Folkestone Air Cadet flies high……and low, in RAF fast jet!
Cadet Warrant Officer Jon Tolson of 99 (Folkestone) Squadron has achieved the ambition of thousands of other Air Cadets when he flew in a Royal Air Force ‘Hawk’ aircraft of 208 Sqn based at RAF Valley.
Jon, aged 19, accompanied by his Commanding Officer Flt. Lt. Mike Cremin, made the 370 miles, and 7 hour journey to Royal Air Force Valley in Anglesey, North Wales, for the experience of a lifetime.
The flight, which lasted one hour, took the young aviator from a wet and windy North Wales up to 30,000 feet and clear blue skies where he was able to actually fly the aircraft and carry out some aerobatics under the watchful eye of his pilot Flt. Lt. Duncan Laisney before dropping down to 250 feet over North Devon for the low level 420 knot transit across the River Severn and up through the Welsh valley’s back to RAF Valley.
The wide smile on Jon’s face, along with the two empty sick bags, proved just how much he enjoyed the ride of his life.
Flight Lieutenant Cremin said, “Jon, who is a high flier within both 99 Squadron and the Corps overall is also the Lord Lieutenants Air Cadet for Kent and was given the flight in recognition of his achievements as a cadet. He has just started University and will shortly be leaving the Squadron. It has been his ambition since the age of 13 to fly in a Hawk, and both I and 208 Squadron personnel were very pleased to be able to arrange it for him”.
He added, “Our thanks go to everyone at RAF Valley and especially at 208 for a fantastic two days”.