Page 11 - issue05.04.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, April 5, 2019 P11

News

FIGHTBACK: Cpl Josh
McNally takes a bow at Big Mc
UKAF Sports Awards,
presented by HRH The
Princess Royal.
PHOTO: SGT PJ
GEORGE
scoops

UKAF

award

Staff Reporter Further success on the pitch with London Irish
and selection for the England squad saw him
RUGBY ACE Cpl Josh McNally has scoop the RAF’s 2018 Sportsman of the Year title.
been crowned the king of UK Forces The 28-year-old has just confirmed a high profile
sport after a stunning fightback from move to Bath for this year’s season.
a stroke that nearly ended his career. Speaking after being presented with the
The battling airman beat Army UKAF award by HRH Princess Anne he said: “It
boxing supremo L/Cpl Chez Nihell is humbling to be recognised by UKAF as their
and Navy ski champ Brett Wild to lift Sportsman of the Year. Last year was a tough one,
the UK Armed Forces Sportsman of battling back from health problems. I could not
the Year title. have done it without the support of my wife Sarah.
McNally underwent emergency “So many people have helped me get this award,
surgery last year to repair a hole in his I cannot thank them enough.
heart but was back within three months “Having heart surgery was a huge event but to
leading the RAF Rugby Union side to their come out on the other side has made me hungrier
second Inter-Services title in three years. and really pushed me on.”

Rebranded Bloodhound Forces payout for Scots tax hike

military who lose out, to keep rates
military
THOUSANDS
OF
rocket car back on track personnel stationed in Scotland of pay in England and Scotland level.
will avoid tax hikes brought
Under their latest promise the
in by the Scottish parliament
financial compensation cap for
after military chiefs extended a
Scottish tax will rise from £1500 to
compensation scheme. Armed Forces personnel liable for
Staff reporter The 2018 decision to increase £2200.
rates on those earning more than Personnel will be compensated
THE REBRANDED Bloodhound £26,000 a year could have hit with an annual payment, the MoD
rocket car broke cover after a £25 more than 8, 000 Armed Forces has confirmed.
million bailout – with a pledge personnel serving north of the Mr Williamson said: “It is wrong
to smash the world land speed border. that personnel are penalised or left
record. Defence Secretary Gavin hundreds of pounds out of pocket
Bloodhound driver Williamson renewed a pledge to because of decisions taken by the
Wg Cdr Andy Green compensate any members of the Scottish government.”
says the car, powered by a Typhoon
engine and hybrid rocket, is back
on track to hit 1000 mph across a
dry river bed in South Africa.
He said: “As soon as we can get
paperwork for South Africa sorted
out and as soon as we are ready for
high speed testing we are off.”
Yorkshire-based engineering
tycoon Ian Warhurst bought
the team after the project went GREEN MACHINE: RAF
bankrupt with £25 million debts pilot Andy Green will drive the
just months before high speed supersonic Bloodhound rocket
car across a dry river bed in
testing was due to start. South Africa
Warhurst has taken over as
director, replacing Bloodhound
designer and founder Richard Noble
who has been moved to run the as we can in the desert. It was this project was because of the
educational programme. designed to break the land speed educational value. I went down to
The new owner unveiled record and we are going to do that the NEC in Birmingham with my
the rebranded rocket car at in two stages. kids and they were enthused and
the team’s new workshops at “The first is high speed testing inspired.
University Technical College in which will determine how the wheels “Here we are at UTC at the
Gloucestershire. and tyres interact with the desert and centre of a science and technology
He said: “It feels quite strange how the aerodynamics work. We park – it is where it belongs.”
to own it. The car is itself and as a have to go over 400 mph at least. Bloodhound will be bidding to
project so many people have a stake That will give us the data we need reach 1000 mph across a 12-mile
in it. I am part of the team. to come back and go for the record. stretch of the Hakskeen Pan – a dry
“We are going to run it as soon “The reason I got involved with river bed in South Africa.