For the first time in my life I had touched an actual airplane

I was just a mechanic a short while ago.

I went from being the lowest person on base to the following weekend being an officer cadet

That's when the adventurous part of my life started

In the forces we were always happy to be doing our job

After 36 years it has been so much more than I envisaged

If you don't do it right, you won't get the results

It's the connection with other people that I love best

I'd have been quite happy to go in at less than 100 ft

When the engines started up you felt the earth move

It was the most beautiful sight in the world

I saw flying fish and dolphins! A boy from London!