferry but close to land and potential rescue assistance. He carried out a well-judged ditching at minimum speed in a tail down attitude, but despite this, the aircraft flipped over on impact. David evacuated the aircraft and continued to look after the wing-walker, who was in a state of shock and needed assistance to vacate the inverted and submerged aircraft.

Assistance was soon on hand from a small inflatable dinghy which was first on scene and only had space for the wing-walker on board The rescuer remarked at David’s calmness when he said he would hold on to the side whilst they towed him to shore. Both were taken to hospital with minor injuries and discharged later that day.

The professionalism with which the incident was handled continued with the post incident analysis aided by the AAIB report, which confirmed how well the incident was handled and the planning for such an incident. The SOPs and regular rehearsal briefings were found very complete, and it was decided by the team to add some extra hand signals for crew communication. Analysis of the mechanical failure which caused the total loss of engine oil and the subsequent engine failure, led to inspection of other display aircraft and engineering changes made to address the potential weakness.

David Barrell’s outstanding behaviour and action on this occasion contributed directly to the saving of his passenger and potentially others, and he is accordingly awarded the Hugh Gordon-Burge Memorial Award.

1974/75  G W Crawford Esq

1976 - 1978  not awarded

1978/79  Captain F H Benton

1980 - 1981  not awarded

1981/82  Captain E H J Moody

1983 - 1986  not awarded

1986/87  Captain Peter Saxton

1987/88 Captain Shornsteimer

1988/89  Captain Dave Cronin

1989/90  FO A Atchinson Purser J Heward Stewardess S Prince Steward N Ogden Steward S Rodgers

1990/91  Captain Alfred L Haynes

1992  not awarded

1992/93  Captain I Berglund FO M Emery Flt. Engineer T N Boone

1994  not awarded

1994/95  Flt Lt A J Stacey AFC RAF

1995/96  Crew of G-TIGK - Captain C J Roberts Senior First Oficer L J Sole

1996/97  Captain Leul Abate

1998  not awarded

1998/99  Flt Lt Geoffrey Sheppard AFC and Flt Lt Ian Brosch MA BSc

2000  not awarded

2000/01  Captain Bill Hagan and SFO Philip Watson

2002  not awarded

2002/03  Lt Cdr Neale Hargreaves MBE - Mission Commander of Dolphin 43

2003/04  Captain Eric Gennotte, FO Steeve Michielsen, FE Mario Rofail

2004/05  Captain Mark William Hoey

2005/06  Thierry Fautrel & Marie-Pascale Bulle of Air France AF 358 at Toronto Airport

2006/07  Kevin (George) Francis

2008  not awarded

2008/09 Ultimate 21 Flight in Afghanistan

2009/10  Flt Lt Alex Townsend RAF

2010/11  Crew of Flight QF 032 (AIRBUS 380 VH-OQA)

2011/12  Flt Lt N McCready BEng RAF and Flt Lt L D Flemington DFC MSc BAv RAF

2012/13  Lt Bryan Peterson USN

2013/14  Captain Malcolm Waters and First Officer David Hayhoe

2014/15  "Ugly 52" - Maj Nicholas George English AAC and Capt Charles William Russell AAC

2016  Captain Richard Alvarez

2017  Flt Lt Karl A Kinsler RAF

2018  Flt Lt Ben Wallis AFC RAF

2019  not awarded

2020 Flt Lt Paul Medford RAF

2021  Crew of TALON 42

2022  Crew of Air Astana Embraer 190

2023  David Barrell