PUPILS experienced life as Air Force pilots and crew members in a day of activities at RAF Brize Norton.

The group of 15 Year 8 students from Carterton Community College spent the day at the home of 70 Squadron to see what life is like for the servicemen and women living there.

The teens joined virtual reality parachute training, took part in a dinghy drill, and had lunch on an A400M aircraft, which is used for medical evacuation missions.

They received lessons onboard the plane in teamwork and communication, and their importance in piloting.

The Inspiration Day, on November 9, marked the launch of a local programme aimed at giving opportunities to young people. The pupils were selected by the school to take part in the Blue Skies Programme, organised by the Jon Egging Trust (JET).

JET was established in memory of Red Arrows pilot Jon Egging, who died during an air display at the Bournemouth Air Festival in 2011. His dream was to aid young people in overcoming adversity, and to give them the confidence and inspiration to fulfil their own dreams.

Mr Moore, Lead Inclusion Mentor at Carterton Community College, said: “Our long term goal is that this investment will ensure they understand the value of education and the importance of developing social skills which will work towards them fulfilling their potential at exam times and in the future.”

JET’s two youth programs, Blue Skies and Inspiration Outreach, are already established in many areas across the country. This year alone, more than 7,000 young people have participated in their Inspirational Outreach scheme, which provides educational assemblies and connects them with mentors.

The Brize Norton programme is the first in Oxfordshire.

Staff on the base have already raised more than £15,000 for JET through fundraising efforts, including marching the entirety of the Isle of Wight.

Group Captain Timothy Jones, Station Commander of RAF Brize Norton said: "As a long-standing supporter of the Jon Egging Trust, RAF Brize Norton is delighted to host the launch of the Blue Skies programme in Oxfordshire.

“The programme provides an opportunity for us to help young people who are looking for inspiration, and who themselves are full of determination and courage. That we can play a part in that process is a real privilege, and is something that inspires us too.”