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Funeral for Red Arrows pilot Flt Lt Sean Cunningham | Funeral for Red Arrows pilot Flt Lt Sean Cunningham |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Hundreds of people are at Coventry Cathedral for the funeral of Red Arrows pilot Flt Lt Sean Cunningham. | |
Flt Lt Cunningham, 35, was killed when he was ejected from his Hawk T1 aircraft while on the runway at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire on 8 November. | Flt Lt Cunningham, 35, was killed when he was ejected from his Hawk T1 aircraft while on the runway at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire on 8 November. |
An independent inquiry is being carried out to establish the circumstances of the incident. | |
It followed the death in August of Flt Lt Jon Egging in a crash near Bournemouth. | |
A private family cremation will follow the funeral. | A private family cremation will follow the funeral. |
Book of condolence | |
RAF colleagues and members of the public were expected to be among the mourners at Coventry Cathedral. | |
A book of condolence has also been opened at RAF Scampton and via the Red Arrows website. | |
Last month, Red Arrows enthusiasts gathered near RAF Waddington to lay flowers in memory of the pilot. | |
Flt Lt Cunningham joined the Red Arrows in September 2010 and had flown Red 3 through the 2011 display season. | Flt Lt Cunningham joined the Red Arrows in September 2010 and had flown Red 3 through the 2011 display season. |
He was educated at Ernesford Grange School in Coventry after moving to the UK from South Africa, aged nine. | |
He qualified for his private pilot licence at the age of 17, before studying at Nottingham Trent University. | He qualified for his private pilot licence at the age of 17, before studying at Nottingham Trent University. |
In 2000, he joined the RAF and went on to fly Tornado GR4s with the 617 Dambusters Squadron. | |
He took part in several operational tours of Iraq, before qualifying as a tactics and pilot instructor. | He took part in several operational tours of Iraq, before qualifying as a tactics and pilot instructor. |