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Force is with brave RAF boys in their sci-fi gear

 

 

 

 

FUTURISTIC: One of the pilots from RAF Cottesmore dubbed the “Jedi Knights†because of their new futuristic kit.

 

The eight-strong crew, who have just flown out from RAF Cottesmore, near Stamford, will have the force behind them as they see active service in Afghanistan.

 

Each of them fly a state-of-the-art Harrier jump jet, and wear new night vision goggles which give them more of an appearance of sci-fi character Anakin Skywalker than Biggles.

 

The state-of-the-art warplanes belong to the RAF's oldest squadron – Number 1 – and the jets boast missiles guided by GPS and laser, ground attack rockets and bombs.

 

A pod underneath each jet, fitted with cameras, provides reconnaissance of the target and battle areas.

 

At night, forward-looking infrared systems are used with the pilot's all-seeing goggles.

 

Speaking before they set off, squadron leader Dave Kane (34) said that the "Jedi" name stuck when they started to wear the all-seeing goggles which use forward-looking infrared systems.

 

Father-of-two squadron leader Kane added: "No one can deny we have the "Force". We earned the call sign "Jedi" after we were the first to trial night vision goggles enabling us to operate fully at night and creep up on the enemy.

 

"The infrared beam is similar to the Jedi lightsaber – and what with the goggles, someone compared us to something out of Star Wars.

 

"Like the Jedi we are guardians of peace – because we support efforts to bring stability and peace."

 

Each pilot has also adopted the term as their call sign, eg, "Jedi 3".

 

Alongside him on deployment in Kandahar – near the epicentre of the conflict in nearby Helmand Province – is 32-year-old Flight Lieutenant Zane Sennett.

 

He said: "What we get up to over there is the pinnacle of everything we train for. We support troops on the ground by being ready to send down a huge range of firepower to help them win the battle or get them out of trouble.

 

"Our ability to accurately target the enemy has vastly improved with our new sniper pod which sits under the Harrier.

 

"With it we can see clearly what is going on down below. We were the first squadron to bring this system into service."

 

Wing Commander Andy Lewis DFC heads up the squadron and said the light-hearted nature of the story belied the serious task ahead of them.

 

He said: "We are going to provide protection for soldiers in Afgha-nistan, in particular British troops from 16 Air Assault Brigade.

 

The full article contains 459 words and appears in Peterborough ET newspaper.Page 1 of 1

 

Last Updated: 23 April 2008 10:40 AM

Source: Peterborough ET

Location: Peterborough

 

Full article with pictures here http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/feature...-RAF.4010326.jp

Edited April 25, 2008 by Dragon Home