Flying high - New Air Force pilots
Seven newly qualified Royal New Zealand Air Force pilots have marked a milestone in their careers with the presentation of their ‘Wings’ or brevets at a graduation parade at Air Force Base Ohakea on 12 March 2010.
The Reviewing Officer for the parade was Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, Air Vice-Marshal Peter Stockwell Commanding Officer Flight Training Wing, Wing Commander Tim Evans said presentation of the pilots’ brevet signifies the successful completion of over a year of flight training. “This symbol of their achievement provides visible recognition of the standards they have reached,” he said. The students, from Auckland, Huntly, Palmerston North, Christchurch and Rangiora will go on to fly Iroquois or Seasprite helicopters, C-130 Hercules, Boeing 757s or P-3K Orions.
Badge of Honour
Flying Officer Fiona Riddler was the only female Air Force pilot to graduate from that class—but that wasn’t all she had to celebrate. FGOFF Riddler was following a family tradition—both her father and grandfather served with the RNZAF. Together with her ‘wings’, FGOFF Riddler was also presented with the embroidered brevet that her grandfather wore as a World War II pilot, and her father was presented with as a pilot at Wigram in 1973.