Today In History:  16 October  [1992]   --  The RAF's first female helicopter pilot graduates

Flt Lt Nicky Smith, graduated from 89 Course at Shawbury to become the RAF's first female helicopter pilot. 

Smith became a search and rescue pilot, flying Westland Sea Kings, initially with 202 Squadron at RAF Boulmer in Northumberland, then with the same squadron at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, and later with 22 Squadron at RAF Valley on Anglesey, flying more than 250 missions.

She was promoted squadron leader in 1999 and, after a staff tour as the personal staff officer to the Air Officer Commanding and Commandant of the RAF College Cranwell, she trained on Westland Wessex helicopters with 72 Squadron at RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland before being posted to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to take command of 84 Squadron in March 2002.

PHOTO: The Sea King during a display at Upper Heyford in 1992.  [Photo by Anthony Noble, GFDL 1.2  via Wikimedia]

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Photo Attribution:  GFDL 1.2  via Wikimedia.  Anthony Noble - Gallery page http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/Westland-WS-61-Sea/0769355/L Photo http://cdn-