First Fast Jet

1977 was a good year. I was 23, I had started the Advanced Fast Jet Course at RAF Valley (Anglesey, Wales) and I was on the first Hawk Course. Here I am being congratulated by my Boss on my First Solo in the Hawk. The flight consisted of a takeoff, and circumnavigation of the island of Anglesey before flying circuits at Valley. Since this was a speedy little machine, I got it up to 550kts (the highest the airspeed indicator would go!) by the time I got to the Menai Straits. The circuit of the island didn't take long.

I was the first ab-initio student pilot to fly it solo (the luck of the draw as there were only 3 students on that first course).

Halcyon days!

cb