Trinity Flies High
The saying goes that the month of March “comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb”. Torrential rain around Yeovilton on Tuesday 3rd did not augur well for Trinity School CCF Air Experience Flight Day scheduled for Wed 4th March. It was dark, cold but with a settled cloudless sky when 11 cadets met around 6 am to set forth for RNAS Yeovilton.
Spirits plummeted when the minibus, driven by the OC/RN Section Lt Gérard POULET, encountered snow on Telegraph Hill which had brought traffic to a snail’s pace. Similar conditions prevailed over the Blackdown Hills on the A303. However on arrival at West Gate, RNAS Yeovilton, the sun was shining brightly as we were greeted by Lt Andy WHITE RN, a pilot on holdover until he starts his next phase of fast jet training next month. A quick visit to Temporary Stores soon found each cadet fitted out with flying suit, boots, gloves and safety knife. Then off to the HQ of 727 NAS to be met by their TO Lt Jerry TRIBE RN. Shown to the students’ crew room that would be their home for the day, the cadets and their accompanying staff made themselves a welcome “wet” (hot drink, tea or coffee to landlubbers) and then assembled in the briefing room for a presentation on the role of 727 NAS and the wider Fleet Air Arm plus the essential safety briefs in preparation for the flights in Grob tutor aircraft.
Then came the excitement of donning the flying clothes and being fitted with a helmet and parachute - more Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle look than High Street fashion! The 11 cadets from both RN and Army Sections of Trinity School ranged from Year 10 to Lower 6th and had been selected on their commitment to and enthusiasm for CCF. For one young 15 year old, it was to be the experience of a lifetime as Dominic Ellen had never flown before. The “man” was Mr Matt Moses, a former pupil and CCF cadet at Trinity, now a member of staff at the school and an Adult Instructor for the past year, in preparation for taking a TA commission and joining the CCF Army staff.
Divided into four groups, each group was then briefed by their respective Pilot Instructors, namely Lt Cdr Steve McARDELL, Capt Sam LUCAS, Capt Jerry MILLWARD, Capt Nigel PITCHER and then the sorties began. Each cadet was escorted to their Grob and shown the external safety checks before sliding into the trainee’s seat in the cockpit, fastening the seat harness and plugging the helmet into the com unit to listen to the Air Traffic Control and their pilot as they taxied onto the runway for take off. Each flight averaged 40 to 45 minutes and on landing many of the cadets had experienced the thrill of loop the loop and barrel roll aerobatics. Army cadet Cameron Ashton also enjoyed the thrill of a glide landing. Many cadets had even managed to control the Grob themselves during flying manoeuvres. Sgt Jack Golpin, a 6th former who co-leads the CCF Army section was described as a “natural” by his training pilot.
Dominic Ellen alighted from his Grob with an ear to ear grin. He said “It would be a bit like flying to your holiday destination when the pilot asks the passengers if anyone who has never flown before would like to come to the cockpit and help him fly the aircraft; only better because I was with Capt MILLWARD and it was just the two of us, up there above Somerset with the most amazing views”.
After the exhilaration of flying, the group toured the Historic Flight Museum and talked to engineers involved in the restoration and reconstruction of one of the only remaining WW2 Fairey Swordfish torpedo/bomber aircraft, originally built in 1941. The group then visited both the Radar room and the top of the Air Traffic Control tower where they could see at first hand the weather closing in while a group of Lynx helicopters were returning to their base on the other side of the airfield. After a presentation about fast jet careers with the FAA, it was time for the course debrief (verdict: absolutely brilliant) and borrowed kit to be returned to Stores.
Not even heavy snow showers on the long drive back to Teignmouth could diminish the high spirits of AEF06/09 on their way home after such a long exhilarating day. Many thanks to Lt Jerry TRIBE and the pilot instructors of 727 NAS for making it happen.
Lt Cdr (CCF) Geraldine POULET-BOWDEN RNR
Contingent Commander
Posted by
Geraldine Poulet Bowden
Date
08/06/2009 11:26:00
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