Former Grove Academy pupil and Red Arrows pilot David Binnie has died at the age of 68.
Mr Binnie spent three years, from 1971 to 1974, with the Red Arrows. The aerobatic team arranged a special fly past over his home a few days before his death on August 21.
Mr Binnie grew up on a farm near Broughty Ferry and it was there he developed his love of flying by watching planes heading in and out of Leuchars.
At 17 he joined the RAF, got his wings and went on his first tour to Singapore aged 19.
When he returned he was stationed at Little Rissington and Kemble before moving to RAF Valley in Anglesey to be an instructor.
He was the Gnat solo aerobatic pilot there before being invited to join the Red Arrows, He was a number two for the first year, then in his second and third years was the lead of the ‘synchro pair’.
After that he was deployed to Germany to fly Harriers before returning to an RAF desk job.
When Mr Binnie left the RAF he flew with Britannia Airways for nearly five years before joining Virgin Atlantic where he flew jumbo jets. He retired in March 2011.
A keen runner, he completed eight marathons and was often seen around his home town of Winslow completing his usual running route.
He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and metastatic colon cancer in June 2013.
Wife Liliane said: “He loved his flying but he always said his greatest achievement was his family.”
Mr Binnie is survived by his wife, children Sarah, Fiona and Sam, eight grandchildren and sisters Margaret and Evelyn.