The pilot who died in the waters off Puerto Soller with his 13-year-old son on Saturday 2 August has been identified as Charles Michael Gordon. He was a former US military serviceman who served a pilot of F-18 and F-14 aircraft on US Navy aircraft carriers.
Aged 60, he regularly travelled in his own aircraft and flew frequently from Germany to Mallorca, mainly to enjoy family holidays on the island. He had a second home in Mallorca and was a regular participant in aerobatic displays on the island.
He would fly several days a week for short flights and various manoeuvres. On Saturday, he made his first solo flight early in the morning and returned to the Binissalem Aerodrome, his base of operations for coordinating his flights. In the afternoon, he took to the air again, this time accompanied by his 13-year-old son.
The pilot made regular trips in his own plane between his home in Rhineland, a French aerodrome in Mende and the island. His plane, a blue two-seater Team Rocket F-14 Raider, had the registration number N31VX and was insured and registered with the relevant licences.