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10th March 2006

Tucano Tye

On Thursday 9th March 2006, Corporal Tye flew a 45-minute sortie in a Shorts Tucano T1 aircraft from RAF Linton-On-Ouse the home of flying training in the Royal Air Force.

In December 2005, Corporal James Tye, 17 yrs, won the Commanding Officer’s award at the Squadrons Annual Awards Evening. He was presented with this award in recognition of his hard work and contribution to the Squadron and was informed that, as well as receiving the trophy, he would be flown in a high performance Royal Air Force aircraft. 

During the sortie Corporal Tye was able to take the controls of this high performance training aircraft and carried out a number of aerobatic manoeuvres, which included barrel rolls and stall turns.

Having completed a touch and go landing Corporal Tye returned to earth and was congratulated by his pilot, an RAF flying instructor, who commented that he had a stomach of iron and should pursue a flying career. 

Corporal Tye, a student at Bedford College studying Aeronautical Engineering, is now one of an increasing number of cadets within the squadron who have been fortunate enough to fly in high performance military aircraft. He said of his experience, “It was fantastic, I have experienced something that others can only dream of and to actually take control and fly the aircraft was brilliant.”

The Shorts Tucano T1 is a single engine turboprop training aircraft with performance similar to a jet aircraft and capable of speeds up to 315 mph.

See also photo gallery from this day