Here is a copy of the article that appeared in the Wairarapa Times Age, Masterton’s local newspaper, regarding Chris’ graduation.

Capturing RNZAF wings has fulfilled a childhood dream for former Wairarapa College pupil Chris Hall.

Flying Officer Hall, 32, who has just graduated from the RNZAF Wings course, joined the service after eight years with the British Royal Navy as an aircraft engineer where he maintained the Sea Harrier jump jets.

“I served on three carriers – HMS Ark Royal, HMS Invincible and HMS Illustrious – and have been deployed to the Middle East and Afghanistan,” he said.

Hall returned to New Zealand with his young family after leaving the Royal Navy in 2005 and describes his year of flight training as “the biggest challenge getting the right balance between work and family life”.

Defence Minister Wayne Mapp reviewed the graduation parade, held at RNZAF Base Ohakea last week, with the ceremony capping more than a year of study and over 200 hours of student flying times.

Initial training for the graduates began with five months of Initial Officer Training at RNZAF Base Woodbourne.

At Command Training School, trainees learnt the basics of military life, including drill, physical fitness, military studies, Air Force organisation, and leadership skills.

The Pilots Course then began with a two-week survival course, followed by a one-week course on the physiological and psychological aspects of flying at Aviation Medicine Unit at RNZAF Base Auckland.

After Aviation Medicine training, the graduates moved to RNZAF Base Ohakea to commence their Wings Course training, initially at Pilot Training Squadron.

There the students undertook five weeks of ground school, where they are taught subjects such as principles of flight, rules of the air, and technical specifics of the 300HP CT-4E Airtrainer aircraft.

During the nine months spent at PTS, the students accumulate approximately 130 hours in flying the Airtrainer, covering navigation, aerobatics, instrument flying, formation, and night flying.

During their five months at No 42 Squadron, students are further extended by the more complex systems of the King Air, and are assessed as single-pilot captains of the aircraft having accrued a further 90 hours.

After receiving their “wings” or brevets the graduates will either remain at No 42 Squadron for further fixed-wing training, in anticipation of being posted to larger multi-engine transport or maritime aircraft, or fly helicopters in either the Royal NZ Air Force or Royal New Zealand Navy.

Hall is now hoping to join the rotary wing element of the service as a next step in his flight career.

“I would like to fly the Iroquois and eventually the new A109 and NH90 helicopters and if the opportunity is there to spend some time flying the Seasprite.”