Sky’s the limit as father and son RAF pilots take to the air

THEY took to the skies together – for the first and last time.

Father and son pilots Sqn Ldr David Withington, who has been in the RAF since 1985, and son Brian, who both serve with 100 Sqn, RAF Leeming, enjoyed a special outing in a Hawk jet.

It was the perfect chance for the two to take to the air together as the vastly experienced Sqn Ldr Withington, who is currently serving as Executive Officer with 100 Sqn, was able to show his son the ropes.

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Brian Withington has just finished elementary flying training and is waiting to move on to his next stage of training at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

Sqn Ldr Withington said: “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We performed a normal sortie, working with the School of Air Battle Management, conducting practice intercepts, low level flying and air combat. It was great to be able to show Brian the full spectrum of what we do on 100 Squadron.

“This will be the first and only time we are able to fly together in a fast jet, so it was a great privilege.”

His son, who joined the RAF in 2009, added: “It was something that not many people get to do and I have a much better understanding of my father’s job now. It was quite strange being stationed together at first and I have to call my father ‘Sir’ around the squadron, but I’m used to it now.”

Long-term, he is hoping for a career flying Typhoons and says it is at least partly down to his father – “He really loves his job and has always talked about it at home.”

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