After 45 years in the air, thousands of flight hours, and one near-death experience, RAF Leeming’s most experienced fast jet pilot has touched down for the final time.
Squadron friends call him ‘Ricko’, and on Friday morning, 64-year-old Rick Offord made his emotional final landing in a Hawker Hunter aircraft, drawing the curtain on a legendary flying career that spanned four decades and over 16,000 flying hours.
The farewell moment, just days before his 65th birthday, the RAF’s mandatory retirement age, was marked by a heartfelt reception from family, friends, and colleagues at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire.
“It was really nice and slightly emotional,” Offord said.
“I was a little bit sad, especially when I saw the reception from the team on the ground.”
From Rookie to RAF Legend
Offord began his aviation journey in 1980, eventually flying a variety of fast jet aircraft and completing eight operational tours. He has logged over 7,000 hours in Royal Air Force aircraft alone.
RAF Leeming became his home base in 1998, where his influence and mentorship left an indelible mark on generations of aircrew.
A Career Marked by Survival and Service
In 1995, Offord survived a dramatic mid-air collision over Northumberland, forced to eject from a Tornado F3 after the aircraft was damaged beyond recovery. The incident remains one of the many defining moments of his storied service.
After retiring from full-time active duty, Offord continued to give back through the RAF Volunteer Reserve and later took command of No. 11 Air Experience Flight at RAF Leeming, providing young cadets their first unforgettable taste of flight.
More recently, he flew the iconic Hawker Hunter with Hawker Hunter Aviation, supporting critical military trials and training exercises.
A Final Chapter Written in the Skies
On Friday, 6 June, Ricko took to the skies for one last sortie, piloting the sleek Hunter on a farewell flight that ended just before 12.30pm. What began as just another mission ended in a round of applause, warm embraces, and a quiet moment of reflection.
“I kept busy on the flight as I had a few things to do,” he said, “but on the transit back I had a little time to think, and that’s when it really hit me.”
As RAF Leeming’s longest-serving fast jet pilot, Rick Offord’s departure marks the end of an era, and a salute to a man who never stopped flying, teaching, or serving.
