Page 10 - issue17.05.2019
P. 10

Royal Air Force News Friday, May 17, 2019 P10

          News


                                     Chin up




                                     THE CHINOOK  Display team has
                                     been cleared for take off for this year’s
                                     airshow season.
                                       The aerobatics aces proudly
                                     donned their coveted black flying suits
                                     for the first time after being presented
                                     with their public display authority
       D-Day 75th appeal             after showcasing their routine to air
                                     safety chiefs.
                                       The Odiham-based outfit is
       AS THE  75th anniversary of  the only RAF team which remains
       D-Day approaches we want to  operational while performing at
       hear from  RAF  News readers  airshows across the country in their
       whose relatives lived through it.   own time.
         Did they fly in support of the   The veteran combat chopper
       invasion, win a gallantry award,  is expected to be seen by millions
       care for the wounded or assist the  of aviation fans across the UK and
       air operation in any other way?   Europe this summer.
         Share   your  stories  and
       photographs by emailing editor@
       Mali charity bid Ring ace
       rafnews.co.uk or post to RAF News,
       Room 68, Lancaster Building, HQ
       Air  Command, High Wycombe,
       Buckinghamshire, HP14 4UE.


                                       Axe is a







                                       Hit-Hop





       PERMISSION TO SAND: Chinooks
       supporting UN mission in Mali, West Africa
       ODIHAM     CHOPPER     crews
       supporting the UN peacekeeping
       mission  in  Mali   hit  the    smash
       fundraising trail to net cash for
       Forces charities.
         More than 25 airmen and
       women with 1310 Flight clocked
       up the 4000-mile distance back to
       in Gao in the West African country. Boxing champ puts
       the Hampshire station by running,
       biking and rowing from their base
         The group endured 40˚C heat
       and sandstorms during their     in knockout music
       charity  bid.  Organiser  Flt  Lt  Matt
       Williams said: “This was by far one                                                                                           PUNCHY PERFORMANCE:
         “The intensity of the heat,  video performance
       of the most difficult challenges I                                                                                            Brad goes through some moves
       have ever done.                                                                                                               in the Odiham gym for Hip-Hop
                                                                                                                                     producer pal Luke Hamilton.
       and the dust that swept up from                                                                                               Below, duo take a breather during
                                                                                                                                     filming for music video.
       high winds and storms reduced
       the visibility down to near zero.
       “Never have I wished so much for   Simon Mander                The elite middleweight fighter,
       pavement and British soil.”                                  who narrowly missed out on the
         Money raised by the event will be  RAF BOXING star Brad Axe has  UK Armed Forces title earlier
       donated to the RAF Benevolent Fund.  teamed up with a Hip-Hop music  this year on a controversial split
                                     producer to create his own pop  decision, got permission to shoot
       Service nets UK               video.                         the video in the gym at Odiham.
                                       The  Air  Force  firefighter  was
                                                                      “I was quite surprised that
       equality award                contacted by lyricist and performer  the filming turned out to be as
                                     Luke Hamilton – who asked him to  professional as it was,” he said. The
                                     star in a promo for his latest single  result can be seen on You Tube.
       THE ROYAL  Air Force has      Heartbeat.                       Back in the ring Brad is preparing
       been named as one of the UK’s   The pair, who are both from  for his next big challenge with three
       top employers for women in an   Yeovil in Somerset, got to know each  bouts scheduled for May, including
       annual survey run by The Times   other on social media, before the  competing for the East Midlands Box
       newspaper.                    idea of a pop partnership came up.  Cup, before another attempt to seize
         Speaking at the awards ceremony,   “The song is about the struggle  the UKAF crown from the Army.
       Air Marshal Mike Winston said:   both of us have had to make it in   Meanwhile Luke, who describes
       “Women can now serve alongside   our chosen careers,” said SAC Axe.  most of his work as Hip-Hop, says
       men in every part of the Royal   “Just as Luke is trying to get his  the song has had a good reception
       Air  Force.  We  are  stronger, richer   music out there, I’m trying to make  and has been streamed more than
       and more capable as a result. Our   it in boxing and if I don’t go out  1000 times within hours of being  parts but it’s about being under  relationship with music and the
       gender diversity is the best in the   and train no one is going to do it  released.        pressure and the struggle to  challenges of trying to make it in
       UK Armed Forces.”             for me.”                         He added: “It’s a bit poppy in  succeed. It’s based on my love-hate  the music industry.”
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