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
Source / Author: RAF
Photo: RAF