A FORMER builder’s labourer turned Army Air Corps soldier from Atherton has been testing his skills as part of a military air exercise in Cumbria.

Corporal Paul Ryan, 33, helps run the ground crew for 9 Regiment Army Air Corps (9 AAC) which was in the North West on its last solo UK training exercise before it disbands and personnel take up new roles next year.

Paul is part of the ground support flight; soldiers trained in refuelling, rearming and aircraft handling. He said he joined the Army 15 years ago: “In the last 15 years I’ve worked with Apache helicopters, in the attack role, and support helicopters too; they are very different aircraft but both offer the same fast-paced life. I really enjoy the diversity of the job. The guys and girls I’m working with are really high calibre and can turn their hand to anything.”

Around 200 servicemen and women took part in the exercise which saw six Lynx Mark 9A air crews flying out of Carlisle Lake District Airport on low-flying flying reconnaissance missions over Kielder Forest and RAF Spadeadam training area.

Paul and the rest of the 9 AAC are based at Dishforth, North Yorkshire, as the light utility helicopter regiment for 16 Air Assault Brigade. But the regiment’s 669 and 672 Aviation Reconnaissance Squadrons, along with headquarters staff and support crews such as medics, engineers and logistics teams, relocated to Carlisle for a week to simulate missions against a fictional enemy.

Paul, who with his wife Kirsty has four children, said: “I’ve always had an interest in aviation but also enjoy the practical work on the ground. Aviation is technical and complicated and so it can be an unpredictable business but it’s exciting to work in this environment and with these aircraft.”

The Lynx 9A was upgraded for operations in Afghanistan and is the forbear for the future Wildcat aircraft which the regiment’s personnel will convert to when it merges with 1 Regiment Army Air Corps in June next year.

Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Cook, Commanding Officer of 9 Regt Army Air Corps, said: “This is our last chance to train together as a regiment, but we’ve got another year to go with important tasks ahead and we want to draw down correctly and finish the job well. The aim of Exercise Cumbria Capri has been to validate my two squadrons which are focused on very high readiness roles in the land environment for six months this year.”

Paul, who has served all over the world, said: “It’s great to be back in the North West, I haven’t had much of a chance to train here over the years. We’ve set up our main operating base here at Carlisle Airport. Living conditions aren’t too bad and we haven’t had too many aviation problems so they are getting the flying hours that they need. It’s been great.”