A ROYAL Navy helicopter pilot paid a flying visit to his old primary school in York to say hello to hundreds of thrilled pupils and his former teacher.

Lieutenant Commander Chris Prole, 40, brought his Navy Sea King MKVI helicopter down on the playing field of Dringhouses Sports Club, in front of hundreds of cheering children from Dringhouses Primary School.

After a safe touchdown on the football pitch where he played in the 1980s, Lt Com Prole was reunited with his former teacher, David Woodings.

Mr Woodings said: “I came here in 1980 and Nick was in my first class. I remember him very well. He told me he was going to be a footballer or a pilot. He was a lucky lad because he was sporting and a had a great singing voice and was very academic.”

He said: “For the children this is a huge buzz. I want them to know they can achieve their dreams just like Nick.”

Lt Com Prole and fellow members of 848 Naval Air Squadron are stationed at nearby Linton-on-Ouse this week, and decided to make the short trip to York while in the area. The team is usually stationed at RNAS Yeovilton, in Somerset.

Lt Com Prole, who has recently seen action in Iraq and Afghanistan, described the school visit as “emotional and surreal.”

“I’m very proud,” he said.

“Anything we can do to bring the good name of the Royal Navy to people is fantastic and it’s an honour to be here.

“I wanted to bring the helicopter to the school because it’s a massive inspiration to the children. We are at Linton-on-Ouse all week doing pre-Afghanistan training, so I tried to dove-tail it.

“We worked it out and I thought ‘this could work.’”

Dringhouses head teacher Julia Elliott said: “It’s wonderful to know how well children who started out at the school have done as adults.

“We told the children on Friday. We wanted it to be a nice surprise. The reaction was great excitement. The parents were just as excited as the children.”