Biography
Rick Ingham was born in Plymouth, Devon in February 1989. His passion for aviation was instantaneous from three weeks old after being taken on the first of a daily dog-walking trip around Plymouth Airport.
Viewing the Brymon Airways Dash-8's turning around ready for take off was a site he never got bored of.
When his parents split just a few years later he moved to Wiltshire, firstly living under the Lyneham flight path, and then next to Colerne Airfields main runway.
It was at the Age of 10 his interest became reality when he was spotted taking pictures of a pair of visiting Harrier GR7's at Colerne. The next morning he found himself on the base with a tour of the Bulldogs, Harriers and the Control tower. In reality it was only a morning looking at a few aircraft but for Rick it was the start of his aviation photography...
...Almost as soon as he turned 13, Rick got his hand at flying early when he spent a lot of time on Air Cadet Gliding Courses completing all available courses to him as well as a dozen Air Experience flights. In 2004 Rick was lucky enough to fly with 28(AC) sqn at Benson flying the Merlin HC3 on the Salisbury Plain before then spending a week at Colerne UAS formation flying with the Grob tutor aircraft. Naturally with all this sudden flying experience his objective in life came to light, to be a Pilot. It's what every school boy wanted but Rick was determined to make it happen. He managed to persuade a family member that was serving at RAF Lyneham to take him on for the week. During that week he took part on training flights including rough strip landings on the Salisbury Plain, Navigation exercises around Bude, Devon and even dispatched parachutes at Keevil in the night. During this time he met some incredible people who left a big impression on his still young and determined mind. He was told by everyone to never give up and keep trying over and over again.
...On the 30th January 2005 his mother informed him she heard on the radio that a Hercules had crashed in Iraq. Having shadowed Lyneham crews only a few months before it instantly hit him hard. When eventually the photos of the crew who bravely died were released he soon realised that some of the crew that had given him those wise words and who he had shared a laugh with were involved. Rick remembers having his photos complimented by Flt Sgt Mark Gibson as well as giving him tips for joining the RAF. Also a very brief encounter with Flt Lt David Stead who found Rick's face amusing after a VERY steep approach into Lyneham...
...For no particular reason, soon after he stopped flying and soon began to lose interest in aviation, especially when he started playing Ice hockey. When Rick got his first car many doors opened and soon found himself all over the UK and in fact Europe with a proper camera...
...Rick now specialises in military aviation and can regularly be found on the Salisbury plain and at RAF Lyneham...
Rick would like to thank everyone who has guided him over the last decade and still has the aim of joining the Royal Air Force that has been his dream for over 19 years…
Left - Rick playing Ice hockey for Swindon and Right - Aged 13 after his first flight at the controls
