Steve Jones (aviator)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Steve Jones
Steve Jones in 2010
Born (1960-01-05) 5 January 1960 (age 64)
Nationality Great Britain
WebsiteProfile at air-races.com

Steve Jones (born 5 January 1960) is a British airline and aerobatics pilot who competed in the Red Bull Air Race World Series, flying a Zivko Edge 540. He is now the championship's head judge.

Jones had his first flying lesson at just five years old, in 1965, in a Cessna, on the knee of a family friend. He became a pilot both commercially and competitively.

Commercially, Jones was formerly a captain for British Airways, flying a Boeing 747. He spends his off-season working on and racing vintage cars. His company is also rebuilding two vintage wooden racing aircraft.

Since 1994, Jones has flown competitively and as a display pilot with Paul Bonhomme in their Red Bull Matadors Team. They have taken their show around the world from the UAE to Japan. Jones flies as the wingman. Jones was a competitive Red Bull Air Race pilot from the first UK race which took place in Kemble UK in 2004. In the Red Bull Air Race series of 2007, he won in Porto, Portugal, defeating Mike Mangold.

Jones retired from Airrace as a competitor at the end of the 2008 season. He spent the next two seasons as technical commentator for TV and Internet coverage.

Red Bull Air Race took a 3-year break, returning in 2014. Jones came back as race director and head of training.

Jones is not to be confused with Steve Jones, glider pilot, who was winner of the 2001 and 2014 World Gliding Championships.

1995 British Aerobatics Champion

  • 1995 UK Freestyle Aerobatics Champion
  • FAI WGP Championships – three 1st place medals, one 2nd place medal
  • All FAI WGP results in the formation team category as the Sukhoi Duo/Matadors

Flying achievements

  • 2000 FAI World Grand Prix, Gold Medal, Japan
  • 2001 FAI WGP, Silver, Japan
  • 2002 FAI WGP, Silver, Czech Republic; Gold, Japan
  • 2004 FAI WGP, Gold, U.A.E.
  • 2005 FAI WGP, Gold, Switzerland
  • 2005 FAI WGP, Bronze, U.A.E.; Gold, Switzerland
Steve Jones at the Red Bull Air Race World Series
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Points Wins Rank
2003 Austria
NC
Hungary
DNS
0 0 NC
2004 United Kingdom
2nd
Hungary
4th
United States
7th
8 0 3rd
2005 United Arab Emirates
2nd
Netherlands
5th
Austria
5th
Republic of Ireland
6th
United Kingdom
6th
Hungary
6th
United States
9th
12 0 6th
2006 United Arab Emirates
8th
Spain
10th
Germany
7th
Russia
CAN
Turkey
8th
Hungary
1st
United Kingdom
DQ
United States
DQ
Australia
5th
8 0 6th
2007 United Arab Emirates
5th
Brazil
8th
United States
7th
Turkey
12th
Spain
CAN
Switzerland
4th
United Kingdom
6th
Hungary
5th
Portugal
1st
United States
4th
Mexico
CAN
Australia
10th
17 0 5th
2008 United Arab Emirates
7th
United States
9th
United States
7th
Netherlands
3rd
United Kingdom
9th
Hungary
2nd
Portugal
4th
Spain
CAN
Australia
6th
33 0 6th

Legend:

  • CAN: Cancelled
  • DNP: Did not participate
  • DNS: Did not show
  • DQ: Disqualified
  • NC: Not classified

See also

External links