YOUNG pilots of the future descended on an air base in North Yorkshire for a residential camp in which they could take to the air.

Richard Armstrong, 16, from York, was one of 30 hopefuls who beat off competition from 20,000 others to earn a place at Aerospace 2006 at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

They were chosen for their academic and air cadet talents, including their experience of gliding and essays they had written explaining why they wanted to take part.

They got the chance to learn about the RAF's latest equipment, sit in a Eurofighter Typhoon cockpit and fly in a Merlin helicopter.

Richard, a cadet flight sergeant with 101 York Squadron, said: "It was the trip of a lifetime on the Merlin. It is a fantastic course and the highlight for me was getting to sit in a Typhoon cockpit."