Ron Watkins awarded Sword of Honour
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Ron Watkins awarded Sword of Honour
The Guild Sword of Honour
Awarded for an outstanding contribution to General Aviation, ie Civil Aviation other than Air Transport.
Awarded to: WARRANT OFFICER CLASS 1 WATKINS
Citation
The British Helicopter Championship is open to all British military and civilian helicopter pilots and draws large entries from a variety of amateur, professional and tri‑service military pilots. The competition is fierce and demands dedicated practice and consummate all round flying skills. In 2005, WO1 Watkins, a QHI with 7 Regiment Army Air Corps (Volunteers), crewed with a fellow member of that Regiment to win the British Helicopter Championship for the third year in a row. Prior to this hat-trick of wins he had achieved positions of eleventh, fifth and second consecutively.
By winning a hat-trick of championships WO1 Watkins has brought the Army Air Corps to the attention of all military and civilian helicopter operators in the country, demonstrating the Corps as a thoroughly skilled and professional organisation to the nation's aviation fraternity and the general public.
After the 2005 British Championship WO1 Watkins helped to organise collective team training for the British team to compete at the World Championships in France, including the booking of the training real estate. He then participated in the World Championships as a member of the British team as it produced a very commendable performance to finish in fourth place. In recognition of his flying skills and achievements WO1 Watkins has recently been selected as the British Helicopter Team Coach for the World Helicopter Championships at Eisenach, Germany in 2008.
WO1 Watkins is a military pilot of many years experience and evident great skill. His personal achievements in the helicopter world have, however, not been principally as a military pilot, but in the realm of general aviation where he has used his professionalism and flying skill to great service to rotary general aviation in Britain. His abilities, achievements and overall influence throughout 2005 and beyond are indelibly linked with setting the highest standards for helicopter flying skills and have been an outstanding contribution to General Aviation, for which WO1 Watkins is awarded the Guild Sword of Honour.
By winning a hat-trick of championships WO1 Watkins has brought the Army Air Corps to the attention of all military and civilian helicopter operators in the country, demonstrating the Corps as a thoroughly skilled and professional organisation to the nation's aviation fraternity and the general public.
After the 2005 British Championship WO1 Watkins helped to organise collective team training for the British team to compete at the World Championships in France, including the booking of the training real estate. He then participated in the World Championships as a member of the British team as it produced a very commendable performance to finish in fourth place. In recognition of his flying skills and achievements WO1 Watkins has recently been selected as the British Helicopter Team Coach for the World Helicopter Championships at Eisenach, Germany in 2008.
WO1 Watkins is a military pilot of many years experience and evident great skill. His personal achievements in the helicopter world have, however, not been principally as a military pilot, but in the realm of general aviation where he has used his professionalism and flying skill to great service to rotary general aviation in Britain. His abilities, achievements and overall influence throughout 2005 and beyond are indelibly linked with setting the highest standards for helicopter flying skills and have been an outstanding contribution to General Aviation, for which WO1 Watkins is awarded the Guild Sword of Honour.
The presentation took place at the Guildhall, London.
More details here: Trophies & Awards Banquet
Other awards here: Awards
Link: Guild of Air Pilots
(Picture © Gerald Sharp Photography)
Last edited by Flying Lawyer; 3rd Nov 2006 at 18:53.
