How a unique team of reservists operates RAF Voyagers in warzones and civilian environments

Sponsored reservists are an unusual hybrid of a serviceman and a civilian – and they allow the RAF's fleet of Voyager aircraft to fulfil both its military and civilian taskings.

They are versatile and can operate the Royal Air Force aircraft in both warzones and civilian environments.

Their duties could involve evacuating people from Afghanistan on Op Pitting, flying islanders out to the Falklands, or taking holidaymakers off to Tenerife while a Voyager is leased out to a civilian airline. 

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One such sponsored reservist, Air Specialist 1 Technician Dave Hooper, currently on exercise in Nevada, talked more about his role in the video above.