John Farley RIP

[G4UMW]

Very sad to report that John Farley, Harrier test and display pilot par excellence passed away peacefully last night.

[Vulcanone]

I met him at a lecture over 30 years ago. He is one of a generation of test pilots that surely are Heroes.

[Philwinward]

Sorry to hear this . Went to one of his talks some years ago . Kept everyone entertained with his flying stories.

Phil

[Mark43]

He was a gentleman and a lovely guy. Took me and my mates round Warton and Dunsfold many times back in the dim and distant past. RIP sir.

[Dan D'Air]

Oh, so sad. My condolences to his family.
Myself and my daughter had the pleasure of meeting him. Lovely chap and so inspirational.
Most definitely one of Britain's best.
God bless.

(John was a member of Fighter Control)

[G4UMW]

I had the pleasure of meeting him at Dunsfold when I was involved with the Harrier GR5 avionics program and again when he gave a talk to the Milton Keynes Aviation Society. As others have said, he was a lovely man who had the gift of making complex aeronautical concepts understandable to the least technologically-minded person. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.

[PeteHemsley]

Now that is sad news. Rip

[jem60]

Lovely man. Brilliant after-dinner speaker. The boundary pushers of development have lost a great member.

[grumpy616]

Rest in peace sir.

[paddyboy]

A REAL test pilot in every sense

Blue skies

[The Phantom]

Can only agree with the others that mention about what heroes these test pilots were.
A great man and lovely gentleman who will be sadly missed.

RIP Sir.

[jem60]

Short story re JF. As well as being a member of F.C., like me, he was on P.Prune. He answered a query re Harrier development and flying characteristics, and his reply was promptly poo-pood by someone on the site, who obviously had no idea who he was. His reply to this not very knowledgeable person was simply 1 smiley!!. As someone once
said, less is frequently more!!. [Steve McQueen gave that advice to Dustin Hoffman early in the latter's career]

[jaybee]

John always had time for the enthusiast/spotter and always stopped for a photo. Only great pilots like him, understood the enthusiast and his hobby. God bless mate...

15052316486_b21fff3716_o by John Bilcliffe, on Flickr

[Blue Diamond]

Sad, sad news. RIP.

[jem60]

Jaybee. I have seen this pic before. Ray Hanna on the aircraft, John Farley on the left, Rod Dean next, but amnesia prevents me from naming the others, tho' I think Rolf Muem is one. Would you enlighten us please. Many thanks, regards. John.

[Tronk 11]

One opportunity missed to be Sir John Farley, IMHO. He certainly would have earned it.
Every time i watched him on a documentary you hung on every word of the story. I never met him but one aviator I'd loved to have shared a evening in the pub with.

[jaybee]

Jaybee. I have seen this pic before. Ray Hanna on the aircraft, John Farley on the left, Rod Dean next, but amnesia prevents me from naming the others, tho' I think Rolf Muem is one. Would you enlighten us please. Many thanks, regards. John.

Hi jem60... left to right...John Farley, Rod Dean, Ray, Rolf Meum, Alan Walker, Brian Smith and John Rigby

[jem60]

Thanks JB. A great bunch of guys from the 'good old days' of Airshows and Display flying.

[Blackcat1]

1 of the best.

RIP Sir.