Multi-Era Military Helicopter Crew Signing Event (SOLD OUT)
About
Meet former military helicopter crews spanning operations from the Falkland Islands conflict through to Afghanistan and see an array of military and civilian rotary aircraft flying in!PLUS, listen to an engaging tech talk from Staff Sergeant Richard Spreckley on the Detention Operations at Camp Bastion during Operation Herrick.
Our guests include:
RICHARD SPRECKLEY VR MSc BA(Hons) DipEd FHEA FSET is a former Staff Sergeant in the British Army Reserve, whose service included operational tours in Afghanistan on Herrick XIII with 16 Air Assault Brigade and Herrick XIV with 3 Commando Brigade. Serving with the Military Provost Staff Corps, he was responsible for delivering detention operations across Helmand Province, working alongside British forces as well as US Army and Marine units. His role frequently saw him operating aboard Joint Helicopter Force assets, including Chinook, Sea King HC4, Merlin, C-130 Hercules, Boeing C-17 and the US V-22 Osprey and CH-53E Super Stallion.
Across more than two decades in uniform, Rich also deployed with NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in Germany as part of the Royal Military Police Multinational Military Police Battalion. Alongside his military service, he completed a 30-year career with Sussex Police, gaining extensive operational experience across firearms, public order, aviation support and major incident response.
Flight Lieutenant IAN EDWARDS BSc (Hons) RAF is a former Puma HC1 pilot who joined the Royal Air Force in 1985, completing three tours on the aircraft between 1989 and 1997. He served with 33 Squadron at RAF Odiham and 230 Squadron at RAF Aldergrove, before returning to Odiham as a Qualified Helicopter Instructor with 27(R) Squadron, the Puma Operational Conversion Unit. Ian’s operational experience includes Op Granby during the First Gulf War, as well as a tour in Northern Ireland. A highlight of his flying career was operating alongside the US Marine Corps during Op Granby, before being attached to 7th Armoured Brigade — a connection he still honours by wearing the ‘Desert Rat’ badge on his flying suit.
His time flying in theatre included low-level operations using night vision goggles, exposure to Scud missile activity, a suspected (though ultimately false) chemical weapon alert, and being locked by a surface-to-air missile system. Ian has recently retired from aviation and is somewhat relieved that his logbook contains an equal number of take-offs and landings.
Save the date — more details coming soon!
This is a FREE-to-attend event, but you must please book your tickets here for entry, so we can comfortably manage numbers - thank you.
Date
Sunday 26 April 2026 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (UTC+01)Location
Aces High Aviation Gallery
Skyfall, Church Lane, Steventon, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX13 6SN
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Multi-Era Military Helicopter Crew Signing Event (SOLD OUT)
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