727 Naval Air Squadron’s primary role is to assess the suitability of new pilots for further training – and their potential for ‘fast jets’. Students arriving at 727 NAS may have never set foot on an aircraft, but are ‘graded’ in basic flying techniques that will prepare them for the next phase. Within around 30 live flying hours students will navigate their aircraft, fly in cloud, and respond to simulated emergencies.
Watching them in the air and on the ground are the Squadron’s Flying Instructors. These experienced pilots get the most from their students and look for those most suited for the front line, from flying Royal Navy helicopters to delivering the UK’s carrier strike capability with the cutting-edge F-35 Lightning II.