Santa swaps his reindeer for a super speedy Puma helicopter thanks to RAF Benson
Santa has taken to the skies to visit military school children.
But to give red-nosed Rudolph, Blitzen, Comet and his other loyal reindeer a rest before Christmas Eve, Father Christmas flew in a Royal Air Force Puma helicopter – thanks to the team at RAF Benson.
To spread some festive cheer, Santa Claus flew over 34 schools in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire area.
Watch: Santa visits children and parents staying in the Ronald McDonald House in Oxford.
It was less dashing through the snow and more whizzing through the skies as Pumas can reach a maximum speed of 309km per hour.
"The secret surprise of Santa visiting and waving from the Puma helicopter... is like the cherry on top of the cake," said the headteacher of RAF Benson's Community Primary School.
The aircraft is normally used in a variety of combat roles, including the tactical movement of troops, weapons and the extraction of casualties but this time the Puma's role was a little more lighthearted.
Four lucky schools got a merry surprise when Saint Nick landed in their playground to deliver a golden envelope with a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) challenge.
First on the list of schools Father Christmas visited was RAF Benson's Community Primary School, of which 98% of their pupils are from military families.
Some of their parents will be away for Christmas so this was an extra special experience for them.
Mrs Fawdry, the school's head spoke with Gemma-Leigh James, of BFBS the Forces Station, about the thrilling visit from Santa.
She said: "They were absolutely lit up with joy.
"It's very festive in school, we've got lots of Christmas activities going on and the secret surprise of Santa visiting and waving from the Puma helicopter... is like the cherry on top of the cake."
But how did Mrs Fawdry and her staff manage to keep it a secret from the children?
She said: "We kind of keep it under wraps and all of a sudden the children do a fire drill.
"They all line up outside and I stand there congratulating them on how well they did that and how speedily they did it and how quietly they were standing.
"And then, 'Oh my goodness, there's a Puma flying over, that's quite low' and 'Oh, who is inside?'
"They all start screaming, waving, cheering because they're so excited to see Santa."
Children at Didcot Primary Academy spelled out the phrase "ho ho ho" for Santa to see while in the helicopter.
The writer and checker of the naughty and nice list didn't end his journey there.
He also flew over RAF Halton and visited the children's ward at John Radcliffe (JR) hospital in Oxford to deliver presents plus the Ronald McDonald House Oxford which provides free accommodation for parents who have a child in the JR.
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