A ROYAL Navy recruit from Cardigan has set sail on HMS Prince of Wales for the very first time. The 65,000-tonne leviathan is the second of the Royal Navy’s two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and the largest, most capable and powerful surface warship ever built for the Royal Navy. Explaining his reasons for signing up, Able Rate Evan Williams, a 20-year-old former student at Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi, said: “I wanted to travel the world and meet the people who will be my friends for life.” He joins the £3.2bn, 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier in an intense period of operational training, which will see the vast warship operating with the new F-35B stealth jet as well as helicopters from the Army and RAF.
Helston aircraft handlers have qualified from RNAS Culdrose and are now heading straight into service. A class of newly qualified aircraft handlers have walked straight from the training ground to the deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth – as the aircraft carrier prepares for her maiden deployment to the Far East. The 20 sailors celebrated the completion of their training at the Royal Naval School of Flight Deck Operations at RNAS Culdrose, Helston, on Wednesday, April 28. Six of these new aircraft handlers will immediately join the ship’s company of the carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth as she prepares to head off on her deployment to the Far East.
A ROYAL Navy sailor from Llandudno has completed his training to serve on warships and support ships around the world. Able Rate Ewan Williams qualified as a naval airman, an old job title which nowadays includes both men and women, and joined the navy’s Aircraft Handlers’ Branch. Naval airmen work on the flight decks of warships and support ships to allow flying operations and are specially training in firefighting and rescue.
A special ceremony was held at the Royal Naval School of Flight Deck Operations at RNAS Culdrose to mark the completion of training for 19 new sailors. Picture: Royal Navy
Able Rate Thomas Jennings qualified as a naval airman and joined the navy’s Aircraft Handlers’ Branch. Naval airmen – men and women -work on the flight decks of warships and support ships to allow flying operations and are specially training in firefighting and rescue. A special ceremony was held at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall before the national lockdown for the 19 sailors who completed the training course. He said: “My primary motivation in joining the Royal Navy was to seek a more varied and exciting career. I feel that the navy will allow me to see the world while also working to fulfil my potential and be part of a proud and respected organisation.
Royal Navy sailor from Durham completes training to serve on warships around the world
Cameron Vallance from Durham completed his training to serve on warships
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