Firebird History

Firebird

Firebird History

Firebird’s founder, Brian Lecomber, led a varied career before finally settling on what would be his life’s work. He was a forester; racing motorcycle mechanic; journalist; wing-walker in a flying circus; chief flying instructor in the Caribbean; crop-spray pilot, and then a best-selling author of aviation novels.

In the late ’70’s Brian took up aerobatics and display flying as a hobby. He won most of the regular aerobatic competitions in Britain, flew a replica 1917 Sopwith Camel with the Leisure Sport Warbirds Team, and in joined the Rothmans Aerobatic Team. He flew as Number Four with Rothmans world-wide for two years – and then in 1981 bought a Pitts Special and a vintage Stampe, and started Firebird.

His objective was simple. Brian wanted Firebird to be the best, the most savage, tiny air force in the world. No compromise on producing the most advanced displays; no compromise in the belief that even a lay audience can tell the difference between merely good and excellent; and no compromise on safety issues.

Firebird has now been operating for 22 years with an unblemished safety record, and has flown more than 2,750 displays in front of some 90 million spectators in 15 countries.

None of this would have been possible without major sponsors. We are proud of the fact that over two decades the list is short – short because all our sponsorships have been long business relationships. Firebird aircraft have flown the colours of Dunlop, Toyota, Jaguar, Daily Express, Rover, and Microlease.