Wednesday, June 02, 2010

TRIBUTES PAID TO CRASH DUO

A COVENTRY flying club has paid tribute to a father and son who died in a plane crash in Spain.

Former RAF man Bruce Hook, 63, and his son Ian, 26, died on Saturday shortly after taking off from San Luis aerodrome in Menorca.

It is thought the plane had just taken off when it nosedived, crashed and exploded, killing the pair instantly.

Mr Hook Snr, who lived in Worcester, was flying his own plane – a Beech Baron 55 in RAF colours – when the accident happened.

He was a member of the Armstong Whitworth Aircraft (AWA) Flying Group, in Coventry Road, Baginton, who said he was an “excellent pilot”.

John Stockley, AWA’s chief flying instructor said: “Bruce was a real gentleman who helped students through their flying courses.

“Everybody was shocked by the loss and it’s a real tragedy.”

Mr Hook and his son had entered a Beech Baron twin engine plane in the Air Race Menorca 2010 and were practicing when their plane nose dived and exploded.

Mr Stockley said the planes had to complete between 15 to 20 laps of a triangular aerial course.

The winner would have been the first plane to cross the finish line, but the competition was cancelled following the deaths.

Mr Hook, a father-of-two, had owned the Willpower Garage in Lapworth, Warwickshire, for 32 years.

Ian Hook, of Kenilworth, who was unmarried but had a girlfriend, was described as “the apple of his father’s eye” by a friend of Mr Hook Snr.

Stephen Esslemont, 44, who rents the garage forecourt in Lapworth, said: “He (Mr Hook senior) was well known in the community and everyone liked him. What’s happened is a shock to us all.

“He was a very quiet young man – kind and well-liked, like his father. A lovely young man. He adored his father and they had a good father and son relationship.”

A friend of Ian’s said: “I, along with many of Ian’s friends, are absolutely gutted and shocked at the news of the plane crash that has robbed us of Ian and Bruce. They loved their flying together.

“Ian was such a lovely guy, loyal to his friends, warm and caring to all who knew him, he will be missed by us mates and their families, to whom our thoughts are with at this tragic and very sad time.

“Bruce was a sound bloke too.

“They will both live long in our memories, memories that can never be taken away. The Aero Club has lost two great characters and members.”

Post-mortem examinations are being carried out on both men.

A Spanish government spokesman said: “A judge in Mahon (capital of the Balearic island) is overseeing the judicial investigation.

“He will be given the results of the autopsies and is likely to look at all the information about the accident and speak to witnesses.

“The investigation could take two or three months.”

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