Page 21 - link magazine

See us on the net @ www.i-way.co.uk/—swindonlink The Link Magazine • March 1998 21
Teenager takes her destiny to the skies

A 16 year old whose burning ambition is to be a fighter pilot, has been selected by the Royal Air Force to receive a much sought after
flying scholarship.
Rebecca Stuart of Peatmoor will be away this the RAF and am just thrilled that I have been fortu-
summer for 18 days, combining ground school nate enough to succeed at the first hurdle."
training and 20 hours of flying lessons including Currently in the sixth form at Ridgeway School,
four and a half hours solo. By the end of the course Wroughton studying A levels in English Literature,
she will have accumulated half the number of French, RE/Philosophy and Art, she intends taking
hours required to gain her private pilot's licence English Literature and French to degree level and
(PPL). will join the University Air Squadron.
Rebecca already has four hours in her log book, The next step towards achieving her ambition is to
courtesy of her grandfather (a former flying exam- apply to the Royal Air Force for a sixth form schol-
iner on fast jets with the RAF and later a training arship, to help finance the remaining flying hours
inspector with the CAA) who assessed her on her needed for her PPL and more importantly a Cadet-
first training flight when she was only 14. ship to take her through university.
"I've always been passionate about flying and Of Rebecca's achievement thus far her mother
the Royal Air Force," said Rebecca. "I have a step- said, "she has worked extremely hard and shown
father and an uncle who are both serving officers great determination. Relatives and friends have
and another uncle who is an auxiliary flight engi- been wonderful, offering advice, training and sup-
neer on Hercules at Lyneham. With many RAF port, we are all very proud of her. Rebecca is very
friends, some of whom are operating as flying focussed and I shall encourage her all the way to
instructors, I know a fair amount about a career in realise her ambition."

A chance for more youngsters to go airborne
West Swindon has had a detachment of the Air Training Corps for over ten years, convenient for young people living in the area and
also in North Swindon.
Based at Greendown School, the flight is part of 1244 (Swindon) There is a structured advancement programme for cadets, and they
Squadron located at Upham Road, and meets every Friday from 7pm to can also enter the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme. Ex-Greendown
9.30pm. cadet warrent officer Helen Woodham from Westlea received her gold
Boys and girls aged 13 to 16 years can join and learn basic skills, map award last year and has represented Swindon as the Lord Lieutenant's
reading, theory of flight and propulsion, navigation and communica- Cadet at ATC events.
tions. Under 13s are invited to attend flight parades to get an idea of Newcomers to the ATC are always welcome to join, or to find out
what goes on. more beforehand, details can be obtained from Pilot Officer Mike Hall
The cadets enjoy the opportunity to fly in gliders and small aircraft. on 854804.
Trips to RAF stations are organised for flights in larger aircraft and the
excitement of flying aircraft simulators. Being a cadet provides a route
for a few lucky individuals to earn flying scholarships. One recent
Greendown cadet gained a pilots licence to fly light aircraft. CARTEK,KEAD & DOVE
In February, Greendown flight commander Pilot Officer Mike Hall presented
S O L I C I T O R S
Cadet Sergeant Peter Reid, rear, with his Duke of Edinburgh's bronze award
and Cadet Brett Taylor with promotion to Corporal and leading cadet Commerce House, 34/35 Commercial Road, Swindon

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