John Askew

John is 50, from Huddersfield, and runs his own glazing company. he first learnt to fly aircraft and gliders some 20 years ago and, after a brief respite, rediscovered its joys in 1990. A keen parachutist with over 350 jumps over a nine year period, he has also made his mark as a competetive motor cycle rider, winning several club titles, and a national 350cc race at Cadwell park. John's competetive spirit found further challenges in showjumping, and while qualifying for point to point racing and in 1994, a horse riding accident broke his back and left him paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair.  John called upon his nine years flying experience and became an active member of the disabled flying club. His competetive spirit as keen as ever, he realised aerobatics was a sport conducted from a seat, and so with the help of Mark Jefferies of YAK UK Ltd. a simple modification was made to a Yak52 enabling him to fly solo. In his first 12 months of competitive aerobatics, he  won trophies in the UK and Ireland culminating at Peterborough in 1998 where he won the FLYER cup, and gained the title of 1998 National Aerobatic Champion at Standard Level.

Martin Sandford and John Askew with their Championship trophies at Peterberough Aug '98

Profile compiled August 1998

Back to Identity Parade