Sir Michael Knight
Born(1932-11-23)23 November 1932
Leek, Staffordshire, England
Died28 November 2022(2022-11-28) (aged 90)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1953–89
RankAir Chief Marshal
Commands heldAir Member for Supply and Organisation (1983–85)
No. 1 Group (1980–82)
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Air Force Cross

Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael William Patrick Knight, KCB, AFC (23 November 1932 – 28 November 2022) was a British Royal Air Force commander who was well known for his various charity projects, especially for the "Vulcan to the Sky" cause.

Early life

Knight was born on 23 November 1932 in Leek, Staffordshire. He was educated at Leek High School, then studied English Language at the University of Liverpool, where he joined the University Air Squadron. After his graduation, he began his National Service and finished his training as a pilot.[1]

RAF career

Knight joined the Royal Air Force in 1953.[2] He was appointed Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group in 1980, Air Member for Supply and Organisation in 1983 and UK Military Representative to NATO in 1986.[3] He retired in 1989.[3] As of 2009, he was still actively involved in "Vulcan to the Sky", a project that returned a vintage Avro Vulcan XH558 to airworthiness and flight.[4][5]

In retirement he was Chairman of the Air League.[3]

Personal life and death

In 1967, he married Patricia Ann Davies; they had one son and two daughters. Knight enjoyed rugby and music in his spare time.[3][1] He died on 28 November 2022, five days after his 90th birthday.[6][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Sir Michael Knight, top RAF pilot and energetic commander at the height of the Cold War – obituary". The Telegraph. 4 December 2022. (subscription required)
  2. ^ "No. 39935". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 August 1953. p. 4367.
  3. ^ a b c d Debrett's People of Today 1994
  4. ^ Vulcan rules the skies again after £6m facelift Daily Telegraph, 19 October 2007
  5. ^ Irvine, Chris (11 February 2009). "Sir Richard Branson, Frederick Forsyth and Robin Gibb want Vulcan to keep flying". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  6. ^ Knight, Richard (2 December 2022). "Knight". The Telegraph Announcements. The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
Military offices Preceded byDavid Craig Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group 1980–1982 Succeeded byDavid Parry-Evans Preceded bySir John Rogers Air Member for Supply and Organisation 1983–1985 Succeeded bySir Michael Armitage Preceded bySir Thomas Morony UK Military Representative to NATO 1986–1989 Succeeded bySir Richard Thomas
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