TEENAGER Carys Cooke took a giant step closer to her dream career with the RAF after winning a Manchester Evening News competition.

Carys, 14, from Stalybridge, won the chance to fly in a Pitts Special S2C - the very latest variant of the classic American aerobatic biplane.

Pilot Bill Giles gave his excited passenger a taste of what its like to be strapped into the two-seater plane with a 260 horse power engine.

Bill, who took Carys on a 25-minutes flight along the coastline at Blackpool - accelerating to 100mph in less than five seconds - said: "Carys said she wants to join the RAF when she was older, so this was a real treat for her and she had a fabulous time. Carys experienced a flavour a what the aerobatic pilots endure during their routines - and endure she did.

Seafront

"She was still smiling and seemed thrilled by the experience, which she hopes will help her understanding of what to expect in her pursuit of a career in the RAF."

Having lined up on the main runway at Blackpool Airport, the little blue and white biplane, sponsored by car audio and navigation specialists Alpine, accelerated to 160mph just 20ft off the ground before climbing almost vertically to more than 1,000ft, before arching over into level flight and heading north along the seafront.

To win an aerobatic flight, Manchester Evening News readers had to answer the following question about the Southport Air Show:

Which helicopter will be taking part in the battle of the beach? The answer was: The twin-rotor Chinook.

Carys, who answered the question correctly, was taken on a flight that included manoeuvres such as looping the loop, stall turns, Cuban eights, and much more.

Carys said: "It was fantastic - and I even got to see Blackpool seafront upside down."

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