YEOVIL NEWS: Milestone reached by Andrew in Royal Navy career

AN AVIATION navigator who lives in Yeovil has achieved an important milestone in his naval career and passed what is reputed to be one of the toughest courses in the Royal Navy.

Lieutenant Andrew Edwards, aged 29, and three other student observers graduated from the Basic Flying Training course at 750 Naval Air Squadron which teaches fledgling aviators the fundamentals of naval aviation.  Although the course has the word ‘basic ’within its title, it is viewed as one of the most intense and challenging courses within the Royal Navy.

Royal Navy aircrew undergo one of the most intensive selection and training programmes in the world.

PHOTO – TOP: Captain Mark Garratt, Commanding Officer of RNAS Culdrose, congratulates Lt Andrew Edwards, right, of Yeovil.

PHOTO – RIGHT: The flying classrooms of 750 Naval Air Squadron.

Having started their aviation training on the ‘Grob Tutor’ aircraft at RAF Barkston Heath, Lt Edwards, Lt Donnell Fairweather, Lt Chris Bugg and Lt Tim Dunning were then sent to Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose to spend a few months under the wing of 750 Naval Air Squadron -  the home of Royal Naval Observer training.

During their 16-week course, the trainees learnt the skills that are required of a frontline ‘Tactical Mission Commander’, including airmanship, navigation and radar analysis.  The course involved on-ground training within the Squadron’s simulators and airborne education within ‘flying classrooms’, onboard one of the unit’s KingAir Avenger aircraft.

On completion of their studies at 750 Naval Air Squadron, the students will now go on to the next phase of their training on either Wildcat Maritime Attack helicopters at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton or the Merlin MK 2 anti-submarine helicopters at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose.

At the awards ceremony, all four students were presented with their certificates by the Commanding Officer of Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, Captain Mark Garratt.

PHOTOS: Bob Sharples Photography.

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