LOCAL LADS DROP IN (fast jet fliers of the future)

2 Young Royal Navy student pilots from the local area paid a flying visit to the station this week. S/Lt Jake Robertson & S/Lt Rob Trebilcock came down for an overnight stop, along with their 2 Naval Flying instructors, Lt Cdr Keiron Steen & Lt Adam Vines, as part of the Advanced Navigation Training phase of their course.

Both Jake & Rob flew gliders with the Seahawk Gliding Club and took advantage of the Fleet Air Arm Officer’s Association Gliding Scholarship prior to joining the RN in November 2014. After pilot grading and Elementary Flying Training at RAF Cranwell, they were selected to attend Basic Fast Jet Training with 72R Squadron at RAF Linton on Ouse.

Commenting on the flight they said “It was a long way, with weather through Wales complicating matters and making fuel tight, but it was fantastic to get the opportunity to fly over an area we know.”

Approximately three quarters of the way through this course, they are set to be awarded their “Wings” in February 18 before moving on the Advanced Fast Jet Training at RAF Valley or NAS Meridian in the United States. Ultimately their aim is to fly the F35 Lightning II from the new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.