By Georgina Brazier

A FORMER pupil of South Wilts Grammar School for Girls, Salisbury, has been awarded her wings' and graduation certificate after successfully completing her military helicopter training with the Royal Air Force.

Flight Lieutenant Rebecca Angel, 25, has just completed 13 months' pilot training at the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury, near Shrewsbury.

The course involved 58 hours' initial and advanced training on the single-engine Squirrel helicopter followed by 76 hours' advanced training on the twin- engine Griffin helicopter.

During her Griffin training, Flt Lt Angel learned the skills of advanced helicopter handling, underslung loads, confined area operations, night-vision goggle operations, navigation, mission management, and search-and-rescue duties. She also completed some 40 hours' training in the full-motion Griffin simulator.

Graduating officers were presented with their aircrew brevets and certificates by Air Vice Marshal Andrew Pulford, Air Officer Commanding No 2 Group. Flt Lt Angel's parents, Rod and Jan Angel, were also at the presentation ceremony.

Flt Lt Angel, who joined the RAF in 2004, is posted in September to RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall, where she will undertake operational conversion training on the Sea King helicopter in the search-and-rescue role.