Page 15 - Cadet Review Summer 2021
P. 15

   Cadets in Briefing and Groundschool
   Cadet Aiden Booth in the glider
MIRFIELD CADETS GET BACK INTO THE AIR
In March 2020, the onset of the Coronavirus Pandemic brought airborne activities for Air Cadets across the country to an understandable halt, and so it remained until May 2021, when 644 Volunteer Gliding Squadron (VGS) at RAF Syerston, near Newark-on-Trent, was able to resume delivery of gliding for cadets.
The staff at 644 VGS had been working towards this day for some time, putting in place the obligatory Covid compliance arrangements including social distancing, restricted occupancy numbers, wearing of face coverings where required and hygiene facilities. Of course, there had also been a lot of staff training to make sure all the instructors had the necessary current qualifications to fly cadets.
Three cadets from 868 (Mirfield) Squadron were chosen to be part of the contingent to visit RAF Syerston on that day for the first Blue Wings gliding course available to cadets for over a year: Flight Sergeant Jacob Stockwell (17), with Cadets Aiden Booth (16) and Gurdeep Kumar-Sharma (16).
Their course started with and introductory briefing and some ground school training, including the controls of the aircraft and how they affect the glider in the air. They then moved out to the airfield to enjoy a series of three flights (each of about five minutes duration) in the Air Cadets’ winch-lunched Viking glider, to put all their learning into practice and
Well done
to Flight Sergeant Matt Smedley who has successfully completed his promotion matrix
demonstrate the skills they had been taught in the air. Cadet Aiden Booth commented, “I have had the
opportunity to go gliding for my first time. I was thrilled for this opportunity as it is something that I have been interested in doing for a long time. I found gliding enjoyable as I am interested in understanding how aircraft function, and also enjoy flying and being up in the air. This was an amazing experience, and I hope that I am fortunate enough to have the chance to do this again!”
All three enjoyed great success on the day, gaining their Blue Gliding Wings, and now hope to progress to the Bronze Wings course, which will further develop their gliding training.
The Squadron Commander, Flight Lieutenant Peter Doubell, who accompanied the cadets on their visit, said of the occasion: “This has been another major step on the gradual road back to normality for the Air Cadets, and we have been very lucky that our cadets have been part of it. It is only a few weeks ago that we were able to start meeting in person, and then only in small numbers at a time to comply with social distancing requirements. So, the opportunity to get cadets back into the air is going to be a very positive signal that things are moving in the right direction. It is always a great pleasure to see cadets achieving, and particularly so when the activities are so much at the heart of the organisation.”
Cadets Aiden Booth, Gurdeep Kumar-Sharma
  preparing for the launch
and Flight Sergeant Jacob Stockwell
    Cadet Aiden Booth in glider at take-off
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