St Mark Junior Graphic Fan Club members at Air Force base

Members of the St Mark Junior Graphic Fan Club at Agege, Accra, have gone on a study tour of the Ghana Airforce Base in Accra.

The trip was for the members of the club to familiarise themselves with what goes on at the base.

Flying Officer, Richard Kwabena Apung, who gave the members a 15-minute lecture said the helicopter was used for activities such as Presidential duties, carrying of accident victims to the hospital, peace-keeping operations, supplying  relief items, rescuing flood victims, among others.

The helicopter, according to Flying Officer Apung, was fuelled by ordinary kerosene. Some of the members expressed surprise at the fact that a huge aircraft such as the helicopter could be fuelled by kerosene instead petrol.

“Did you know that helicopters do not need runways to take-off or land?” The officer asked. “And it can also fly in all directions; sideways, backwards or even be stable in the air for some time”, he added.

The flying officer said the helicopter had a twin engine with one controlling the helicopter itself while the other controlled the propellers. 

The club members also learnt that the interior of the helicopter could be redesigned to suit any occasion.

Flying Officer Apung took members to the hanger, a place where aircrafts are repaired.

The members watched and admired the officers in their smart uniforms carrying rifles, especially, the young female officers who were also carrying their rifles on guard duty at the base.

The writer is a JHS student of the St Mark Preparatory School, Agege, Accra, and also the President of the Junior Graphic Fan Club in the school.