Young pilot given work experience with Red Arrows

Holly stands in her navy blue cadet uniform smiling at the camera in front of a Red Arrow jet. Her dark hair has been tied back behind her head.Image source, Contributed
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Holly from Beccles spent three days up close with the Red Arrows team for her work experience

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A teenager proved the sky has no limits after she was given work experience with the Red Arrows.

Holly Rowley-White, 17, from Beccles, in Suffolk, is a student pilot and flew solo for the first time just five days after her 16th birthday.

Having previously connected with the Red Arrows team last year, she got back in touch with them to see if she was able to take on a three-day placement with them.

She headed up to RAF Waddington, in Lincolnshire, where she experienced the day-to-day life of the team as well as what it takes to work in air traffic control and operations.

"I got to spend two days with the aerobatics team so I got to go to the [operations] side of things," she explained.

"I got to see the pilots, I got to see the operations that go on behind the scenes, so all the planning of the routes to go to Cyprus or Croatia, all those kind of places.

"Then I also got to see the engineering side of things."

Holly sits in the cockpit of a plane. She looks to the camera and smiles. She wears a navy blue cadet uniform.Image source, Contributed
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Holly was able to sit in a historic Red Arrow plane known as the Mosquito when she visited their base for their 60th display opening season

During her last day with air traffic control she was able to witness an operation that also involved Saudi and Turkish air forces.

She met pilots, former pilots, engineers and joined various meetings before watching the Red Arrows' training exercises.

"The place where I got to stand to watch them, they were so, so close and they are so low to the ground," she added.

"Some of the stunts that they carry out are breathtaking.

"The biggest moment for me was I got to sit on the wing of the aircraft and get a picture with the pilot so that was pretty cool."

Holly stands in line with four Red Arrow pilots. The men were green pilot suits. Holly has long brown hair that is down and she wears a black suit.Image source, Contributed
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Holly met Red Arrow pilots during her work experience and spent two days with the aerobatic team

Prior to her work placement, Holly caught the eye of the Red Arrow team after she fundraised for her air cadet squadron.

They invited her as a VIP guest to their 60th display opening season where she similarly got to visit their base and meet the team.

Holly aimed to join the RAF with future ambitions to fly its Typhoon fighter jets.

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LISTEN: Teen pilot Holly's unique work experience

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