Spammers, why oh why do you bother posting your crappy useless spam messages on the website of the beloved AP254?  Our anti-spam engine ALWAYS catches them and despite you posting hundreds NEVER once have you been successful in getting one published.  So why do you do it?  Why bother?  Please stop.
Thanks.

Friday 16th February 2007 was the day when the official AP254 banner was run down the flag pole for the final time when AP254 celebrated nearly 17 months together at Oxford Aviation Training.

Now with almost half the class having completed MCC/JOT and drifting of to the wide blue yonder to find useful employment amongst some of the world's leading airlines, it is therefore time to recognise the official end of this momentus period of our lives known forever more as AP254-time! In years to come when you relive the happiness from the AP254-time years, your children will merely roll their eyes!

If anyone wants a special commemorative AP254 print from our first party in Goodyear (see below) please contact me. The cost including P&P etc. should be approximately £5.00. The photo size is: 20x25cm. Each limited edition has been especially fondled by both Mike Holt and Pete Pitcher to increase its authenticity!

So as the caretaker of life prepares to close the blinds, switch off the lights and close the door on AP254-time; we at AP254.com would like to say that it has been some of the happiest times of our lives, we have never laughed so much and we have made friends we will never forget no matter how hard we try. But remember, whilst this period is closing there will always be a part of you that is AP254 and your mission is to spread the good feeling throughout the world. You duties however do not end there. Each year you are summarily ordered at risk of dearth to attend the annual AP254 reunion, which will happen on the 1st Saturday of September in a new and exotic location each year - keep watching for details of this year's location (suggestions by comment!).

We at AP254.com will continue to support the aims of the legends of AP254. We are at this very time planning to re-launch the website with far more interactive content which will allow you to update your own profiles, making it far more like facebook/myspace!

So the only thing remaining now is to thank the many many people who have made the last 17 months such fun as we have struggled through a total of 49 exams each (40 groundschool exams, PT1, Nav Test, PT2, CPL, Radio Licence, 170a, IR and 2*medicals). This is an average of three exams per month! Those names on the AP254 role of honour are

• OAT Selection Centre Staff
• AP253 for taking it in good humour
• Anthony Petteford for technically 'fathering' AP254
• Mike Langley
• Paul 'I can get you £60k' Cooper
• HSBC – cheers guys
• Mike Griffith
• Denise Wilcox
• Helen Hill
• Kelly Wensley
• Toni Haines
• Laura
• Matt Gray
• Mike Holt
• Pete Pitcher
• John 'The Legend' Standen
• Del Hammond (Internationale Commitee de Highlighting Organisation Officiale)
• Dick Hughes
• Ed 'Sha-waddy-waddy' Waddon
• Dr Hans Neissund-Vupserdaisy
• AP254 Escape & Evasion Committee
• AP254 Awards Committee
• AP254 Secret Flag on Building 53 with Shoe Polish Committee
• Penny
• Pete Quinlan
• Tony 'Highspeed Jet Transport Aircraft' Cummins
• Paul Hickley
• Richard 'Oh Jennifaaaaaar' Heaton
• Steve 'Cat' Chesher
• Stu 'Don't make me smile' Dawson
• Sir Trevor 'Big Hands' Denning OBE
• Jerry 'I met 254' Springer
• Dusty 'Long & Windy' Rhodes
• Sandra 'Speedy' Gonzales
• Dennis Koebeck
• Tom Armstrong
• Darry Barwin
• Paul 'If you get a 2 it's a mistake' Taylor
• Iain Davidson
• Trevor 'It'll be alright on the night' Trivett
• Colonel Theresa Sanders
• Ruth
• The German Population of Goodyear
• Klaus and the rest of the friendly Lufthansa management
• The Luftwaffe
• Lufthansa
• James 'I love my job now stop breaking things'
• Christine Carson
• Rich Waine
• Eddie Cairns
• Alan Smith
• Carolyn Nicolson
• Ian Deabill
• Oxford Airport Ops Team
• Neil McMillian
• Steve Green
• Martin Abbot
• David 'Lunch Anyone?' Hoy
• Brian 'Maharishi' Hendy
• Dave Wasdell
• Dave Pratt
• All Oxford Instructors
• Steve Oddy
• Iain McClelland
• Trevor Dale
• Nick Mylne
• Claire Ashfield
• Air Greenland
• Thomas Cook
• British Airways
• Any other airlines who want to employ a member(s) of AP254
• Martyn Roast
• Angela Dickson
• All MCC/JOT Instructors
• Avenance 'Honestly its edible' Catering
• Oxford Airport Security
• The Queen
• Prince Phillip
• Mr JCB
• 633 Squadron
• Orville & Wilbur
• The Few
• The Germans (yes that was twice)
• My Parents
• Ron Burgundy
• Ron Bacardi
• Arthur Guinness
• Shepherd Neame & Spitfire Ale
• Walmart
• Ford of Arizona
• The Ladies of Scottsdale
• Frank O'Neall
• Charlotte, Kevin, Siobhan & Tania
• The inhabitants of Stratton Audley
• Godington Squadron
• Harry & Harriett
• Morecambe & Wise
• Eric Cartman
• Timmy
• Homer Simpson
• Krispy Kreme Corporation
• Papa Johns & Little Ceasers
• Chillis
• The Bacon Sandwich van in Bicester
• Sammi's
• Market Square Fish Bar
• Kidlington Council
• The Jolly Boatman
• Population of Oxford
• People's Republic of China
• The Real Emperor Bliggs
• Kim Jong Il
• Anyone else we have upset in the last 17 months
• Anyone else we have forgotten

In a pre-IR, post-RL (Red Lion) cloud of haze and nerves Dr Panda brings you a selection of his favourite photos from AP254's illustrious past in the format of a random comic strip.

http://homepage.mac.com/rdmallows/comiclife/

As AP254 we have spent almost 17 months together now and its very sad to see us breaking up as people graduate from OAT. But the fun isn't over yet as the final AP254 party is this coming Friday 16th February. As it is an official squadron scramble, attendance is mandatory.

Anyway, I can't wait to see you all sometime soon somewhere at an airport very far away! And stay tuned for the next installments of the AP254 comic such as 'Where's the ferret?' and 'Is that false tan youre wearing?'.

Remember you can always subscribe to the AP254 photocast at:

http://photocast.mac.com/rdmallows/iPhoto/project254/index.rss

Note:  Microsoft Windows users will not be able to access Photocast unless you install a Photocast browser.  To do this go to the link below, accept the conditions and install on your PC.  You will then be able to subscribe to the link above.

http://www.tts-software.com/products/

AP254 would today like to wish esteemed member Mr Kevin 'Emperor Bliggs' Briggs a very happy 25th birthday. Kev will be celebrating in style as he is still on a high from passing his IR(A) on Friday and maybe running the risk of severe kidney damage!

So Kevin, on behalf of all members of AP254 (honorary and kosher) we would like to wish you a very Happy Birthday indeed and here is to your next quarter of a century! All that remains now is the obligatory embarrassing photo. Happy Birthday Kev!

As our recent story told you AP254's very own trailblaser Adrian Ratux-Ruaux having successfully As our recent story told you, AP254's very own trailblaser Adrian Ratux-Ruaux having successfully found himself a job as a ferry pilot to keep him in spitfire money until his MCC course started.  Unfortunatley demand for ferrying canoes around the Oxfordshire countryside has rapidly tailed off leaving poor Ado high and dry and desparate to find another job to keep the wolves from his door.

However AP254.com can now exclusively reveal that Ado has been successful in finding a new role by becoming the comedy stunt double for none other than former Pulp front man and one time Michael Jackson (not Mikael Jakobsen) insulter Jarvis Cocker.  Pictured below is Ado in his Jarvis Cocker disguise.

AP254.com was able to catch up with Ado briefly today for a short interview.  Ado said 'Mr Cocker thought I bore an incredible resemblence to himself and therefore hired me to act as his double.  My duties will be to represent Mr Cocker at his forthcoming engagements whilst he visits the doctors to have his bunions treated'.  Jarvis pictured below was unable for comment, however we would like to wish Adrian lots of luck in his new role.