Page 3 - issue08.03.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, March 8, 2019 P3

“ I have never “ I want a legacy “ Sad though it is,
tried very hard to
grow up that encourages the time is right for
” all women in all Tornado to retire ”
services to go for it,
frankly
” Gp Capt Cab
Townsend, RAF
Marham Station
Commander,
Air Marshal Sue on the veteran
Gray, the most bomber’s
senior female final flypast
Comedian David officer in the
Baddiel on his new British Armed p7
show for kids Forces p11
RnR p4-5

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March 22, 2019

RAF News
Room 68
Lancaster Building
HQ Air Command
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP14 4UE GREAT SCOT: Dave MacKay at the
helm of theVirgin Unity space craft
Editor: Simon Williams during his first flight to the edge
of space, 50 miles above the earth’s
Email: editor@rafnews.co.uk surface. Above taking off attached to the
Tel: 01494 497412 ‘mothership’ PHOTOS: VIRGIN
Sports Editor: Daniel Abrahams
Email: sports@rafnews.co.uk
Tel: 01494 497563 l Continued from front years in the Service flying Harriers. He also to the edge of space 50 miles above the earth in
Speaking after his first flight he said: “I am worked as a test pilot at Boscombe Down and December last year. The company hopes to be
Features Editor: Tracey Allen incredibly proud of my crew and the amazing was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1992. able to offer the world’s first tourist flights outside
Email: tracey.allen@rafnews.co.uk teams at Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship He joined Virgin Atlantic in 1995 and then the earth’s atmosphere, allowing passengers to
Tel: 01494 497622 Company for providing a vehicle and an moved to the Virgin Galactic project, where he is experience zero gravity conditions.
operation which means we can fly confidently now chief test pilot. The craft is carried to 47,000 ft by a
News Editor: Simon Mander and safely. For the three of us today this was the Powered by a hybrid rocket motor, the Unity mothership and then powered to the edge of
fulfilment of lifelong ambitions.” reached a height of 295,007ft at Mach 3.04. space by a powerful rocket. When it reaches its
All advertising: Dave joined the RAF in 1979 and spent 16 The Virgin space craft made its debut flight maximum height it starts to descend.
Edwin Rodrigues
Tel: 07482 571535
Email: edwin.rodrigues@rafnews. This Week In History
co.uk
Subscriptions and 1941 1942
distribution:
Johnstone Publishing Ltd Halifax Le Havre Lancaster debut
26 Whitehall Road The first bombing operation by The Lancaster carried out its first
Leeds the Halifax was mounted when bombing operation when Essen
LS12 1BE
Tel: 0207 855 7574 No. 35 Squadron took part in a was targeted by No. 44 Squadron.
Email: rafnews@jpress.co.uk raid against Le Havre.

2001
Merlin arrives
No. 28 Squadron were the first
recipients of the much vaunted 1942
Merlin HC3 helicopter after Spitfire Malta
European Helicopter Industries
made the first delivery of the The first Spitfires reached Malta, Extracts from The Royal Air Force
legendary rotary craft to RAF when 15 flew off USS Wasp aircraft Day By Day by Air Cdre Graham
Benson. carrier landing in RAF Takali. Pitchfork (Sutton Publishing).