The Purple Aviation Team
Storm Smith, Flying Instructor, Eshott Airfield Owner
Storm spent 10 years in the Army reaching the rank of Major. He was qualified as an Advanced Diving Supervisor and Military Parachutist both at Low and High Altitude. In 1994 he left the Army and joined Rolls Royce Plc working in India Nigeria and China in various roles. In 1998 he flew a Microlight from Bangalore to the Farnborough Air Show raising over £200,000 for an Indian cause related charity. This was one of the first flights of its kind by microlight.
In 2002 he purchased Eshott Airfield and embarked on a 5 year development plan with the aim of creating a centre of aviation sports excellence in the North East of England. In 2003 he flew across the English Channel with Miles Hilton-Barber who became the fist blind person to do so in a microlight. In 2004 they set a new British high-altitude record, climbing to 20,300ft dealing with open cockpit temperatures of minus 55oC.
On returning from China he set up Purple Aviation and qualified as an Assistant Flying Instructor on a Full Time Course with Gerry Breen in the Algarve, Portugal. He has since qualified as a Full Flying Instructor and BMAA Check Pilot.
Storm has been married for 19 years to Nicky and has four children Max, Tom, Oliver and Georgina.
Steve Clarehugh - Chief Flying Instructor, Eshott Airfield Manager
Steve started flying 20 years ago and has been instructing from Eshott Airfield for the past 16 years with Northumbria Microlights and more recently also with Purple Aviation. Professional qualifications include flying instructor (fixed & 3 Axis), examiner, as well as engineering inspector rating both for the BMAA and the PFA.
Steve is also an experienced test pilot and has been involved in several microlight build projects. He lives next to the airfield with his wife Fiona and is always there to help anyone with his ‘can do’ attitude. Steve has a number of other businesses, running a Small Holding, a Woodland Burial Site and Plant Hire Equipment.
John Sinclair-Day - Flying Instructor
John works for Purple Aviation part-time at the weekend looking after all 3-Axis training using the school’s Eurostar.
Like many, John’s interest in the magic of flying began with model aircraft at an early age and membership in the Air Training Corps gave opportunity to fly himself resulting in first solo in a glider at the age of 16. John is technically-minded and having gained BSc and PhD (chemistry) his day-job is a technical manager for International Paint based in Felling. John began microlighting in the flexwing type in 1999 but switched to fixed-wing in 2002 and has flown more than a thousand hours in microlights including several European trips. He qualified as an Assistant Flying Instructor on a Full Time Course at Gerry Breen’s School in Portugal in April 2007 and is really enjoying teaching the skills and theories of flying to people from all backgrounds.
Pat Turnbull, Pilot
Pat learnt to fly with Steve in her late 60’s when the sub aqua gear she used became to heavy to lift!! Now into her 70’s she flies regularly from the airfield. She is nearly always on hand to help new people find out about flying and at weekends often has a pot of soup on the go and the kettle full. She is an invaluable member of the team.