Yapp first became interested in flying when her elder brother Captain Ignatius Yapp became a pilot. But her father objected.
So, in 1996, Yapp moved to Kuala Lumpur from her hometown in Sandakan to study law. But by the second semester, Yapp knew it was not a path she wanted to pursue. She then applied for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) cadet programme without her parents’ knowledge. She only told her parents of her change in career plans after successfully completing the first stage of the selection process, and they relented.
In 2000, Yapp graduated from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia with a diploma in Aeronautical Engineering. After completing her flight training in 2002, she chose to be a fighter pilot and flew the Aermacchi MB-339 aircraft for four years. After this, she became an operational and tactical lead pilot with the No. 17/19 Smokey Bandits Squadron in Kuantan that flies the MiG-29N Fulcrum air superiority jets. She also performed in the squadron’s aerobatics displays at air shows. Yapp, who qualified as a flight instructor in 2014, has now served with the RMAF for 20 years.
“Training has been part and parcel of my life in the military. We learn how to shoot not only on the ground but also in the air. We perform jobs that require utmost accuracy. Performing in air display, flying formation, firing missiles … they are all about being disciplined. Learning to control our emotions and anxieties, and being disciplined in the flying world are very important,” says Yapp.
“In Sabah, when I was young, we were very happy to hold the Malaysian flag and wave it to each other. Now, I still do carry one but on my shoulders while flying the flag up in the air,” says Yapp who usually takes part in Merdeka celebrations each year by performing in a flypast.
Though the country has gone through various changes, Yapp believes Malaysians are still united, and it’s most evident during sporting events.
“We cheered for Misbun Sidek before and now we are cheering for Datuk Lee Chong Wei,” she adds.
Yapp believes that the country’s future lies in maintaining a strong family institution.
“Let go of unnecessary political issues, just focus on patriotism as a single entity,” she stresses.
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发表于 18-8-2017 12:48 PM
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