Page 10 - Linton Link

OC72’S COMMENTS
When I last wrote we had just come off the back of an amazing experience being part of the RAF100 Flypast over London, some 8 months ago. Since then we’ve been as
busy as ever, first and foremost focused on our main task of Training Tomorrow’s Fast Jet Pilots, 20 of them to be exact over 3 fantastic Graduation Days!
We’ve also seen the last Tucano qualified flying instructor (QFI) for the RAF being trained which brings to an end a long history of training Tucano QFI’s that in fact started approximately 30 years ago at RAF Scampton.
And so as the end of Service life for Tucano approaches in October this year, our thoughts have turned very much to the future. We have seen our final few QFIs move to RAF Valley where our role will be continued on the new Texan T6 - which completed its first RAF flight just a few weeks ago, and have sent one to the USA where he is developing the leading edge of using VR to train future pilots! But we are far from winding down, we have our final 4 courses on the Squadron and are absolutely focused on delivering world-class training until the last Graduation in the final week of the Tucano life! Also, we are well on the way to providing a Tucano Air Display for the 2019 Airshow Season, having selected Flight Lieutenant Liam Matthews as our display pilot – local readers will no doubt see him practising from time to time over Linton as we work hard to produce an exciting, safe and professional display. Creating a display in the sunset year of an aircraft is quite unprecedented, and a great reflection of the Whole Force Team here who enable everything we do.
And slightly further ahead we are starting our preparations for that move to RAF Valley; a grand end of BFJT celebration towards the end of summer and a more formal marking of our handover of our squadron ’number plate’ to the Texan Team at the end of October. So lots still to do – to paraphrase (ish) President G W Bush “Mission not complete “, but we are well on the way.
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72 SQUADRON
The days are getting longer, the daffodils are starting to grow, blossom is beginning to show and Shieldsy’s standards are at an all time low. It must be Spring!
The Winter has been a busy period for 72, with the arrival of the final BFJT course, number 274, as well as the graduation of BFJT 270, the Tucano is very nearly at it’s end. We’ve had many QFIs move on to pastures new, several of whom have made the journey over to Anglesey to start their new job on the Texan where 72 Squadron will eventually move in it’s entirety. All may seem lost in Holyhead but remember, Dublin is only a short ferry away...
For the remainers the work continues. We are pleased to announce the reformation of the Tucano Display Team with Liam at the helm and I’m sure they’ll give everyone one last chance to see the Tucano in it’s true (if slightly mature) beauty before she retires. With 4 more graduations to go, the Summer will be as busy as ever but we’re all looking forward to Friday evenings in the Swift Retreat, BBQ ablaze and maybe even the paddling pool will make a reappearance. Until next time, 72.
BFJT 271
Course 271 arrived back at Linton refreshed after the Christmas break and were looking forward to skiing in Les Deux Alpes, however unfortunately were too far behind the line to graduate on time, thus the expedition
was cancelled to ensure a week of flying was not lost. At the end of January, the course deployed to RNAS Yeovilton on a navigation detachment to gain experience of operating at a different airfield and under snow covered unfamiliar terrain. Unfortunately, the weather was unkind, and the two-week detachment turned into one week, but it did provide a good platform for instructor / student bonding.
Upon return to Linton the course managed to progress quickly by conducting various landaways and overnight stops, which allowed the majority to finish their Finial Navigation Test. Although close to the end of the course some mistakes have still been prevalent; notably SLt Mason strapped into the wrong aircraft and SLt Lilley strapped into the correct aircraft but with his rucksack still on his back (notice there is a Royal Navy theme here).
In summary, 271 have had a constructive few months flying as far south as BRNC Dartmouth in Devon to as far north as Balmoral in Scotland. The majority of the course are now onto the Advanced Formation phase or are on the run up to the End of Course Test. Skiing has unfortunately been cancelled for a second time, but the course are looking at spending a week
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