0:00:02 > 0:00:04How often have you watched the news and seen disasters...
0:00:04 > 0:00:06- REPORTER:- The sea rose up 20 feet, flooding the area.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08..and tragedies?
0:00:08 > 0:00:11The bomb exploded at about ten past three this afternoon.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13But what if you were caught up in the events?
0:00:13 > 0:00:14GUNSHOTS AND EXPLOSIONS
0:00:14 > 0:00:18I've been out there and checked so many bodies, she's not there.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20And now, inspired by your past,
0:00:20 > 0:00:22you're on a mission to help someone today.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26The support that we had after the fire was so tremendous,
0:00:26 > 0:00:29you just want to do something for the people that helped us.
0:00:29 > 0:00:34Hopefully, I'll be able to help him to achieve some of his goals.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37Someone who has no idea that this life-changing gift is coming.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Oh, my days. Why is there so many people outside?
0:00:40 > 0:00:41Hi, Paul.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43CHEERING
0:00:44 > 0:00:48We're here today to surprise somebody very special.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:00:50 > 0:00:52This is Going Back Giving Back.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02The Royal Air Force has defended Britain for almost a century...
0:01:04 > 0:01:07..their pilots protecting the lives of ordinary people.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11- NEWSREEL:- Every day was D-Day for the air force.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16From dawn to dawn, the sound of aeroplane engines filled the air.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24Flying against the odds, navigating through deadly war zones,
0:01:24 > 0:01:25is a heroic pilot...
0:01:25 > 0:01:29I can't believe they're letting a boy from Woolwich
0:01:29 > 0:01:31loose in this aircraft!
0:01:31 > 0:01:33..who's overcome disability...
0:01:33 > 0:01:36My toes died and they had to amputate them.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38..to fight for his country...
0:01:38 > 0:01:40You can't be in that environment, fast jets,
0:01:40 > 0:01:45and not have situations where, but for the grace of God,
0:01:45 > 0:01:47you wouldn't be here any more.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49Now this remarkable man wants to help someone else
0:01:49 > 0:01:53overcome a terrible injury, whose career and role as a dad
0:01:53 > 0:01:55has been changed forever.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59Not being able to do the stuff like, you know, carrying them on your shoulders, my little 'un.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01Won't be able to play football with them.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03- I might not be able to do that now ever.- Yeah.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07Two courageous military men, unified by love of flying,
0:02:07 > 0:02:09and one is about to receive a life-changing gift.
0:02:11 > 0:02:12Hi, Paul.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27From the humblest of beginnings, growing up on a council estate
0:02:27 > 0:02:29in south-east London, Trevor Edwards,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32like many young boys, had a passion for aeroplanes.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Never in a million years did he think that, one day,
0:02:34 > 0:02:37he'd be flying fighter jets for his country.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40Well, today, we're revisiting Trevor's incredible story
0:02:40 > 0:02:42to find out why he's keen to give back.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Trevor. How are you?
0:02:48 > 0:02:50- Nice to see you.- Good to see you.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53'Today, 53-year-old Trevor Edwards is a highly regarded
0:02:53 > 0:02:56'commercial pilot for one of the UK's top airlines.'
0:02:58 > 0:03:00He lives with his wife Katie and their two children,
0:03:00 > 0:03:02Freya and Otis, in Guildford.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05His life now is a million miles from where it began,
0:03:05 > 0:03:08in one of the most deprived and crime-ridden areas of Britain.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13So what's driving you to want to give something back
0:03:13 > 0:03:14to somebody today?
0:03:14 > 0:03:16Coming from a council estate in London,
0:03:16 > 0:03:21with a passion for aviation and eventually ended up flying fast jets
0:03:21 > 0:03:24in the Royal Air Force, and certainly,
0:03:24 > 0:03:25when I was growing up,
0:03:25 > 0:03:28the idea that someone like myself could achieve
0:03:28 > 0:03:32something like that was, I thought, particularly impossible.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33What was stopping you?
0:03:33 > 0:03:38It's what people expect from you as a council estate boy.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40I wouldn't have thought that...
0:03:42 > 0:03:44..being a pilot was something that I could achieve.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46You know, you see the movies, Battle Of Britain,
0:03:46 > 0:03:51and all the films, that fighter pilots are, you know,
0:03:51 > 0:03:54tall, Caucasian, public school educated,...
0:03:54 > 0:03:56- Loads of money.- Loads of money!
0:03:56 > 0:03:58Super sportsmen, hyper-intelligent.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00And that's not me.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02I mean, I wouldn't consider myself any of those.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06Since he was a young child, Trevor has been obsessed
0:04:06 > 0:04:07with planes and flying.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10Where did that passion come from?
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Watching aeroplanes.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15- Farnborough Airshow.- Yeah.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Lots of military aircraft racing around there.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22- REPORTER:- An air defence variant Tornado MK 2 heralds the start
0:04:22 > 0:04:25of an impressive military display at Farnborough.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28And I just thought, "That is amazing."
0:04:30 > 0:04:32And, as lots of young men do,
0:04:32 > 0:04:36there's posters, there's Airfix models,
0:04:36 > 0:04:38all of that stuff. I couldn't get enough of it.
0:04:38 > 0:04:39I thought it was amazing.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43But it was never something I thought I would be able to do.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45- But you did do it. - Yes, I did, yeah, eventually.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49What Trevor has achieved is remarkable.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52He's become one of the RAF's talented elite,
0:04:52 > 0:04:55flying this supersonic aircraft at 600mph,
0:04:55 > 0:04:59just 100 feet off the ground, through the hostile environments
0:04:59 > 0:05:01of Iraq and Bosnia.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07He is the best of the best.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12And yet, he managed this despite sustaining a disabling injury
0:05:12 > 0:05:14right at the start of his military career.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18It wasn't... It wasn't straightforward!
0:05:18 > 0:05:20Not easy. There's a few knockbacks on the way.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24So what sort of person would you like to give back to?
0:05:26 > 0:05:27Anyone that's struggling, really.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31Anyone that's struggling to get to their goals because they think that
0:05:31 > 0:05:34it's unachievable because of, you know, a disability,
0:05:34 > 0:05:37or their circumstances.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Well, listen, in order for you to give back,
0:05:39 > 0:05:41I think we need to go back first,
0:05:41 > 0:05:43which involves you trusting me in the car.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46- OK.- You're going to be such a control freak, aren't you?
0:05:46 > 0:05:48Always wanting the hands on the controls.
0:05:48 > 0:05:49I'm going to struggle!
0:05:49 > 0:05:52- Well, it'll be fun. Come on, let's go.- OK.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57'I'm keeping our first destination to myself for now,
0:05:57 > 0:06:00'keen to find out about Trevor's early life.'
0:06:00 > 0:06:02The second of five children,
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Trevor's mum Barbara was a nurse and his dad Edwin was a teacher.
0:06:07 > 0:06:08The family lived in a small flat
0:06:08 > 0:06:12on the notorious Thamesmead council estate.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15What was it like growing up there?
0:06:16 > 0:06:19The thing is you don't know any different, do you, as a kid.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22So it was just home and that's where it was.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25- Was it rough? - It was rough, yeah, it was rough.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29I didn't necessarily notice a lot of crime, but, you know,
0:06:29 > 0:06:31there was some fairly rough lads around.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35- East End of London housing estate. - Yeah.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38Not necessarily the most pleasant of areas.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42The Thamesmead estate in the '70s was a difficult place to live.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Just outside Woolwich in south-east London,
0:06:45 > 0:06:46it was known as a "sink estate,"
0:06:46 > 0:06:50used by councils all around the capital to re-home
0:06:50 > 0:06:51"problem families."
0:06:53 > 0:06:57The backdrop to Stanley Kubrick's 1971 film A Clockwork Orange,
0:06:57 > 0:07:00crime and anti-social behaviour thrived.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05I was quite a fast runner, actually, so...
0:07:07 > 0:07:08..that was useful.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14Yeah, you get used to knowing where to avoid at what times.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17- Head down.- Head down, that's it. Go for it.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Despite his surroundings, Trevor did well at school
0:07:20 > 0:07:22and won a place at university.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Here, he came across the RAF for the first time.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28Can you see yourself in the RAF?
0:07:28 > 0:07:31We'll give you the finest trade training you'll find.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Call in to your nearest RAF careers information office,
0:07:34 > 0:07:36or send off the coupon in today's paper.
0:07:40 > 0:07:41It's your life,
0:07:41 > 0:07:43so you think about it.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47He applied to become a pilot,
0:07:47 > 0:07:51but just failed a crucial hand-eye coordination test.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Despite passing all the other exams with flying colours,
0:07:54 > 0:07:56he was deemed a training risk.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00- I was very disappointed. - I bet.- It was so close.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02- Yeah.- Didn't quite get there!
0:08:02 > 0:08:05"Oh...OK, that's a real shame."
0:08:05 > 0:08:08But it wasn't the end of the road for Trevor and the RAF.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10He was offered a position as a ground officer,
0:08:10 > 0:08:11protecting the airfields.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15Training was tough, cos you do the officer training first.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18I mean, that's everybody - guys, girls, pilots.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22And, in fact, that's where I realised that...you know,
0:08:22 > 0:08:26that perhaps I should have stuck with the pilot route
0:08:26 > 0:08:27a little bit longer,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29because it was the first time I realised
0:08:29 > 0:08:32that they were no different to me.
0:08:32 > 0:08:33You must have been thrilled.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Yeah!
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Keen aviation guys, but just like me.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41You know, they weren't amazing athletes,
0:08:41 > 0:08:43they weren't hyper-intelligent.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45You just think, "Actually, you know what? I could do that.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47- "I think I could do that job." - Yeah.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Trevor hatched a plan to see if he could retrain,
0:08:51 > 0:08:54but then tragedy struck and his dream was shattered.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00So any idea where we're heading off on this journey today?
0:09:00 > 0:09:01Definitely Headley Court.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05- You reckon, do you?- Yeah.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07And if we were heading to Headley Court,
0:09:07 > 0:09:10when's the last time you went there?
0:09:10 > 0:09:11I haven't been back since I left,
0:09:11 > 0:09:15so that was 1986...
0:09:16 > 0:09:17..'87?
0:09:17 > 0:09:20- Gosh, a long time ago. - A long time, yeah.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Set in 85 acres on the Epsom Downs,
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Headley Court is home to rehabilitating military personnel.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33The centre has helped pilots, sailors and soldiers recover from
0:09:33 > 0:09:37or learn to cope with the most devastating injuries and illness.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Trevor was 22 when he arrived here,
0:09:41 > 0:09:43just 18 months into his military career,
0:09:43 > 0:09:45with an injury so severe,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48he was wondering if he would ever walk again.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50So how did you end up here?
0:09:50 > 0:09:53My last training exercise on my regiment course
0:09:53 > 0:09:56was up in North Yorkshire
0:09:56 > 0:09:59and it was a week-long, quite a brutal course,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02brutal exercise that particular one,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05working 20-hour days,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07in the wintertime as well, cold, wet.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12And my feet, basically, they were wet,
0:10:12 > 0:10:14they were cold and I never got warmed up.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18The training was punishing, the officers were practising
0:10:18 > 0:10:20defending a position.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Trevor was spending days on end manning an outpost,
0:10:23 > 0:10:26standing in a dugout without moving in the December snow.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32Came off the exercise, had a lot of problems with my feet.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35Off to hospital and they called it a non-freezing cold injury,
0:10:35 > 0:10:38- which, to you and me, is trench foot.- Right.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42A non-freezing cold injury gained its common name
0:10:42 > 0:10:45of trench foot during the First World War.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48The medical condition is caused by long exposure
0:10:48 > 0:10:50to damp and cold conditions
0:10:50 > 0:10:53and results in tissue and nerve damage to the feet.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57It was immensely painful, looked like shrivelled prunes.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00And you just thought, "Yeah, that is not right."
0:11:03 > 0:11:05My toes died and started getting gangrenous,
0:11:05 > 0:11:08and they had to amputate them.
0:11:08 > 0:11:09- Gosh.- And...
0:11:10 > 0:11:15..this is the military rehabilitation centre.
0:11:15 > 0:11:20And once I'd recovered sufficiently, they sent me down here
0:11:20 > 0:11:22to, basically, to learn to walk again.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28Before here, of course, the seed had been sown that you could maybe...
0:11:28 > 0:11:29- Maybe.- ..maybe be a pilot.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33- Yeah.- So was that dream still alive when you were here?- No.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36No, when I arrived here, definitely not.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39That's the end of me, any sort of military career,
0:11:39 > 0:11:41any sort of flying career, that's it gone.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45Cos I never thought I would get to the stage where you wouldn't be
0:11:45 > 0:11:47able to tell that I have an injury.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50'Surrounded by people with worse injuries than him,
0:11:50 > 0:11:54'Trevor was spurred on to undergo months of gruelling physio
0:11:54 > 0:11:55'to get him back on his feet.'
0:11:57 > 0:11:59I couldn't imagine getting to the stage where
0:11:59 > 0:12:02I'd be running round with the soldiers,
0:12:02 > 0:12:04doing their fitness tests.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06How tough was it getting to that stage?
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Cos you came in here on crutches.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12Yeah, came here on crutches, but...this place is one of those...
0:12:13 > 0:12:15There is always people worse than you are,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18and if they are getting on with it, without complaint,
0:12:18 > 0:12:20then the least I can do,
0:12:20 > 0:12:22with my minor injuries, in comparison,
0:12:22 > 0:12:23was to get on with it.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Despite his incredible recovery,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29with no toes and facing military discharge,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Trevor's dream of becoming a pilot was over.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36But one man and one conversation was to change all that.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Wing Commander, a Tornado Wing Commander...
0:12:40 > 0:12:42I can't remember his name
0:12:42 > 0:12:44cos he was only there for a little while
0:12:44 > 0:12:46while I was there.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49And just chatting to him, talking about various injuries and stuff.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53And... I said, "I always wanted to be a pilot."
0:12:53 > 0:12:55He says, "Well, you can still become a pilot.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57"A guy called Douglas Bader had no legs,
0:12:57 > 0:12:59"who flew fighters in the Second World War time."
0:12:59 > 0:13:01"Wow! OK."
0:13:01 > 0:13:03- I'd have loved to have seen your face when they said that.- Yeah!
0:13:03 > 0:13:05So that was like a big light bulb going on.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09"Really? OK. Right... OK."
0:13:09 > 0:13:12Douglas Bader is a hero of the air force.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16In 1930, the 21-year-old RAF officer crashed his aeroplane.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19He lost both his legs, but still fought in World War II,
0:13:19 > 0:13:23becoming famous for trying to escape from a prisoner of war camp
0:13:23 > 0:13:24after he was shot down.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28This legendary pilot became an inspiration to Trevor.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30The fact I hadn't got any legs caused me to get publicity.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Now, that, as you say,
0:13:32 > 0:13:37has helped a lot of people, maybe, and I hope so,
0:13:37 > 0:13:39who've had similar disabilities.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43Bader's story, along with those few words from the Wing Commander,
0:13:43 > 0:13:45changed Trevor's life.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48- Are you glad to be back? - Yeah, very pleased to be back.
0:13:48 > 0:13:49It'll be nice to go in and have a look.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52'I have a huge surprise waiting for Trevor.
0:13:52 > 0:13:53'I can't wait to see his face.'
0:13:54 > 0:13:57So what's it like for you, being back inside?
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Yes, in the officers mess! It is bringing back memories, actually.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Starting to remember a few bits and pieces from being in here,
0:14:02 > 0:14:04- 30 years ago!- I know, a long time, isn't it?- A long time.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07'Headley Court was a pivotal moment in Trevor's life,
0:14:07 > 0:14:10'but one moment stands out above the rest.'
0:14:10 > 0:14:12And incredible to think, you know, your story,
0:14:12 > 0:14:15without the Wing Commander who gave you that advice,
0:14:15 > 0:14:17- you wouldn't be flying. - No, absolutely not.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21And, you know, a conversation in a room very similar to this.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Might even have been this very room.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27You know, my 20-year, 30-year aviation career,
0:14:27 > 0:14:30all because of that conversation with that Wing Commander
0:14:30 > 0:14:32at that time at Headley Court, yeah.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34And all he said was that you can do it.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Absolutely, yeah. He said, "There's no reason why...
0:14:37 > 0:14:40"Having no toes is no reason not to be able to fly."
0:14:40 > 0:14:43Amazing. Well, I've got a little surprise for you now.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45Don't worry, but through this door...
0:14:47 > 0:14:51..retired Wing Commander Niall Irving,
0:14:51 > 0:14:53who was here in 1987.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57- You haven't seen him for a very long time.- Hi! Hi, Trevor.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00- Wow!- How nice to see you.- Fantastic. - I think the last time we met here,
0:15:00 > 0:15:03- we were both a lot younger. - A lot younger, yes.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07Yeah, yeah. And you were here, about to be medically discharged...
0:15:07 > 0:15:09- Yeah.- ..from the Royal Air Force.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13And I had just ejected from a Tornado that was on fire...
0:15:13 > 0:15:15- That's right. - ..and had a back problem,
0:15:15 > 0:15:17- which I'm delighted to say they resolved.- Yeah, yeah.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19And we find ourselves here again.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21- That's it. - And what a story you have.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23- What a story, well... - Because I haven't, obviously,
0:15:23 > 0:15:26been in contact with you since I last saw you 30 years ago.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28Do you know what he's just said outside?
0:15:28 > 0:15:30That without you, he wouldn't be flying.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34No, I would not be in the career that I've had for the last 30 years
0:15:34 > 0:15:37without you saying to me, "Oh, that won't be any problem at all."
0:15:37 > 0:15:40And you recounted the story of Douglas Bader flying with no legs,
0:15:40 > 0:15:43and me with my no toes won't be a problem at all and,
0:15:43 > 0:15:45yeah, I thought, "Well, you know what?
0:15:45 > 0:15:48"If a Wing Commander flying Tornadoes thinks that I can do it,
0:15:48 > 0:15:50"then I'm going to go for it."
0:15:50 > 0:15:52- Fabulous.- Yeah, brilliant. - Amazing.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55And how do you feel about the fact that Trevor is now going to
0:15:55 > 0:15:56give something back to somebody else?
0:15:56 > 0:15:58I think it is absolutely outstanding.
0:15:58 > 0:16:03I think this opportunity, as we get older, and have the opportunity
0:16:03 > 0:16:06now and again to reflect on how lucky we've been,
0:16:06 > 0:16:10to be able to do something and give back like that, I really admire.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12But this is what Trevor is.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15This is why Trevor achieved what he did.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17I mean, you know, I said a few words,
0:16:17 > 0:16:21but it was he who took it on and achieved what he did
0:16:21 > 0:16:24and I must say, I'm very proud now that I've learnt his story.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27What I love most, it's come full circle, hasn't it?
0:16:27 > 0:16:28Yeah, it has, very much.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30And I so did not expect to see you today!
0:16:30 > 0:16:33That was the last person I expected to see
0:16:33 > 0:16:34walking in here today.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38No, I'm absolutely delighted to see you and to learn your story
0:16:38 > 0:16:40and, yeah, great admiration.
0:16:40 > 0:16:41Thank you so much.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- I wish you luck and I hope that you go on...- Yeah.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46..and inspire the next generation.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49I really wish that I had an opportunity to chat
0:16:49 > 0:16:52to you a little bit more cos there's so many stories...
0:16:52 > 0:16:55You're busy and your role now is more important.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57We can catch up another time.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00- It was a pleasure. Good luck. - Really good.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02Listening to the hurdles Trevor's conquered to become a pilot
0:17:02 > 0:17:05is extraordinary, and now he wants to give back.
0:17:07 > 0:17:08But who can he help?
0:17:08 > 0:17:11Is there someone who's sustained a life-changing injury themselves,
0:17:11 > 0:17:15whose future is unknown and whose story will resonate with Trevor?
0:17:18 > 0:17:21Within 18 months of leaving his rehabilitation,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Trevor had passed his RAF flight training
0:17:24 > 0:17:27and was sent to Scotland to learn to fly the king of the jets,
0:17:27 > 0:17:29the Jaguar.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32- REPORTER:- Planes like these Jaguars, travelling at around 700mph
0:17:32 > 0:17:35and only a couple of hundred feet off the ground.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39I want to see what it is about planes and flight
0:17:39 > 0:17:41that's fascinated Trevor his entire life.
0:17:42 > 0:17:43This is...
0:17:45 > 0:17:47- ..Blackbushe Airport. - Yeah.
0:17:49 > 0:17:50We are pulling in.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54But we're not meeting anyone here.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56- We're not meeting anyone here? - No.
0:17:58 > 0:17:59We're going to go...
0:18:00 > 0:18:02..for a fly.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04Oh, wow! OK.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07- That's brilliant.- Yeah. We're still on the journey.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09We're not just going up in the air for the fun of it.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12- OK, yeah.- It will be fun, but, yeah, we're taking off.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14See, now, we could be going to anywhere then.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16We could be going anywhere.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18- From here, we could fly anywhere. - Yeah.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24Hello, mate. How are you? Nice to see you.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26- This is Trevor.- Morning, Trevor. - Hi, Stuart.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33So, Trevor, are you ready for this?
0:18:33 > 0:18:34Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Two five left-hand, one, zero.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38And you still have no idea where we're going?
0:18:38 > 0:18:41I've got a little bit more of an idea...
0:18:41 > 0:18:42It can only be somewhere...
0:18:42 > 0:18:45I assume it's somewhere where there's a Jaguar.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Or one of the bases that I was based at.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53Oh, you're quite clever, aren't you?
0:18:53 > 0:18:54We'll find out. TREVOR LAUGHS
0:18:56 > 0:18:57Now a commercial airline pilot,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00Trevor is more accustomed to flying out of Heathrow,
0:19:00 > 0:19:02behind the controls of an Airbus A320.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Information, ready, taxi.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09When was the last time you flew one of these, Trevor?
0:19:09 > 0:19:14Something similar, not quite as big, a good ten years ago, actually.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19And even then, I wasn't massively experienced on them, either.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24Thanks for that, Trevor. That's really good(!)
0:19:24 > 0:19:27Sitting really comfortable at the back here now.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29'I think I'm in safe hands, but just to make sure,
0:19:29 > 0:19:31'we have Stuart at the helm alongside Trevor.'
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Well done. Whip up the nose, right on the horizon.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40And I'll give you about 105.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Very bumpy in the first 1,000 feet.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49- How's that? Well done, Trevor. - Thanks for that. I enjoyed that.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Good. I wish I could say I did.
0:19:55 > 0:19:56- No, it was seamless.- Seamless.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01- You'd almost think I've done it before.- Yeah, exactly.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05What is it about flying that you love so much?
0:20:07 > 0:20:08Being up here is just great.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15Being in the air, being at the controls of an aeroplane.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20I don't know. I don't know how to describe it, really.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22How many adjectives you can have to say how wonderful it is.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25It's exciting, thrilling.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31Flying a plane like this hardly compares to what Trevor did
0:20:31 > 0:20:32at the peak of his military career.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36- REPORTER:- First, the Jaguars, pounding the target
0:20:36 > 0:20:39with 30 millimetre cannons.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41He was part of a squadron of Jaguar pilots sent to Iraq
0:20:41 > 0:20:43and Bosnia in Nato operations.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49It's the Nato sledgehammer, and with the threat to hit harder
0:20:49 > 0:20:52until the Bosnian Serbs give in, because giving in
0:20:52 > 0:20:54is what this is all about.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57Was there ever a time that you were scared for your life?
0:20:58 > 0:20:59Um, yes.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03The air support was close behind.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07They came out of the sun, just like you'd expect.
0:21:07 > 0:21:12In Iraq, the Jaguars would fly in pairs at speeds of 600mph.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15The pilots would fly at just 100 feet above the hostile terrain.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Our job was to go at low level, sometimes very low levels,
0:21:19 > 0:21:22and drop bombs on targets.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24The threat was always there, because for them to shoot down
0:21:24 > 0:21:28a Nato aircraft would be a massive coup, capture the pilot.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30You can imagine that all over the news.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34Trevor was told when he learned to fly the Jaguar
0:21:34 > 0:21:36one in 20 of them would die at the controls
0:21:36 > 0:21:38before the end of their career.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43You can't be in that environment, fast jets,
0:21:43 > 0:21:47and not have situations where, but for the grace of God, you know,
0:21:47 > 0:21:50you wouldn't be here any more.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55It wasn't a regular occurrence, but it happened.
0:21:57 > 0:21:58So, yeah...
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Yeah, very, very scary.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04I'm glad we're not in that situation today.
0:22:04 > 0:22:05No, absolutely not.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09I wouldn't want to go through that situation again either, actually.
0:22:09 > 0:22:10I can see an airfield there.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14I can see a runway. I take it that is the correct one?
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Yeah, I would make that a positive ID.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20Follow me through on the landing, if you wish.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24Yeah, if you wouldn't mind actually, that'd be great, thank you.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27'We've flown 150 miles and, thanks to our accomplished pilots,
0:22:27 > 0:22:30'have made a smooth landing near RAF Cosford.'
0:22:30 > 0:22:32Nice landing, by the way, Stu.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36Thank you. It was an absolute pleasure to do that for you both.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39'The military base near Wolverhampton is now home
0:22:39 > 0:22:42'to the Jaguar aircraft, after the RAF retired the fleet
0:22:42 > 0:22:44'from active service in 2007.'
0:22:47 > 0:22:48- Amazing planes.- Amazing.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50Amazing. F3, that one.
0:22:50 > 0:22:51- Incredible, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56'Trevor hasn't seen a Jaguar in over a decade.'
0:22:56 > 0:23:00This single-seat fighter jet protected him in hostile skies,
0:23:00 > 0:23:04in treacherous situations, almost every day for six years.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11When he was learning to fly, he met one of his best mates
0:23:11 > 0:23:13in fellow pilot John Green.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16And you probably recognise this gentleman over here as well,
0:23:16 > 0:23:18who's come to say hello.
0:23:20 > 0:23:21How are you doing? You all right?
0:23:21 > 0:23:24- How are you?- The last person I expected to see here, actually!
0:23:26 > 0:23:29So, go on, tell us a bit about how you guys know each other.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32Well, we first met on my first-ever flying course in the air force
0:23:32 > 0:23:34- at Swinderby.- Yeah. 1988.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37- There you go. Yeah. - What was he like?- He was great.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39He was on the junior course, so I could tell him what to do.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42- Yes, a lot, actually, as far as I remember.- Oh, he did, did he?
0:23:42 > 0:23:44He'd overcome a lot to get to where he was.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47He had. Yeah, yeah. And I don't think we appreciated how much
0:23:47 > 0:23:51when we first met him. I think Trevor arrived, junior course,
0:23:51 > 0:23:56and just settled in and at no point did Trevor ever really make a fuss
0:23:56 > 0:23:59about what had happened previously.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01- Just got on with it. - Got on with it and fitted in.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04- Yeah.- Any good as a pilot?
0:24:05 > 0:24:07Not bad.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10He can't possibly go around saying things like that!
0:24:10 > 0:24:12I bet you're dying to go and have a look, aren't you?
0:24:12 > 0:24:15- I would love to...- Is there any way of finding out if you've flown that
0:24:15 > 0:24:19- particular one?- Well, yes. We all keep logbooks.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21And XX 112, I'd have to have a look in my logbook
0:24:21 > 0:24:24- to see whether or not I flew it. - All right. We'll do that afterwards,
0:24:24 > 0:24:26- but let's go and have a look at the cockpit, shall we?- Yeah.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28Go on, lead the way.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31The Jaguar was built in the '60s,
0:24:31 > 0:24:33one of the last truly manual aircrafts.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37This supersonic jet was used in the 1991 Gulf War
0:24:37 > 0:24:40and in subsequent Iraq and Balkan operations.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46Now, I'd love to say this takes me back,
0:24:46 > 0:24:48but I'm just looking at that thinking,
0:24:48 > 0:24:51"I don't remember it being so complicated as this."
0:24:51 > 0:24:54- It's tiny in there.- It is. Trevor, it doesn't look too comfortable,
0:24:54 > 0:24:55I've got to tell you.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59Yeah. That is smaller. Maybe I'm larger.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03Still amazes me that I ever did this.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05- Really?- Yeah, it's still amazing.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08That I was capable of...
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Well, I mean, I did, I did this.
0:25:10 > 0:25:11And it is...
0:25:13 > 0:25:15It looks complicated, even for me.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Honestly, I was about to say, I can't imagine being able to sit
0:25:18 > 0:25:20there on my own and fly this. I would be petrified.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23Trevor, do you fancy sitting in there for old time's sake?
0:25:23 > 0:25:26- Love to, yeah, definitely! - Go for it.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28If I'm still agile enough to get in.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Oh, look that. Straight in.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37- Brilliant.- What was it like when you flew this for the very first time?
0:25:37 > 0:25:41Very first time, and I still remember it vividly,
0:25:41 > 0:25:45because you climb up here and you turn around -
0:25:45 > 0:25:47I could turn around a lot better then -
0:25:47 > 0:25:48- and there's nothing behind you. - Yeah.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52It's the first time ever I've been in an aeroplane with no other seat.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55You fly by yourself in the other aircraft,
0:25:55 > 0:25:57but there's always another seat there. But this is...
0:25:57 > 0:25:58There's no seat.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01No other seat, it's just you, by yourself.
0:26:03 > 0:26:04And...
0:26:05 > 0:26:08..sat there thinking, "I can't believe they're letting
0:26:08 > 0:26:13"a boy from Woolwich loose in this aircraft,
0:26:13 > 0:26:16"and it costs millions of pounds.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20"And I'm going to go and fly round Scotland, by myself!
0:26:20 > 0:26:21"This is great!"
0:26:22 > 0:26:25- Amazing.- It was. It was fantastic, it was fantastic.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32He's like a kid in a toy shop, the grin on his face, honestly.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35That is... Yeah, I almost want to get airborne in it again.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37Actually, I do want to get airborne in one again.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39- That would be brilliant. - We're trying to find out
0:26:39 > 0:26:41whether he flew this plane.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43Here's Trevor's logbook and, sure enough,
0:26:43 > 0:26:47X-ray, X-ray, 112, on his own, doing operational low flying
0:26:47 > 0:26:51- at 100 feet...- Oh. - ..in Scotland.- When was that?
0:26:51 > 0:26:54That was January 18th 1993.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56- Wow! There you go.- Gosh. - There you go.
0:26:56 > 0:26:57Amazing how long ago that was.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Yeah. Say, 24 years...
0:27:00 > 0:27:02And it seems like...
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Sounds like something old people say, isn't it?
0:27:05 > 0:27:07"Oh, it seems like just yesterday."
0:27:07 > 0:27:09- Yeah, scary.- We've aged. - Yeah, we've aged.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12- And the aircraft's aged as well. - The aircraft's aged.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15What do you think of his idea that he wants to give something back to
0:27:15 > 0:27:17- somebody else? - I think it's a fantastic idea
0:27:17 > 0:27:19and couldn't think of anyone better to do it.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22A generous guy who has, you know,
0:27:22 > 0:27:26been through a lot a while ago and lived, you know,
0:27:26 > 0:27:28through such an experience.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31It's great to share and give back,
0:27:31 > 0:27:33you know, from the experiences that you have in your life.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35Absolutely. And what about for you?
0:27:35 > 0:27:36Coming back to... What was it?
0:27:36 > 0:27:41- 19...- '93.- ..'93, and seeing the plane you used to fly.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43- Yeah.- Has that reinforced in you that desire as well?
0:27:43 > 0:27:44Oh, yeah, absolutely.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47I mean, if anyone can get...a fraction of the amount
0:27:47 > 0:27:50of pleasure and enjoyment, yeah...
0:27:50 > 0:27:52I'd love for anyone to feel the same.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54It would be brilliant.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57- Well, I'm glad we've come back. - I am.- Cos, honestly, the smile
0:27:57 > 0:27:58on your face is enormous.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00I am glad that you've brought me back, actually.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02- Good.- Brought us back as well.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04- I'm sure JG's enjoying this as much as I am.- Yeah, it's been fantastic.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07Well, listen, you two have got loads to catch up on.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10So I'll see you very soon and, yeah, thanks for the surprise.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13- Good to see you. Cheers, guys. - Thank you.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16What a day it's been, learning about Trevor's life,
0:28:16 > 0:28:18from his upbringing on the Thamesmead estate
0:28:18 > 0:28:21to his rehabilitation at Headley Court,
0:28:21 > 0:28:24where he first realised he could make it as a pilot,
0:28:24 > 0:28:28and then taking the trip up to RAF Cosford in this beauty.
0:28:28 > 0:28:33And seeing his expression as he sat in the cockpit of his old Jaguar jet
0:28:33 > 0:28:37was such a thrill, and it reinforced in Trevor that desire to give
0:28:37 > 0:28:40something back and we think we've found somebody who fits the bill,
0:28:40 > 0:28:43someone whose story will really resonate with him.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49Trevor's come to meet Paul Stevens.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52He was serving as a rifles infantryman
0:28:52 > 0:28:54in the 1st Battalion with the British Army.
0:28:57 > 0:28:58It feels OK.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00Do you want to flip over onto your front?
0:29:01 > 0:29:04But then, one summer's day in July 2014,
0:29:04 > 0:29:08a horrible accident happened and Paul was severely injured.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10Like Trevor, he was left unable to walk,
0:29:10 > 0:29:13so is undergoing medical help to get him on his feet.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18When I first came back in 2015...
0:29:19 > 0:29:22..I wasn't putting no weight on the leg at all.
0:29:22 > 0:29:23And now, I've progressed.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26We've come around a bit.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28Looking forward to meeting Paul.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30I understand that he's had quite a hard time
0:29:30 > 0:29:32with his injuries and recovering from his injuries.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35If there's anything I can do to help him...
0:29:35 > 0:29:37I had a lot of help when I was here at Headley Court,
0:29:37 > 0:29:40so it would be nice to be able to give something back
0:29:40 > 0:29:43to someone who's also struggling, while they're here.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47Paul thinks we're making a programme about leaving the Army after injury.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50He has no idea what Trevor's really up to.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54Paul, thank you very much for meeting me today.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57Serving his country is all Paul ever wanted to do.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00Although being in the Army was his childhood dream,
0:30:00 > 0:30:03he was a latecomer to the forces after a wrist injury,
0:30:03 > 0:30:06but once accepted at the age of 27, he flourished.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09Offered a promotion almost immediately,
0:30:09 > 0:30:11Paul showed promise as one of the stars of the future.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15But this was all snatched away in an instant.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20I was on a battalion exercise in the Brecon Beacons...
0:30:20 > 0:30:24- Yeah.- ..with my unit, carrying a lot of weight,
0:30:24 > 0:30:26probably 90 to 100 kilos.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28So more than your body weight.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30Yeah, definitely. I was about 79 kilos at the time.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33So... Yeah, and the ground just gave way.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36- I slipped.- Yeah. - Went into thunder splits.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40- Ouch.- The lads behind me, they just picked me up,
0:30:40 > 0:30:42- "Come on, just carry on." - Yeah, as you did in those days.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45- "It's just a groin strain."- Yeah. - "Just a groin strain."
0:30:45 > 0:30:47So I carried on, probably for another four or five miles.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51- Yeah.- And I checked myself over and everything was black.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54In extreme pain, Paul was forced to stop and seek medical help.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57His pelvis had been completely shattered.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00For the last two years, Paul's been in and out of hospital,
0:31:00 > 0:31:02undergoing multiple operations.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05He's also suffered a severe infection in his wound.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10I just don't know where I'm going to be now when I come out.
0:31:10 > 0:31:12- Yeah.- At the minute, I've sort of...
0:31:12 > 0:31:16I'm at a point where, "Am I going to get any better?"
0:31:16 > 0:31:19- Yeah.- Or am I going to stay like this now, forever?
0:31:19 > 0:31:22- And that's a scary thing, really. - Yeah.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25But it's the impact his injury has had on his personal life,
0:31:25 > 0:31:27as well as his professional, that's been so hard to endure,
0:31:27 > 0:31:31thinking he's not the dad he hoped to be to his 11-year-old son, Dean,
0:31:31 > 0:31:33and three-year-old Freddie.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36And how has it affected your lads?
0:31:36 > 0:31:38Not being able to do the stuff like, you know,
0:31:38 > 0:31:40carrying him on your shoulders, my little 'un.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43- Stuff that dads always do. - Running around. Yeah, absolutely.
0:31:43 > 0:31:45I haven't able to play football with them.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47- I might not be able to do that now, ever.- Yeah.
0:31:47 > 0:31:50I'm not that sort of person that would be happy just stood back.
0:31:50 > 0:31:51In the corner. Yeah.
0:31:51 > 0:31:56While Trevor's been meeting Paul, I'm meeting Paul's dad, Roy.
0:31:56 > 0:31:57Hey, Roy.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00- Good to meet you. How are you? - Yeah, I'm fine.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02Go on, then. Tell me a bit about your son.
0:32:02 > 0:32:03What's he like?
0:32:03 > 0:32:05He's full of life, basically.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08He loves the Army. He always wanted to go in the Army.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10And, of course, then he had the accident.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12- He's had a really, really hard time, hasn't he?- He has.
0:32:12 > 0:32:16His sole goal is to be where he wanted to be.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19How has Headley Court impacted upon his life, would you say,
0:32:19 > 0:32:21- cos he's been there for, what, two years?- Yeah.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25I think the main downfall of it all is he's having to come back
0:32:25 > 0:32:29week in, week out, week in, and it's not for just a week.
0:32:29 > 0:32:31He's got to stay down there for a fortnight,
0:32:31 > 0:32:33so he doesn't see the little 'uns.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35Paul has always been very family-orientated.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39His home is back in Nottingham - 150 miles from Headley Court.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41He can only get back twice a month
0:32:41 > 0:32:45to see his children and partner, Alex, and misses them dreadfully.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48His sister Kelly lives nearby with her children.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51She's seen how devastating the accident has been for him.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55I think that he was really proud of the fact when he got in that it was
0:32:55 > 0:32:58something he could show his boys, you know, that he was there,
0:32:58 > 0:33:00that he'd finally got his dream,
0:33:00 > 0:33:03and he was doing something for his country,
0:33:03 > 0:33:07and it's a good career to have and a good way forward.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10So now that he's not fulfilling his dream and he can't go out
0:33:10 > 0:33:14and do what he wanted to do, I think he feels that they'll
0:33:14 > 0:33:16not be as proud of him more, that they won't be able to go back
0:33:16 > 0:33:20and tell their friends all the great things that their dad does.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23You must have been really worried for him.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25I am. But he's a fighter.
0:33:27 > 0:33:29It's this fighting spirit that's keeping him going now.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33While desperately missing his Army life and his family,
0:33:33 > 0:33:35he's trying to be positive and has been helped by something
0:33:35 > 0:33:39quite unexpected that Trevor will appreciate.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41- It's been a tough time.- Yeah. - It's not been easy.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44But I can see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel now.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47- Yeah, absolutely.- And different pathways have opened up for me
0:33:47 > 0:33:48- since I've been here.- Yeah.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50One of which is flying, I hear.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52Yeah, yeah. So that was just by chance.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56Two of the lads that were here, they went off on a gliding session.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59- Yeah.- And anybody that knows me, I was like a spoilt kid, I was like,
0:33:59 > 0:34:02"Well, I want to go gliding."
0:34:02 > 0:34:05Seeing his interest, staff at the rehab centre organised
0:34:05 > 0:34:08a surprise for Paul, to give a flying a go.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10I was... I went off for a half-an-hour flying lesson,
0:34:10 > 0:34:12got a taster session. That was phenomenal.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16- It seemed like about two minutes. - Yeah.- It just went so quick.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18And just as we were coming in for landing,
0:34:18 > 0:34:20he was like, "How would you like to start some flying lessons?"
0:34:20 > 0:34:22- I was like, "I'd love to."- Yeah.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24- It's always something I've wanted to do as a kid.- Yeah.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26But never really been able to have the chance to do it,
0:34:26 > 0:34:29- especially financially.- Yeah. It is a little bit pricey, isn't it?
0:34:29 > 0:34:33The thing is with flying is that once you've got the bug,
0:34:33 > 0:34:37you get the bug and you will find any way to go and get airborne.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39Yeah, yeah.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41- My kids want to come up as well. - Brilliant.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44Yeah. So are you going to be Super Cool Dad who flies?
0:34:44 > 0:34:46- Yeah. Looks that way, yeah. - Oh, yeah.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49I used to be Super Cool Dad that was in the Army and now I'm...
0:34:49 > 0:34:51Super Cool Dad that flies as well. Brilliant.
0:34:51 > 0:34:53Learning to fly has given Paul hope for the future,
0:34:53 > 0:34:56but he doesn't know how he'll be able to continue lessons
0:34:56 > 0:34:58after the charity sessions run out.
0:34:58 > 0:35:00His family also want them to continue,
0:35:00 > 0:35:04seeing such a huge change in Paul since he took to the skies.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06It seems there's been a glimmer of hope in all this,
0:35:06 > 0:35:09in flying, of all things.
0:35:09 > 0:35:13Yeah. I couldn't believe it. Cos he got in touch with me, he said,
0:35:13 > 0:35:15"Dad," he said, "They've offered me...
0:35:15 > 0:35:17"They've offered to put me in for flying."
0:35:17 > 0:35:20But it seems to me that the flying's given him
0:35:20 > 0:35:23a new lease of life, really, and that's not too big a statement.
0:35:23 > 0:35:24No. No, he has.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27He's taken to flying. It's crazy. I didn't believe he would.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31Even though he's only had two lessons,
0:35:31 > 0:35:32Paul loves flying so much,
0:35:32 > 0:35:35he's wondering if there could be any chance he could do it
0:35:35 > 0:35:38as a profession, now his Army career has been cut short.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41I mean, I'd like to do it as a job. That would be a dream come true.
0:35:41 > 0:35:42- But I'm just taking one step at a time.- Yeah.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45Well, I mean, that's the sensible thing, really, isn't it?
0:35:45 > 0:35:47As you say, you don't know where it could end up,
0:35:47 > 0:35:50and a few years down the line, you could easily find yourself
0:35:50 > 0:35:53flying for one of those big airliners.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55- There's no reason why not. - Yeah, yeah.
0:35:55 > 0:35:56- Is there?- Yeah, no.- Yeah.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59Trevor knows exactly what it's like to be in Paul's position.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02He wants to encourage Paul, but will he go one step further
0:36:02 > 0:36:05and also give him a life-changing gift?
0:36:05 > 0:36:09Now, you know the whole idea that we are going to surprise him later.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12How do you think he's going to react?
0:36:12 > 0:36:15He'll be over the moon because we're all here.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17You know where we are going to meet,
0:36:17 > 0:36:19so I'll catch up with you there and mum's the word.
0:36:19 > 0:36:21- OK?- OK.- See you later. Cheers.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25Roy will be delighted to see his son happy after years of
0:36:25 > 0:36:28knockbacks triggered by injury.
0:36:28 > 0:36:31Let's hope Trevor can make it work and we can pull off the surprise.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34Thank you very much for meeting me today...
0:36:34 > 0:36:37- Yeah.- ..and having this opportunity to have a little chat with you
0:36:37 > 0:36:38and what you've been through.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40Come back here, see this place.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44- Yeah, come back, see it. - Yeah.- And you, your determination.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47With your determination, I'm sure you will get to...
0:36:47 > 0:36:49- To where I want to be. - ..where you want to be.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52- Nice meeting you. Cheers. - Cheers, Paul.- No worries.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56'That was excellent. What a nice man.'
0:36:56 > 0:36:58Really good to meet Paul.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01The serious injuries that he's been through
0:37:01 > 0:37:04definitely resonates with me, but he's got the flying bug
0:37:04 > 0:37:09and, hopefully, I'll be able to help him to achieve some of his goals.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14I'm really looking forward to seeing Trevor again today.
0:37:14 > 0:37:16It's been a week since I last saw him
0:37:16 > 0:37:18and he's had a big decision to make.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22How can he make a difference to Paul's life?
0:37:22 > 0:37:24I've arranged to meet him back at Headley Court.
0:37:24 > 0:37:26Paul's at one of his charity flying lessons,
0:37:26 > 0:37:30so there's no danger of us running into him and blowing our cover.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33How was meeting Paul?
0:37:33 > 0:37:35Paul was excellent.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39What a nice man. You know, the story that he had reminded me
0:37:39 > 0:37:44so much of my time here, with my injury,
0:37:44 > 0:37:48definitely resonating with the injury that he has at the moment.
0:37:48 > 0:37:50You know, he's there walking with sticks
0:37:50 > 0:37:52and I was there walking on sticks when I arrived.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55His passion, you see his face light up as soon as you started
0:37:55 > 0:37:57talking about flying and getting into the air. Amazing.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59- Really, really...- A real buzz. - Real buzz.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02And, yeah, just so keen.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04It was infectious, almost.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13Paul is up in the air, so we've gathered a load
0:38:13 > 0:38:16of his friends and family at the aerodrome.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24It's time to surprise him.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31- HE WHISPERS:- I can hear the plane.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34Right, his plane's coming past the hang house.
0:38:34 > 0:38:35We'll just be quiet a little bit.
0:38:36 > 0:38:37Keep out the way as well.
0:38:40 > 0:38:42He's getting out of the plane. He's standing on the plane.
0:38:45 > 0:38:46Here we go. Right now.
0:38:48 > 0:38:50Hi, Paul.
0:38:50 > 0:38:51CHEERING
0:38:54 > 0:38:56So you probably know all these people, don't you?
0:38:56 > 0:38:58I know some of them.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00Your dad's told us everything about you.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07Now, you thought we were making a programme about leaving the Army
0:39:07 > 0:39:09- after an injury.- Yeah.
0:39:09 > 0:39:10It's not the full story, is it?
0:39:10 > 0:39:15No, not at all. After meeting you, resonated with me so much my time
0:39:15 > 0:39:19at Headley Court and going on to have a career in aviation,
0:39:19 > 0:39:21so I've managed write a few of my thoughts down
0:39:21 > 0:39:24- in a letter there for you. - Will you read it out loud for us?
0:39:24 > 0:39:27"Good to meet you. Good to talk to you about your experiences,
0:39:27 > 0:39:30"and especially your time at Headley Court.
0:39:30 > 0:39:32"That really resonated with me, as it was because of the help
0:39:32 > 0:39:35"I received at Headley that I was able to have a career in aviation.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37"I can see that you've already caught the flying bug
0:39:37 > 0:39:39"and I would like to help you get a bit further towards
0:39:39 > 0:39:42"your ultimate goal of becoming an airline pilot.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44"I would like to offer you more instructional hours
0:39:44 > 0:39:48"to try and get your first flight, solo flight, in two hours,
0:39:48 > 0:39:51"in a full motion Airbus simulator."
0:39:51 > 0:39:53Ah, that's mega. Brilliant.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59- How do you feel about that? - That's... Yeah, that's cool.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02'Trevor is giving Paul the chance of a lifetime -
0:40:02 > 0:40:04'he's sponsoring flying lessons, plus giving him a go in
0:40:04 > 0:40:07'an Airbus flight simulator.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10'Paul will be able to see first-hand what being an airline captain
0:40:10 > 0:40:11'is really like.
0:40:11 > 0:40:12'It's a huge opportunity
0:40:12 > 0:40:16'and should help him on his way to become a pilot.'
0:40:16 > 0:40:19A real pleasure, you know.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22It's nice to meet someone who is that keen on flying
0:40:22 > 0:40:25and it's made such a difference, I've heard, in your life so far.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28- Yeah.- And it really is my pleasure to be able to help you.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30- Brilliant. Yeah. - You could be a pilot soon.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32- Yeah.- Yeah!
0:40:34 > 0:40:35Go on, three cheers for your dad.
0:40:35 > 0:40:40- Hip hip!- Hooray!- Hip hip!- Hooray! - Hip hip!- Hooray!
0:40:43 > 0:40:45Are you going to give your dad a hug?
0:40:45 > 0:40:47Aw!
0:40:47 > 0:40:48You want to go flying?
0:40:48 > 0:40:50No.
0:40:50 > 0:40:51Maybe not.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53What difference do you think this'll make for you?
0:40:53 > 0:40:55It's going to be less stressful now.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57I know that much, yeah, definitely.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59You've had a tough time, I know...
0:40:59 > 0:41:02- It's been a bit of a worry, yeah. - But also, all we hear from everyone
0:41:02 > 0:41:04is how you feel when you're flying. You feel amazing.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06Well, Alex has said, "What are you going to do?
0:41:06 > 0:41:08I was like, "Don't know. Fly aeroplanes, I don't know."
0:41:08 > 0:41:11- It worked for him.- Yeah, why not?
0:41:11 > 0:41:13Why not? There's no reason why not at all.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15And you've obviously got a bit of aptitude to it,
0:41:15 > 0:41:17from what the guys here have said.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19So, yeah, continue it, you know.
0:41:19 > 0:41:23It's going to be a bit of a journey for you, I know, but you can do it.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25You definitely can do it.
0:41:25 > 0:41:26Yeah, of course you can!
0:41:28 > 0:41:30That was excellent, that was excellent.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32And, you know, Paul again,
0:41:32 > 0:41:34the smile on his face, it's fantastic.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37And, you know, with his family there as well, brilliant.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40Absolutely brilliant, yeah. A real pleasure.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43Anyway, we wanted to surprise you and we've done that.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45- It was a surprise.- So we'll leave you with your family now
0:41:45 > 0:41:49- to catch up.- Nice one.- And they were all in on a secret as well, OK?
0:41:49 > 0:41:50He knew all about it.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54- Can't trust anyone, can you? - Not even your dad!
0:41:56 > 0:41:58It was brilliant. Yeah, absolutely brilliant.
0:41:58 > 0:42:02I've never seen him so quiet. His face was a picture.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04Let's go. Take care. All the best.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09The gift that Trevor's given to me is unreal.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12I would never have expected anything like that,
0:42:12 > 0:42:14especially after these last couple of days.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16I just thought this was about Trevor, not about me.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19So, yeah, it's phenomenal. Really appreciate it.
0:42:19 > 0:42:21- Going to fly?- Fly!
0:42:21 > 0:42:25If I can get a career, then it's one less thing I've got to worry about.
0:42:25 > 0:42:26The bills are still going to get paid.
0:42:26 > 0:42:28Still look after my family and do a positive role,
0:42:28 > 0:42:30which is what I want to do.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35Well, what an amazing experience it's been,
0:42:35 > 0:42:36learning all about Trevor's early life,
0:42:36 > 0:42:39as that plane-obsessed little boy growing up on
0:42:39 > 0:42:42an East London council estate, to his disability,
0:42:42 > 0:42:45and the fact that he's never let anything get in his way.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48He achieved his dream to become an RAF fighter pilot.
0:42:48 > 0:42:52Let's hope that determination rubs off on Paul.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54He was bowled over by his gift.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57Having Trevor as a mentor enables him to carry on
0:42:57 > 0:43:00with the flying that he so clearly loves.
0:43:00 > 0:43:04And who knows? It may lead to a future career in aviation.