Flying Soldiers episode 5 - BBC 1997 documentary about trainee army helicopter pilots in the uk

[@tonihitch391]

Mark Hitch is my Dad and he is now a major in the army, teaches people to fly helicopters, was one of the first to fly an apache and even taught Prince Harry to fly. Well done Dad, for sticking through your training and bringing us to where we are now, so proud always :) x

[@phil_nicholls]

Toni Hitch Bloody well done Cpl Hitch! I got chopped from the RAF in '85, but perseverance and determination find me flying Dreamliners around the world. There's a moral there somewhere! ;)

[@KumaBean]

It just goes to show that if you want it badly enough, and you're willing to work for it, it will come. ✌️

[@digitalradiohacker]

@Dragomir Ronilac This series, like all modern TV, was DESPERATE for ratings. Instead of merely making the most of the fact that they have unfettered access to the goings on, they make attempts to dramatise it, as if military aviation isn't engaging enough. Listen carefully to some of the narrators comments 0:40 "who will be the next to go?" - Like it's a gameshow or something. This series did seem to make a bit of drama out of Cpl Hitch and I can certainly see how a family member would cringe at the way it is portrayed. I am no relation to the bloke and I certainly cringed at the American influences that had started to creep into British TV in the 90's. Cpl Hitch, as the instructors described him, was a quiet but reliable and dependable NCO who went on to commission and Apache. The army do not sit incompetents in an aircraft of that value. Throughout this series, Cpl Hitch was humorous and approachable on the ground and an absolutely incorruptible zen master in the air. He didn't respond to instructors banality and they saw it as strange. In the air, Cpl Hitch was focused on one task, and one task alone - The control of the aircraft and other course related tasks. Meanwhile, the others engaged in awkward career laughs and childish sniggering in an effort to "fit in". If his daughter wants to stop by and set the record straight, so be it. I for one, welcome the alternative point of view and context.

[@seprishere]

@@digitalradiohacker The series did make a drama about Mark Hitch. But then he DID pass, despite everything... Glad he seems to have done well since. And become an officer.

[@GlenL31]

Awesome effort Mark Hitch!

[@Lafayette80.]

This is great to hear. As a flight instructor (civil) myself, i could tell that he was good enough to make it. Glad to hear he's gone on to great things.

[@24934637]

I used to live right next door to the airfield at Llanbedr a few years ago, nice to see what goes on there in a bit more detail. When I was there, they were flying a Canberra, a Meteor, and the Jindivik drones for the range at Aberporth. (2000-2001).

[@francessweeney2308]

It's good that the other pilots on the course were looking out for Cpl Hitch, that was what likely got him through the course. One of the trainees telling him they were there for him, but he could see that he was living on his nerves and needed to see the doctor.

[@angeltransportpjects]

Glad to learn that Cpl Mark Hitch came through the low point and has achieved his goals and aspirations in military aviation.

[@TheMightyHartley]

Sounds like Andrew Sachs (Manuel from Fawlty Towers). He narrated many BBC programmes in the '90s.

[@steviespaind4307]

haha, 2:10, F.A.C.E. Field Artillery Computer Equipment. That was MY job in the Artillery, Technical Assistant R.A. . Funny though, not a trace of it in the artillery museum (Firepower) at Woolwich.

[@chrisduckett5496]

People like Mark Hitch always make the best flying instuctors. What a difference in training methods as compared to my time when it was de rigueur to bully people and bring a kind of collective hatred to bear inorder to smash people like Mark before they even got past first base. So to all you future flyers a tip - don`t ever put up with an underhanded or bullying instuctor- I did and regret not standing up to him to this day.

[@walboyfredo6025]

Chris, he cant be a good instructor - getting people to "fail" is ( in the end) wasting resources as well as time and effort. If they failed to see that they should neve be an instructor.

[@thomasloeffelmann4893]

Why is the sound asynchron with the movie ?

[@cybermega29]

oops, thanks for reminding me....I am uploading it right now :)

[@Alrobbarnes]

Thanks for uploading. Can you tell me who narrated this programme?