ROYAL Navy pair, first pilots ever to be trained from scratch by the Fleet Air Arm in 100 years!

Sub Lieutenant (SLt) Andrew Graham (20) and SLt Richard Shilton (24) are the first two EFT (Elementary Flying Training) students to be trained at 727 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton.

Commanding Officer of 727 NAS, Lieutenant Commander Jim Ashlin said;

 “With the carrier on the way and fleets of new aircraft also, we need to recruit and train more and more pilots.  To support the RAF in delivering EFT, 727 have stepped up to the challenge.  SLt Andrew Graham and SLt Richard Shilton leave us to complete their training and will ultimately deploy all over the world, providing security at sea from some of the most modern helicopters in the world.”

Cliff Ibell Images wishes SLt Graham and SLt Shilton all the best with their flying careers!