…... Air Marshal Sir Robert Wright, is the Fund’s Controller.
But `Horse' wasn`t the only pilot to get away in 2008. The Squadron continued its exchange programme with the equivalent French squadron of Alpha-jets in Tours Air Base last October. This was a very worthwhile detachment enabling 12 squadron pilots and a few of our engineers to indulge in all the Loire Valley has to offer...Yes we did a lot of flying too! There is now a well-established relationship between the 2 squadrons, helped much by our French exchange officer, Captain ‘George’ Lucas. The French visited us here at Valley early last summer (and we never saw a cloud!) and we hope to have them back again this May. Further to this relationship, the Squadron has also had ties with South America.
The Squadron also participated in several overseas training flights, the aim of which is to broaden the experience of particularly the younger pilots, enabling them to detach Hawks around Europe with confidence. This year, we visited Laarbruch in Germany, Cazeau and Cognac in France, and Ursel in Belgium. Furthermore, 2 Hawks deployed to Tanagra in Greece to provide static display aircraft in support of the Hellenic Air Day. Although this required 3 sorties each way, the trans-Europe experience was invaluable for all involved.
Beyond flying, 
the Squadron has also had a busy year in what is now termed ‘Force Development, which broadly speaking, is training designed to expand the knowledge and awareness of RAF personnel in matters relating principally to Air Power. In April 2008 the Squadron visited Berlin, with additional stops in Dresden and of all places, Colditz! The Squadron also undertook its first visit to RAF Spadeadam in the Borders last December, designed to introduce the students to Electronic Warfare and how the RAF trains its pilots to deal with Surface-to-Air Missiles. And finally, we have just returned from a visit to Rome, where 18 pilots undertook to study the Italian Campaign of 1943 onwards, focussing on Anzio, Cassino, and the part Airpower played therein.
Yet it hasn't
been all work (o.k. Italy wasn't that arduous...) and the Squadron has still found time for some adventurous training as well. This has taken the form of exercises in the Lake District and North Wales including rock climbing, white-water rafting and participation in the RAF Skiing Championships in France this January. Such was the Squadron members' success at this event that a quarter of the RAF Ski Team is now formed from 208 pilots (Well, that’s 2 out of 8), a statistic helped by the recent arrival to the Squadron of Flt Lt Roger Cruickshank, who represented Great Britain at the last Winter Olympics!
