RAF: The Royal Aeronautical Society earns its wings!

Members from the Shropshire branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society were put through their paces by the instructors from 60(R) Squadron and the Bell 412 Simulator as part of a visit to the Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) at RAF Shawbury.

The eleven strong group who were a mixture of aviators, engineers and enthusiasts enjoyed getting hands on with the controls and each had a go at hovering and flying a circuit. Even the more experienced aviators out of the group conceded that flying a helicopter is completely different to fixed wing and required another level of hand-eye co-ordination.

Lieutenant Iain Jardine Royal Navy, a DHFS instructor and committee member of the local RAeS branch said “ The visitors really appreciated the chance to have a go at flying the simulator, it’s so realistic that some of them forgot they were in a simulator and thought they were in the real thing!”

The group also took in the Assault Glider Project, the Squirrel Part Task Trainer (semi-simulator) and enjoyed lunch in the Officers Mess as part of the visit.

Editor: Sqn Ldr Leach

RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2013

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Source / Author: RAF

Photo: RAF