AN RAF serviceman from Cirencester is about to commence his first display season as part of the RAF Falcons, the UK military’s parachute display team.

Corporal John Veitch, 30, a former pupil of Cirencester College, began his three-year tour with the RAF Falcons, who are based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, in October 2015 having joined the RAF in 2006.

John said: “It is an honour to have been selected for the RAF Falcons, and it will undoubtedly be a pinnacle of my career to have the opportunity to perform displays with my team mates around the world.”

For over 50 years, the display team have delivered fast paced, high profile displays from up to 12,000ft across the UK and abroad.

Each member has been specially selected for their role. As well as putting on spectacular displays for the public to enjoy, they also undertake training to prepare them for advanced parachute jumping instructor roles where they will be responsible for the delivery of operationally focused parachute training for the entire UK military.

John joined the RAF 10 years ago, qualifying as a physical training instructor before being posted to RAF Halton for three years training the latest recruits, before being posted to RAF Northolt.

In 2012, he specialised as a parachute jumping instructor, transferring to RAF Brize Norton, the top parachute training school, on completion of his training before being selected for the Falcons.

John will expect to remain for three years in his current role while he gains his military accelerated free fall instructor qualification, enabling him to provide specialist parachute training to Army, Navy and Air Force personnel.  

The RAF Falcons have completed a busy period of winter training in California and the UK in preparation for the 2016 display season, which commences tomorrow (April 29), with the team’s launch day at RAF Brize Norton.

Over the summer months, the team will conduct around 70 displays throughout the UK and Europe.

Visit raf.mod.uk/falcons for more information.