A POIGNANT memorial to ‘two great’ RAF test pilots, who helped to develop the iconic Harrier jump jet at Dunsfold Aerodrome was staged at this year’s Wings and Wheels.

An historic Hurricane from the Biggin Hill Heritage collection performed a special flypast on Saturday to commemorate the achievements of Duncan Simpson (1927-2017) and John Farley (1933-2018), both of whom played a key role in aviation history.

The crowd applauded pilot Peter Teichman as he performed a victory roll in the wartime classic – one of only 12 still airworthy – following a reading of ‘High Flight’ by WWII fighter pilot and poet John Gillespie Magee.

Mr Simpson – a true aviation hero – broke his neck while flying an early Harrier prototype in the test flight programme, when the engine failed at 3,000ft and he had to eject.

Undeterred, he returned to test flying following surgery to carry out exhaustive trials of the Harrier’s advanced vertical take-off and landing technology, before it officially entered service with the RAF in 1969.

As Dunsfold’s chief test pilot, he also helped perfect the Hawk training aircraft, which was delivered to the RAF in 1976 and has served as an advanced trainer with the Red Arrows for more than 40 years.

Equally hands-on in delivering the world’s first jump-jet fighter, Mr Farley was known as ‘The Harrier’s champion,’ and spent 20 years fine-tuning its capabilities.

Appointed chief test pilot at Dunsfold Aerodrome in 1978, he led the development work on the Sea Harrier and improved Harrier II variants.

Mr Farley’s ‘seat of the pants’ Harrier displays at the airfield, for which he developed a unique take-off procedure, became the stuff of legends.

He would hover at 100ft, simultaneously using the reaction controls to ‘pinch’ the nose to 60 degrees.

John would then apply maximum power to transition into a ‘rocket climb.’

Always a huge Harrier fan, he famously told fellow VIPs watching a Space Shuttle landing, it was “a pity it didn’t land vertically”.

•For full coverage of the airplanes flying and cars driven at the show make sure you buy a copy of The Herald on sale today. (Aug 30).