About us

The trust was set up in honour of Flt Lt Jon Egging, who tragically lost his life on the 20th August 2011 whilst completing an air display at the Bournemouth Air Festival; he was coming to the end of his first year with the world-famous Royal Air Force Red Arrows aerobatic team, flying in the Red 4 position.

Jon was passionate about inspiring young people through a love of flying and enthusiasm for teamwork. The Jon Egging Trust has been set up to realise his dream by Jon’s wife Dr Emma Egging, his mother Dawn Egging, childhood friend James Godley and Red Arrow’s pilot Ben Plank.

The Trust has developed an exciting and unique youth engagement programme – Blue Skies – which provides new opportunities to help disadvantaged young people achieve their full potential.

Following the huge success of our pilot scheme, in 2013 the Jon Egging Trust’s Blue Skies programme is now reaching out to Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Dorset, providing nearly 50 young people with new opportunities to help them be the best they can be.

We are a young charity with big aspirations – with fundraising support our plan is to continue to expand nationwide to reach as many young people who need our help as possible.

More information about our youth engagement programme can be found in the Blue Skies section of the website.

Jon Egging - a biography

Having developed a love of flying at an early age, Jon joined the Royal Air Force in 2000. Selected for fast jet training, he flew the Tucano and the Hawk before becoming a Qualified Flying Instructor on the Hawk at RAF Valley, teaching both students and instructors. Jon went on to serve with IV (AC) Squadron – ‘Happy IV’ – based at RAF Cottesmore, flying the Harrier GR9. During his time on the frontline Jon supported the coalition ground forces when flying operational missions in Afghanistan. He also took part in exercises in the United Kingdom and America and, as part of Joint Force Harrier, Jon served onboard HMS Illustrious flying training missions off the UK coast. He became the Squadron Qualified Flying Instructor during his last year on ‘Happy IV’, making the transition to teach on the Harrier Operational Conversion Unit, based at RAF Wittering. Jon joined the Red Arrows in September 2010.