Rotary wing training reaches 50,000 flying hours milestone

Last week, No.1 Flying Training School, RAF Shawbury achieved the significant milestone of 50,000 flying hours on its fleet of Juno helicopters during a training flight on 31st January.

The fleet of 29 Juno (Airbus H135) helicopters are used alongside 7 Jupiter (Airbus H145) helicopters to train military helicopter aircrew from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, as part of the UK Military Flying Training System.

The Rotary Wing element of the UK Military Flying Training System at RAF Shawbury and RAF Valley has been delivered by Ascent since April 2018 with the aircraft sub-contracted to Airbus Helicopters. The modern fleet of Juno and Jupiter helicopters, fitted with glass cockpit technology and an advanced touchscreen avionics suite, support this world-class military flying training solution. Ascent has also delivered state-of-the-art infrastructure, including the Duke of Cambridge Building housing advanced Flying Training Devices, which the trainees use to hone their skills throughout their flying training.

Group Captain Phil Wadlow, Commandant of Number 1 Flying Training School and RAF Shawbury’s Station Commander, said: “It is fantastic to celebrate No.1 Flying Training School’s modern fleet of Juno helicopters reaching the significant milestone of 50,000 flying hours. This milestone is testament to the great partnership we have at RAF Shawbury between the MoD, Ascent Flight Training, and our industry partner Airbus, in delivering world leading military helicopter training. I look forward to seeing many more milestones reached as No.1 Flying Training School continues to train military helicopter aircrew for the frontline.”