DENVER (November 22, 2012)--A man who was killed Wednesday in the fiery crash of a small plane east of Denver has been identified as a retired British Royal Air Force pilot.

Brian North, of Parker, was flying a replica of the World War I era biplane called a Gipsy Moth when the plane crashed and caught fire near the Front Range Airport in Adams County

An airport official said North was in his 70s but didn't have an exact age.

The plane was a replica of an RAF SE5a.

The airport official said North had the parts of the replica plane shipped from England and assembled the plane made largely of fabric and wood struts himself.

North was the only person on board the plane.