Blind pilot's 600mph jet flight

Miles relies on his co-pilot's cues as he cannot see the horizon

A blind pilot has fulfilled a personal dream by flying a fighter jet over Gloucestershire.

Miles Hilton Barber, 58, of Duffield in Derbyshire, performed aerobatics at more than 600 mph in the Hawker Hunter jet.

After touching down at Kemble airfield he said: "It's been the amazing fulfilment of a dream."

His co-pilot Andy Cubin said: "It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life."

I'm pulling five or six gs and doing loops and rolls so it's very exciting Miles Hilton-Barber

The adventurer already holds a record for flying a microlight from London to Sydney, and has trekked 150 miles across the Sahara in the Marathon des Sables as well as climbing to 17,500 feet in the Himalayas.

Mr Hilton-Barber, who has been blind for more than 25 years, is hoping to raise money for the charity Seeing is Believing.

Raising funds

"When I was 18 I joined the Rhodesian air force, failed on my sight then started going blind and now I'm blind as a bat," he said.

"I've been doing aerobatics in this amazing Delta fighter jet and I'm one of the happiest people in Britain right now and feeling absolutely that even though I'm blind all of us can still live our dreams."

Despite not being able to see the horizon, Mr Hilton-Barber was able to fly by taking cues from his co-pilot.

"I rely on Andy from Delta jets to talk me through the manoeuvres, getting me level again - I'm pulling five or six g's ( acceleration due to gravity - the Earth's gravity is known as 1g) and doing loops and rolls so it's very exciting," Mr Hilton-Barber said.

"I never thought I could do it. I'm hoping to raise awareness and funds for blind people in the developing world," he added.

"Miles Hilton-Barber's brave flight today is a fantastic achievement, however my records don?t indicate there being a new Guinness World Record," said Matthew Wignall of Guinness World Records.