Page 22 - Cadet Review Spring 2025

AIR
CADETS
 CEY Wing ATC
Two County
Appointments at
1324 Squadron
On Thursday, 19th September, Cadet Flight
Sergeants Finn Sprakes and Emily Edmiston
(pictured below) undertook the final stage
of their respective nominations to the rank
of Cadet Warrant Officer - the interview with
the sector commander (Squadron Leader
Steve Lewis) and the sector’s senior non-
commissioned officer (Flight Sergeant Kyle
Horner). Both performed incredibly well, and
the sector commander was glad to approve
their appointment to the RAF Air Cadets’
highest cadet rank.
Flight Lieutenant Luke Clifford-Roper-
Smith, OC 1324 Squadron, said; “Because the
calibre of successful candidates is necessarily
very high, not all squadrons have one — I
am immensely fortunate to have two such
incredible people on my team. With recent
changes to eligibility criteria, they will also be
some of the first in the Air Training Corps to
promote at the age of 17!”
Cadet Warrant Officers Sprakes and
Edmiston have been appointed Warrant Officer
(Training) and Warrant Officer (Recruits)
respectively.
Alex Pniewski helps
secure Isaac Pearson
ahead of the first launch
TWO RECEIVE
BLUE WINGS
by Cadet Sergeant Isaac Pearson
On Sunday 6th October 2024, Cadet Sergeant Isaac Pearson, together with Cadets
Josh Haddock, and Alex Pniewski took to the skies in the Grob Viking glider.
The day began at RAF Syerston, home of RAF Air Cadets gliding, with a safety
briefing, in which they rehearsed how to safely and correctly enter and exit the
aircraft. The cadets were also asked to perform an emergency exit, consisting of
removing the canopy and jumping out of the glider after locating the parachute
“D-ring”. A test to ensure the cadets would be able to pull the D-ring of the
parachute was also carried out, using an hydraulic gauge which was attached to the
wall, simulating the resistance that would be felt in the event of a real emergency.
Having made their way to the airfield, Cadet Sergeant Pearson was the first to be
taken up. The glider was hooked up to the winch and pulled into the air.
He completed a short circuit, with the instructor demonstrating the connections
between the control surfaces and roll, pitch, and yaw. Once they had landed,
the aircraft was connected up again. This time, there was extra time for taking
airborne photos!
Alex was second up. “During launch you can feel the g-force pulling you back
into your seat”
During his second flight, the pilot allowed him to take control of the aircraft for
a short while, giving him the opportunity to practice what he had learned on the
squadron’s simulators.
Finally, Josh got airborne. “The negative g-force experienced as the glider
levels itself out feels really strange but also freeing.”
During his second flight, the pilot managed to find a thermal which they circled
around to gain height, adding to his flight time. During the final approach, the pilot
decided to land close to the hanger so that they could store the aircraft. This meant
landing on a very bumpy
area of land, which
made for an energetic
landing!
Both Cadets
Pniewski and Haddock
received their blue
wings, signifying the
completion of both
the basic ground and
air phases of their
initial aviation training
package.
Alex Pniewski is strapped in
22 CADET REVIEW SPRING 2025