RNAS Culdrose welcomed the new commodore of the Fleet Air Arm and deputy director of Naval Aviation Commodore James Blackmore this week.
As well as visiting squadrons and departments across the air station, he was also shown the National Drone Hub at Predannack Airfield and met drone operators from 700X Naval Air Squadron, as well as representatives from company WholeShip which runs the centre.
It was the first time the naval jet pilot had been up close to the navy’s Peregrine surveillance ‘cam-copter’ (pictured here without its rotor blades) and was also shown other systems including Malloy ‘octo-copters’.
The visit was an opportunity to brief the commodore first hand on the many exercises, training and range of operations by 700X squadron, as well as outlining the challenges faced by the Royal Navy’s drone experts.
Commodore Blackmore trained as a Harrier pilot and has also flown F/A-18 Super Hornets with the US Navy. He is no stranger to Culdrose having served here as the Fixed Wing Force commander, before moving on to command the navy’s Carrier Air Wing and ultimately UK Carrier Strike Group.
