Children from local primary schools were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of RAF Lossiemouth and took the controls of a hi-tech Typhoon flight simulator recently.
They visited the station after winning the top prizes in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) competition.
The six children from primary schools across Moray visited Number II (Army-Cooperation) Squadron and Number IX (Bomber) Squadron who both fly the Typhoon FGR4, and the Survival Equipment Section which maintains the life-saving equipment pilots would use in an emergency. But the highlight of their day was flying the Typhoon in our simulators – the same facilities our front-line pilots use every day!
Last September, all primary schools in Moray were invited to the annual STEM in the Workplace event. With the help of defence partners and contractors, local businesses, and our colleagues at 39 Engineer Regiment, the team at RAF Lossiemouth demonstrated how these four subjects are used every day in a range of different roles – from treating water to make it potable to flying an RAF fast-jet Typhoon.
After the event, students were invited to share their experiences and explain what they had learned. The creativity of the task was embraced by all of the entrants, with some submissions including comprehensive models of aircraft, multimedia presentations, along with posters, poems, drawings, and stories.
More than 500 students submitted their work, and six winners were picked: Felix from Dyke Primary School, Ruth from Burghead Primary School, Holly from Anderson’s Primary School, Lucy from Botriphinie Primary School, Rebecca from Craigellachie Primary School, and Isla from St Sylvester’s RC Primary School.
RAF Lossiemouth Community and Development Officer, Ms Sarah Riley-Evans, said:
“It was a pleasure to host the six winners of our STEM in the Workplace competition at RAF Lossiemouth today.
“It is such a privilege and an honour to show these bright young people the variety of different roles at RAF Lossiemouth and inspire their future STEM ambitions.
“The highlight of the day was undoubtedly their time in the Typhoon Training Facility, where our STEM winners experienced a flight in the Typhoon over their home towns. Some even identified their own homes!
“A huge thank you to the team from BAE Systems for enabling this.”
