A former RAF pilot yesterday lost his fight for life, three weeks after sustaining injuries when his aerobatic biplane crashed on a Norfolk airfield, killing another pilot who was flying with him.

A former RAF pilot has lost his fight for life, three weeks after sustaining injuries when his aerobatic biplane crashed on a Norfolk airfield, killing another pilot who was flying with him.

Stephen Shutt, 51, from Hingham, died at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, last week from injuries suffered when his Christen Eagle II aerobatic biplane was involved in a collision with a crop sprayer tractor at Seething Airfield, near Norwich, three weeks ago.

With him in the plane was 49-year-old Ian Davies, a director of group business development for Archant, publisher of the Mercury. Mr Davies was killed instantly in the accident.

It was confirmed by the RAF central press office that Mr Shutt had been a Jaguar pilot at the former RAF Coltishall base.

Mr Shutt's wife was too upset to talk. However, a fellow flying enthusiast, friend Paul Cox, who loaned Mr Shutt his own Christen Eagle II while he was rebuilding the one involved in the accident, paid tribute to him saying: “Steve Shutt was the nicest, gentlest man I have ever met. He was unbelievably nice and very professional.

“Flying was his passion and he will be very sadly missed by all who knew him.”

A spokesman from the Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) said its inquiry was ongoing.

A key part of that investigation is which of the two men were controlling the plane, which was dual operated, and why it appeared the crop sprayer was not seen.

Mr Davies, a married father of two, was a very experienced light aircraft display pilot and was part of the formation display team the Red Sparrows.