Page 7 - issue19.04.2019
P. 7

Royal Air Force News Friday, April 19, 2019 P7

                                                                                                                                               News



        Tanker is a Euro-star









          Voyager fuels Dutch, German and


          French fighters during combat drill
























         TANKS A LOT: German
         Eurofighter refuels from
         RAF Voyager. PHOTO: SQN
         LDR CRAIG GIBSON


         Toby Watkins                           “For example, we synchronise our plans
         TANKER CREWS  have taken part in a  with the jets’ missions so that once refuelled   FUELLING THE FIGHT: RAF Voyager.
         major multinational air-to-air refuelling  we place them in the best location for the   PHOTO: MARK PARKINSON
         exercise for the first time.         next part of their sortie.”
           Brize Norton-based 10 and 101        Tankers can also carry out out a  search
         Squadrons equipped with the A330 Voyager  and rescue role as their  endurance allows
         joined their Dutch, French, and German  them to keep over the area where the pilot
         counterparts to hone the vital skills that  would have ejected and coordinate any
         keeps fast jets flying.              rescue mission.
           Mission Systems Officer Flight Sergeant   Dutch KDC-10s, German A310 and
         Paul Riley, who has flown on each of the  French and US KC-135 aircraft took part
         participating nations’ aircraft, said the job  in the European Air Refuelling Training at
         was more than being a gas station in the sky.  Eindhoven airbase in Holland.
           He said: “Fuel keeps fast jets like Typhoons   RAF detachment leader Sqn Ldr Craig
         in the fight. A big part of what this exercise  Gibson said: “By operating alongside
         was about was understanding their needs to  tankers in one formation, we have been  :we can only do on an exercise like this –  Typhoon fighters throughout the two-week
         be more than an airborne petrol station.   able to practice tactics and techniques that  refuelling French Mirage 2000 and German   duration.”



       RAF Gherk-ers                                                 CENTENARY CHALLENGE: SAC
                                                                     Sam Lake, second from left, with
       reach for the sky                                             fellow team members. PHOTO:
                                                                     Ollie Dixon/RAFBF
       with charity bid



       Tracey Allen
       A TEAM  of RAF fundraisers got
       themselves in a pickle – scaling the
       heights of London’s famous Gherkin
       skyscraper for charity.
         SACs  Perry  Wright,  Sam  Lake,
       Alex Driver, Anna Duckett, Joseph
       Martin and Karl Cassar ran up the
       steps of the 180m high city building –
       formally known as 30 St Mary’s Axe
       – more than 25 times each to raise
       money for the RAF Benevolent Fund
       to mark the charity’s centenary year.
         SAC Lake, who completed 48
       ascents, said: “This was by far one
       of the toughest things I have ever   TALL ORDER: 180m tall Gherkin skyscraper
       done. There are no windows or
       air-conditioning, you just have to  more than £1,908 of their £2,500
       make it to the top before your legs  target.
       turn to jelly.”               l To donate go to: justgiving.com/
         The team have already raised  GherkinChallenge19.
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