Young pilot 'too tall' for fighter jets

A talented young pilot has been told that he is too tall to fly fighter planes, putting paid to his ambitions.

Adam Roberts is 6ft 4ins tall and a member of 1344 Cardiff ATC Squadron, based at Maindy barracks, but has been rejected by the RAF as a pilot because of his height.

According to armed forces bosses, he would be in danger of losing his kneecaps if he was forced to eject from a jet and so cannot follow his dream of becoming a fighter pilot.

The 17-year-old from St Mellons is a student at St David's Catholic College has been a member of his local Air Training Corps (ATC) for two years and has joined the volunteer gliding squadron at St Athan.

He recently underwent a full medical at Royal Air Force College at Cranwell, where he was told that he was too tall for RAF jets and could risk serious damage to his legs if he became a fighter pilot.

Adam is now in talks with the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy about the possibility of training to fly helicopters instead.

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Date:14/05/2007 11:44:52