Shropshire dignitaries visit RAF Shawbury
A group of dignitaries visited a Shropshire airbase to get a better understanding of the training that is carried out there.
RAF Shawbury welcomed the High Sheriff of Shropshire Charles Lillis, the mayor of Shrewsbury Councillor Jane Mackenzie and the mayor of Telford and Wrekin Councillor Stephen Reynolds.
The aim of the visit was to gain greater understanding of the training delivered at the School of Air Operations Control and the Defence Helicopter Flying School.
The visit started with an introduction by the Station Commander Group Captain Chuck Norris and included a briefing on the future training developments at RAF Shawbury.
A contract placed with Ascent, with Airbus Helicopter UK as a sub-contractor, will deliver 29 Airbus 135 Juno HT1 helicopters and three hoist-equipped H145 Jupiter HT1 helicopters. The contract, which will run until 2033, also includes full service provision to train 286 students annually across all three components of the UKs armed services, the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps.
The first helicopters have already arrived at RAF Shawbury and can be seen in the skies above Shropshire as they prepare to enter full time service from April 2018.
After viewing the Juno and Jupiter helicopters in the hangar, the visitors enjoyed lunch in the officers’ mess.
The visitors were hosted by four students who are currently undergoing training.
Following lunch, the visitors toured the School of Air Operations Control, which not only trains air traffic controllers for both the RAF and the Royal Navy but also trains flight operations assistants and flight operations officers.
After a welcome cup of coffee at the Aries Club, named after the secret flights which took off from RAF Shawbury in 1941, the group visited the learning centre, community centre and sports facilities to see how military families are supported.
Group Captain Norris said: “It was a pleasure to welcome our guests to RAF Shawbury and to explain how we currently deliver training and our future plans.
"I am honoured to command RAF Shawbury during RAF Shawbury’s centenary year and the investment in helicopter training in Shropshire is further confirmation by the Ministry of Defence that RAF Shawbury will remain one of the core RAF bases for years to come. I am very grateful for the support of the local community in enabling us to deliver our task.”
