Thumbs up for the air station (From Yeovil Express)

Thumbs up for the air station

10:00am Saturday 10th November 2012 in News

YOUNGSTERS from 2nd South Petherton Scout Group completed their Scout Basic Aviation Skills badge at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton.

The badge involves as-pects of flying including principles of flight, rules relating to access to airfields and constructing a glider. It is particularly relevant to the scouts as they are close to Yeovilton’s sister airfield at RNAS Merry-field, near Ilton.

Naval Airman Neill Claringbold organised the trip to Yeovilton, which included visits to the base’s fire station, 845 Naval Air Squadron, Survival Equip-ment Section and Royal Naval Historic Flight.

The scouts got close to the helicopters they frequently see flying over them when they visited 845 NAS. Pilots Lt Jim Bayliss and Lt Matt Harding explained the Sea King’s capabilities in the hangar.

Naval Airman Claring-bold visited the scouts during their weekly meetings for survival training and they demonstrated what they had learned during their day at Yeovilton. The scouts inflated a life jacket and tried on a flying helmet, among other activities.

Lt Cdr Ian Sloan gave the scouts an insight into an often overlooked element of naval aviation heritage when they visited the His-toric Flight.

Scout group leader Renia Pollard said: “We had a great time and would like to thank everyone at RNAS Yeovilton.”