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On Tuesday 17 December 2024, ETPS was proud to welcome guests from across the world as the school hosted its annual McKenna Dinner. Celebrating Flight Test students who have completed their respective rotary wing (RW), fixed wing (FW) test pilot and flight test engineer (FTE) long courses in 2024, graduates received certificates as recognition for their hard work, commitment and ultimately, successful completion of their academic and flying programmes.

In addition to students and staff, VIPs from the UK military, representatives from key suppliers of the school and Commanding Officers (CO’s) from ETPS sister schools were also in attendance. We were delighted to have Paul Stone, Chief Test Pilot at Volocopter GmbH and Chief Pilot for The Shuttleworth Collection, as the guest of honour for the event.

We’re pleased to report that a total of 26 students - 15 fixed wing and 11 rotary wing – graduated this year, with pupils from across the globe honing their expertise at the ETPS, the world’s oldest test pilot school.

The 2024 pupil cadre featured representation from the following organisations:

 

Fixed Wing

UK Military

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)

Royal Norwegian Air Force

Japanese Air Self-Defence Force

Spanish Air Force

 

Rotary Wing

UK Military

Royal Netherlands Air Force

French DGA

Royal Australian Navy

United States Navy

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