Page 5 - issue22.03.2019
P. 5
Royal Air Force News Friday, March 22, 2019 P5
News
FUNDRAISING News bulletin
Charity bid Chiefs target
in a pickle space threat
SUPERFIT FUNDRAISERS from
Northolt hope to scale twice the SENIOR AIR chiefs from the UK
height of Everest at a London and across Nato will be meeting in
skyscraper to raise cash for the London later this year for top level
RAF Benevolent Fund. talks to counter the growing threat
Four Air Cartographers will from space-based technologies
each climb the 837 steps of the and cyber attack.
iconic Gherkin 25 times – a total of Military leaders from around
100 ascents or 17,696ms. Everest is the world will join senior
8,848ms high. government officials for the
SAC Perry Wright will be hoping annual Chief of the Air Staff’s Air
to beat the record he set last year of and Space Power Conference
50 ascents in 12 hours. He said: “I
know how gruelling it will be and
how much it will challenge us.
“It’s going to take 12 hours to
complete and if anyone is to beat
my record they will have to dig
deep.”
l Support the RAF Northolt team
in their challenge by donating at:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/
gherkinchallenge19.
BALTIC SECURITY
Typhoons set for Baltic MILITARY SPACE RACE: Key conference
beat as Nato slams Putin speaker ACM Sir Stephen Hillier
at the Institute of Engineering and
Technology, London.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen
Hillier will host an ambitious
two-day programme which
draws together 450 high-ranking
Simon Mander delegates from business, science
and technology.
VITAL VEHICLES and supplies Assistant Chief of the Air Staff,
have arrived in Estonia ahead of Air Vice-Marshal Gerry Mayhew,
the RAF’s latest mission to protect said: “This will be a unique forum
Baltic airspace from potential for international air and space-
Russian aggression. minded specialists to challenge
Four RAF Coningsby-based existing thinking, share cutting-
Typhoons are set to deploy to edge ideas, and explore exciting
Amari Air Base over the summer possibilities.”
to conduct Air Policing operations The conference will focus on
alongside Nato allies. emerging threats across a range
The news comes as the latest of domains and the latest air and
Nato statement condemned Russia’s space applications, equipment
illegal annexation of Crimea five and military strategies.
years ago and its violations of Air and Space Power
Ukrainian sovereignty. Association Chairman Air
In Estonia, the jets will back up Commodore Mark Roberts
the already deployed 800-strong said: “This year’s conference is
British Army Battlegroup equipped now appropriately renamed to
with Challenger 2 tanks. reflect the importance of the
Both operations are a part of the space environment and space-
UK contribution to Nato Assurance based capabilities for military
Measures agreed at the 2016 operations.”
Warsaw summit which ordered l To book a place visit the
four multinational battalion battle Association’s website: https://www.
groups to countries most at risk of airpower.org.uk/air-space-power-
attack or invasion. conference-2019/
In its latest statement Nato said:
“Allies are deeply concerned by the Commonwealth
human rights abuses and violations INTERCEPTOR: Typhoon shadows fighters honoured
being carried out by the Russian de Russian Coot spy plane in the skies over
facto authorities in illegally annexed the Baltic during last UK mission AVM JOHNNY Stringer took the salute
Crimea against Ukrainians, at a service at the Commonwealth
Crimean Tartars and members of stated plans for further military their five-day journey. clock aircraft refuelling for all the Memorial Gates where wreaths were
other local communities. build-up in the Black Sea region.” Professional drivers from Typhoon jets.” laid to commemorate those who fought
“These violations include Britain heads up the battlegroup Wittering-based 2 MT Sqn were RAF Wittering Station in both world wars.
extrajudicial killings, abductions, in Estonia with three others in tasked with getting the RAF vehicles Commander, Gp Cap Tony This year’s service focused on paying
enforced disappearances, violence, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland led by from the UK to their new home Keeling said: “Nato is at the core of respect to Commonwealth citizens who
arbitrary detentions, arrest and Canada, Germany and the United Flt Lt James Eyles, from the everything that we do and it’s really served in the Royal Flying Corps and the
torture.” States. Cambridgeshire-based squadron important that we play an active RAF during World War I and II.
It added: “We condemn Russia’s The vehicles, including aircraft tugs, said: “Once the operation is up and part in that contribution. Since being opened in 2002, a
ongoing and wide-ranging military fuel bowsers and 600 tonnes of spares, running, a small team will remain “It’s all about protecting the wreath laying ceremony has taken
build-up in Crimea and are boarded the cargo ship MV Eddystone to manage a fleet of more than 30 airspace in Eastern Europe and place at the Gates on Commonwealth
concerned by Russia’s efforts and at the Army’s Sea Mounting Centre for vehicles and provide around the deterring potential aggressors.” Day each year.