Post by stevemacdonald on Apr 1, 2013 6:20:28 GMT
Hayley Westenra Joins Royal Air Force
BBC News, 1 April 2013
The ongoing efforts by the world's military forces to place women in combat roles took a major leap forward today when it was announced that classical singer Hayley Westenra has been accepted for flight training by the Royal Air Force and would learn to pilot the newest stealth fighter in the RAF fleet, the Lightning II shown above. She is set to begin her new career as an RAF officer this summer shortly after her next album, "Hayley Sings Canadian Songs" is officially released in Japan.
"It's in her DNA," said Air Marshal R F Garwood of the London-based Kiwi soprano whose great uncle was a renowned fighter pilot for the Allies during the Second World War. "Hayley has exactly what it takes and could be our greatest pilot ever." Garwood personally enlisted Ms. Westenra at a meet and greet following one of her concerts and said he felt having someone of her stature as a future squadron leader would bring many other capable and ambitious women into the ranks of the RAF.
But it wasn't just a handshake and an autograph that won Hayley the job. Like all candidates for flight training she still had to qualify by taking a grueling battery of tests that measure fitness, endurance and visual acuity. When the results were in she passed all of them "with flying colours". No doubt her years of performing around the world and before the Royal Family toughened her up and set the stage for such a patriotic commitment.
When contacted for this report, Hayley said she had been given the go-ahead to sing whilst performing her duties as a stealth pilot. "I'm told my voice can jam enemy radar so they're only too happy to let me use it to my advantage in the air. It's such an honour to follow in footsteps of my uncle and I'm sure the songs I perform whilst airborne will reflect my family pride."
Hayley's record label, Decca, could not be reached for comment.
© BBC
BBC News, 1 April 2013
The ongoing efforts by the world's military forces to place women in combat roles took a major leap forward today when it was announced that classical singer Hayley Westenra has been accepted for flight training by the Royal Air Force and would learn to pilot the newest stealth fighter in the RAF fleet, the Lightning II shown above. She is set to begin her new career as an RAF officer this summer shortly after her next album, "Hayley Sings Canadian Songs" is officially released in Japan.
"It's in her DNA," said Air Marshal R F Garwood of the London-based Kiwi soprano whose great uncle was a renowned fighter pilot for the Allies during the Second World War. "Hayley has exactly what it takes and could be our greatest pilot ever." Garwood personally enlisted Ms. Westenra at a meet and greet following one of her concerts and said he felt having someone of her stature as a future squadron leader would bring many other capable and ambitious women into the ranks of the RAF.
But it wasn't just a handshake and an autograph that won Hayley the job. Like all candidates for flight training she still had to qualify by taking a grueling battery of tests that measure fitness, endurance and visual acuity. When the results were in she passed all of them "with flying colours". No doubt her years of performing around the world and before the Royal Family toughened her up and set the stage for such a patriotic commitment.
When contacted for this report, Hayley said she had been given the go-ahead to sing whilst performing her duties as a stealth pilot. "I'm told my voice can jam enemy radar so they're only too happy to let me use it to my advantage in the air. It's such an honour to follow in footsteps of my uncle and I'm sure the songs I perform whilst airborne will reflect my family pride."
Hayley's record label, Decca, could not be reached for comment.
© BBC
OVER
