Chris Heames – Viper 1

Chris has a fantastic background as a display pilot having well over 6,000 hours displaying aircraft as diverse as the Yak Hunter, Phantom, Lightning and Tornado. In his personal life Chris has a passion for the game of Bridge and sports the best moustache you have ever seen.

Gerald Williams - Viper 2

Gerald is the only private pilot in the team, which gives you some idea of his dedication with now well over 1000 jet hours to his credit. He has also displayed the Yak, Hunter and L39. Other than flying jets, Gerald's main passion is building successful teams, which he has achieved several times both in business and in rugby.

Mark Southern - Viper 3

Mark is an ex military RAF fast jet pilot where he flew the Hawk and Tornado and was a qualified flying instructor on the Jet Provost amassing over 6,000 hours. He now flies the 757 and 767 as a training captain for Thomas Cook and is easily spotted from a distance by his uncanny resemblance to Sir Geoffrey Boycott.

Dan Arlett - Viper 4

Dan is currently the Officer commanding standard flight for the Tornado F3 at RAF Leuchars in Scotland. With over 5,000 flying hours to date, Dan displayed the Tornado in 2008 at part of the RAF Role Demonstration Team. He has displayed Strikemasters, Yaks and Extra 300s. In his private life he is a keen outdoors man enjoying skiing and trekking.

Ben Morell - Viper 5

Ben was a fast jet pilot for the RAF for many years flying the Hawk and Tornado and was also a weapons instructor on the Hawk. He flies the spare aircraft and swaps for Mark or Dan in the Viper 3 or 4 slot as needed, in between flying the Airbus for British Airways. He has the nickname of Bones and when you meet him you need to ask him why!

Andy Gillet - Viper 6

Andy was a fast jet pilot for the RAF for many years flying the Hawk and Jaguar where he becoming both a Qualified Flying Instructor and Qualified Weapons Instructor on both aircraft. He flies the spare aircraft and swaps for Mark or Dan in the Viper 3 or 4 slots as needed, in between flying the Airbus for a well-known low cost airline. Easily noticeable with a mane of carefully coiffured hair, he can usually be found in the thick of the action near the pilot's tent.

Team Viper ™ are available for hire, either for full displays or fly pasts and can make a spectacular event opening or closing ceremonies and even a private birthday party or two bringing you a cool team with elegant classic jets.

Our display is a fantastic combination of high - energy aerobatics designed to show both our aircraft, the iconic, graceful and powerful Hawker Hunter and the raw power of the ground attack Strikemaster to best effect.

The display lasts for approximately fifteen minutes and consists of a number Of graceful, elegant rolling and vertical manoeuvres to show off both aircraft and can be tailored to meet specific airspace and customer needs. With the straight wing of the Strikemaster we can keep the entire display tight for TV and crowds, whilst the grace, power and pure speed of the Hunter combine to make a unique classic combination.

The aircraft are quite different to fly with the Strikemaster being completely devoid of any anti G devices or hydraulic controls in the cockpit means it takes plenty of strength and effort when flying in formation.

Sir Sidney Camm, the designer of the Hawker Hurricane, designed the Hunter, so it has an incredible heritage & pedigree, delivering on the famous pilot adage of "If it looks right she will fly right"

The Hunter was famously flown by Neville Duke who was Hawkers chief test pilot who described it as a 'Man's Aircraft & a delight to fly' whilst Charlie Brown a great Spitfire pilot famously described it as the Spitfire of the Jet Age, something our team leader would wholeheartedly agree with.

There are a number of manoeuvres the team display and to see an animation of how they are performed click on one of the yellow aircraft below, whilst the names as you might expect take their inspiration from the heavens