A Week of It - Top Student's Air Force Experience

OH07-0298-01-tn.jpg image on the right is of Mr Michael Murphy (right), winner of the Walsh Memorial Flying School prize, won a week with the Force Elements of the RNZAF.  Here with FLTLT Mason before taking off for a flight in an airtrainer.

Winner of this year’s Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School RNZAF Prize was Mr Michael Murphy from Howick in Auckland.

In an experience he described as ‘amazing and inspiring’ 21-year-old Mr Murphy visited RNZAF Squadrons to experience a week of life in the Air Force.

FLTLT Tom Fletcher acted as Mr Murphy’s liaison officer during his stay over 30 April to 4 May.
His five-day programme, which began at 0745 hours on Monday 30 April at Base Auckland for a day with No. 40 Squadron, flying with No. 5 squadron on the Tuesday, a flight to Base Ohakea aboard a King Air on Wednesday, Thursday with Flying Training Wing and most of Friday with No. 3 Squadron. He returned, no doubt somewhat exhausted, to Base Auckland aboard a B757 on the Friday evening.

OH 07-0289-07-tn.jpg image on left : Hanging out with No.3 Squadron. L-R: FLTLT Aaron Devlin, LT Ben Till, Michael Murphy, SGT Gaza Clark

‘Although the week was hindered with overall bad weather, I was fortunate and got airborne on almost all operable aircraft. The week itself was clearly an accurate depiction of what I can expect if I choose a career with the Air Force, and in all aspects was professional and military orientated. The RNZAF was warming to me and I greatly appreciated the hospitality,’ said Mr Murphy after his stay with the Air Force.