Royal Air Force parachute jump instructors have spent the week participating in exercises near Bicester.

Parachute jump instructors have been taking part in ‘Exercise EOS Drop’ and this involved jumping out of a plane over RAF Weston-on-the-Green.

RAF Weston-on-the-Green is a Royal Air Force station near Bicester that was re-developed after the Great War period, and it is one of the few remaining active RAF bases.

The parachuting test team (PTT) is called JADTEU and it is responsible for the continued development, operational test and evaluation of Military Parachute Systems and ancillaries from multiple aircraft.

A RAF spokesperson said: “The exercise allows members of PTT to conduct essential static line and freefall descents as well as despatching currencies, in order to conduct essential trial activities."

The primary role of the parachuting test team is to “conduct operational trials and evaluation to develop the delivery by air of personnel, machines and material on behalf of sponsors."

Becoming a member of the RAF’s parachute teams requires intensive training.

Members of the RAF Falcons leave the UK and head to California for the majority of their display parachute training.

The training is said to be both mentally and physically demanding, as it includes written and practical assessments.

The Falcons are the UK’s premier military parachute display team and it is based at RAF Brize in Norton, Oxfordshire.