EXERCISE FLYING SCOTSMAN DROPS IN ON HIGH SCHOOL

Beeslack Community High School, in Penicuik, Edinburgh had the mighty Merlin Mk3a drop in on their playing field during Exercise Flying Scotsman.

845 Naval Air Squadron from Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton were on exercise in Scotland with their Merlin Helicopter mountain flying but it was the school playing fields and 100 second year students (13-14 years of age) that greeted them on this occasion.

Once the obligatory photograph and social media images had been taken with crew and Merlin of Commando Helicopter Force (CHF), students of Beeslack had the opportunity to speak to aircrew and engineers in, on and around the aircraft,

Students received a presentation from Lieutenant Oliver Everett about what CHF is and how it fits into the wider MOD and the type of training carried out in a short video.

The students then had the chance to ask plenty of questions followed by the opportunity to be shown around the helicopter by Aircrew and Engineers with the chance to sit in the cockpit and learn about everything that the aircraft can do. They loved it!

Lt Oliver Everett of 845 Naval Air Squadron said

“All the students from Beeslack Community High took part in an informative and ‘hands-on’ visit from 845 NAS, and got the opportunity to learn about the Commando Helicopter Force, Royal Navy and the wider MOD.  The students were extremely engaging and asked plenty of questions throughout the visit and loved the opportunity to sit in thecockpit and they loved this. It was a pleasure to visit.”