Stewart -
The RAF News often reports on sons flying with their fathers, but it is rare for a daughter to do so. However, in mid-
Kirsty was just 13 years old when her father was shot down in the Gulf War in January 1991. Fortunately, he returned safely to the UK in mid-
Undeterred by her father’s wartime experiences, 
Kirsty realised her ambition of joining the RAF ‘family’ when she was awarded a University Cadetship to read Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College, London in l998. As a trainee pilot with the University of London Air Squadron, she gained some 100 hours flying the Bulldog before completing Initial Officer Training, Basic Fast Jet Training and, ultimately, Advanced Flying Training at RAF Valley in November 2001. Her achievements did not stop there as, following the award of her ‘wings’, she was selected on merit to become the RAF’s first ever female fast-
Once Kirsty began flying training, it was always her father’s ambition to be able to fly with his daughter. Pictured here are Kirsty and her father alongside the 208 Squadron Hawk in which they flew their mixed-
Kirsty has now been a QFI on 208 Squadron for 7 months and will soon undertake her recategorisation to ‘B1’. Although she enjoys flying solo, she was heard to say that having her dad in the back did make life easier -
Following her 2½
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Left,, Kirsty in the rear seat of XX172 the ‘Red Dragon’ during a recent low flying sortie in North Wales.
(Photograph by courtesy of Mr N Dunridge).
This article first appeared in RAF News.
