Jenni Gibbons learns to fly a helicopter with the Royal Canadian Air Force

From June 10 to 14, 2024, CSA astronaut Jenni Gibbons took part in helicopter training with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) at 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.

This collaboration will enable Jenni, the Canadian backup astronaut for Artemis II, to participate in advanced helicopter training with NASA as part of the Artemis program. This training is important for preparing astronauts for the complexities of lunar landings, offering significant crossover in the cognitive and physical skills required.

Here we see Jenni wearing a helmet and flying a Bell412 training helicopter. (Credit: 2Lt Jesse Starko, 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School)