Paphos People

THE NOTE


Kenny Gough had always been mad keen on flying, at school he joined the air cadets, giving him an insight into military life with outings to RAF camps and talks by officers. A flight was arranged and he was hooked. It was definitely the life for him. He worked hard to get the qualifications required to join his beloved RAF.
As A/C Plonk Gough he completed his twenty four week basic training at RAF Cranwell and started the long journey to become an active jet fighter pilot.
It wasn’t easy and rightly so, the responsibility of being in charge of fifty million pounds worth of aircraft was not something to be taken lightly. There were many lectures, exams and other tests before his first flying lesson in a Beechcraft Texan turbo prop training aircraft. When proficient in the Texan and having taken his solo flying course, he got his ‘wings’ and applied for the Fast Jet programme to which he was accepted.
Pilot Officer Gough K. was stationed at RAF Valley in an intense course of two years duration learning all about fast jet flying, combat air to air, combat air to ground. After completing the four million pound course and passing with honours Flight Lieutenant Gough K. was qualified to fly Hawk T1 aircraft. He then trained to fly the Hawk T2 an advanced version of the T1.
As a fast jet combat pilot he was deployed on active service in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and many missions covered by the official secrets act. After ten years in action he stepped down and then applied for what was the ultimate goal in any RAF pilots’ career The Red Arrows aerobatic display team!
After the initial interview, followed by a flying test, he was accepted as a trainee for the team. Training again at the age of thirty five, but this was different. This was precise accurate flying where a split second delay during a manoeuvre could result in disaster for the team. No margin for error! Practice, practice and more practice until the day arrived for his first display!
At the briefing they went over the entire routine, and when all the pilots were satisfied they went to their planes. The cockpit was extremely tight and Flight Lieutenant Gough K. struggled to get comfortable, a note was tucked into the seat it fell on to the floor. Reaching down to find it in the small space he located the mysterious piece of paper and opened it. It was a cartoon caricature of him from the rest of the team congratulating him on getting his place, all members had signed it. He smiled looking at the other pilots they were all grinning and giving the thumbs up sign.
After years of training, studying and active service he had achieved his ambition, Suddenly realising what he was about to do, he concentrated his efforts again. Reaching for the safety harness he gave it a tug it seemed to be caught on something. He gave it another tug.

BANG!!!

The ejector seat deployed shooting Flight Lieutenant Gough K. Through the canopy and three hundred feet in the air, the parachute opened and as he looked down to the airfield the other pilots were climbing out of their planes and running towards where he would be landing.

So Kenny Gough’s new career as a Red Arrows Pilot never really got off the ground.