S Eng O, Sqadron Leader Mark Northover

Mark Northover, 34, previously served as the Junior Engineering Officer (a post then known as Eng 1) with the Red Arrows from 1994 to 1996. He grew up near Warrington, Cheshire and was educated at Bolton School where he was awarded a RAF 6th Form Scholarship and was a member of No 70(F) Squadron Air Training Corps. He joined the RAF on a University Cadetship and graduated from Liverpool University with a B Eng in Mechanical Engineering in 1987.

On completion of initial training, Mark was posted to RAF St Athan as a flight commander on No 7(Eng) Squadron responsible for airframe component repairs. Following further training, Mark served as the Junior Engineering Officer on 3(F) Squadron operating the Harrier from RAF Gutersloh and, later, RAF Laarbruch. After completing his first tour with the Red Arrows, Mark was posted to RAF Wyton, initially as the engineering authority for Harrier mechanical systems and then, on promotion to squadron leader, to be the Engineering Authority for RAF and Royal Navy aircraft escape systems. Finally, Mark completed a short tour as a member of the Inspectorate of Flight Safety Airworthiness Review Team.

Mark is married to Carol and they have 2 children, James and Corinne. He is interested in most sports and particularly enjoys golf, squash and football.

J Eng O, Flight Lieutenant Al McNeill

Flight Lieutenant Al McNeill, 29, is the Junior Engineering Officer for the Red Arrows and is responsible for day-to-day operations on the Flight Line. Whenever the Team operates away from base, Al flies in the back cockpit of one of the Hawks on all transit flights so that he is always available to supervise engineering and logistics operations as soon as the Team reaches its destination.

Al was born in Thurso, Caithness, and educated at Breadalbane Academy. Aberfeldy in Perthshire. He joined the RAF as a University Cadet in 1988, studying Aerospace Engineering at Glasgow University. He graduated with a first class honours degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1992.

For his first tour in the RAF Al was the Junior Engineering officer for No 10 Sqn at RAF Brize Norton. After that he was posted to RAF Kinloss in May 1996 where he was first Officer Commanding Aircraft Maintenance Flight and later Officer Commanding Line Support Flight on Nimrod maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

In his spare time Al is a keen sportsman, his main sports being golf and skiing. As a schoolboy he represented Scotland at golf and after joining the RAF he was a member of the RAF Ski Team. He also enjoys hill walking, mountain biking, and swimming. His hobbies include travelling and playing the piano.

Al and his wife, Lucy, have a baby daughter, Isla, who was born in November 1999 during the 1999 Autumn Tour. Al had to fly home from Dubai to be present at the birth. His place on the Circus was taken by Gary Martin who then had to fly all the way to Malaysia and back in the Team Leader’s back seat.