The Pilots

Firebird

The Pilots

The Microlease Team pilots are Brian Lecomber and John Taylor – two of the best-known names in British aviation. Both hold Civil Aviation Authority Display Authorisations with the very rare clearance to perform Unlimited (world-class) aerobatics down to a base height of 30 feet.

Brian Lecomber – lead pilot

Brian Lecomber Brian began his professional display career 23 years ago with the Rothmans Aerobatic Team. After two years with Rothmans he founded Firebird in 1981. He has now flown more than 1,900 public displays – almost certainly a world record for any one pilot. He has been British Freestyle Aerobatic Champion, and has won many ‘best display’ awards at major shows such as the Royal International Air Tattoo, Biggin Hill, and RAF Waddington. He is a Type Rating Examiner and Display Evaluator for the CAA.

A Freeman of the City of London, Brian was recently awarded the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators Sword of Honour, and also a Royal Aero Club Bronze Medal in recognition of his services to display flying. In what he describes as ‘a past life’ he was a journalist, a Chief Flying Instructor in the Caribbean, and the author of best-selling aviation novels.

John Taylor – number two

John Taylor John started flying gliders at 12 years old, obtained his first power licence with the famous Tiger Club at 17, and turned professional as a display pilot in 1977. Following a three year solo display tour with a Pitts Special throughout Europe, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean he joined the Marlboro Aerobatic Team in its first year as a three-ship formation. He later founded the unique Skyhawks Aerobatic Team, dancing a pair of motor-gliders to the music of Pink Floyd.

John joined Firebird in 1997, and flew with Brian for a year on the Rover Aerobatic Team. His skill as a wingman is universally acclaimed – as is his refusal to fly any formation position which looks unsymmetrical in a two-ship team. Thus the easiest position – echelon – does not feature in the Microlease Team display: the positions used are all the difficult ones, such as line-abreast, stack, and mirror.