First solo, Cadet Mk3 617 GS RAF Hendon June 1963. Went on as Staff Cadet and CI until joining the RAF in Oct 1966. Flying Scholarship at Cranfield 1965. The Rogers Aviation Cup for that year sits on my bookcase to this day. I also visited Canada on the IACE scheme in 1964. Fabulous oportunities in my teens. Never looked back. Left the RAF in 2005 (5 extra years as FTRS)