Page 18 - Cadet Review Summer 2021

SWY Wing ATC
Their visit started in Peru at Cusco, and they described some aspects of life in the country, including a visit to a shop where they found numerous guinea pigs on display in cages. This was not a pet shop though - apparently roast guinea pig is considered a local delicacy. Michael reported that he later tried this ‘delicacy’ and actually found it barely palatable.
The most significant part of Gail and Michael’s time in Peru was a visit to the mountain top citadel of Machu Picchu, built in the 15th century by the ancient Inca civilisation. Here they saw first-hand the results of the Incans’ remarkable construction techniques – they managed to build their structures with no mortar using granite stone blocks shaped and put into place so precisely that there is no perceptible gap between them. A great achievement today, with modern tools and techniques, but the Incas had not discovered iron or even the wheel!
Gail and Michael’s journeying then took them to Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world.
This was not a pet shop though - apparently roast guinea pig is considered a local delicacy
Here, as they also found in some other, the very altitude made breathing difficult and even walking short distances was could leave them breathless. On the lake they visited a town that was built in rafts of straw from the reeds of the lake, which had started as a refuge from the invading Spanish Conquistadors in the sixteenth century.
That evening also happened to be Shrove Tuesday, which of course was a call for pancakes. Unable
to make the usual social occasion of the event, everybody had been encouraged to join the evening’s session with their own pancakes, and there was a competition run to pick the best pancakes of the evening. Pictures of pancakes were sent in for Mrs Sue Doubell to judge, and the prizes were awarded for:
• Most appetising pancake: Kirstie Ashford • Best novelty pancake: Aiden Booth
The was an additional staff prize for Warrant
Officer Michelle Alford, who cooked a pancake in the shape of a squirrel: quite appropriate for the evening which had featured roast guinea pig as a delicacy!
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
Wing Commander Ian Revell, officer commanding the Qualified Aerospace Instructor Course, made a return ‘visit’ to 868 (Mirfield) Squadron. This time his presentation was about Air Traffic Control, focussing on Manchester Airport, where he worked as a controller until his recent retirement.
The talk was illustrated with a variety of pictures and some video clips that truly demonstrated the very high level of traffic that has to be dealt with coming in and out of Manchester, and the controlled areas and air-lanes that service approach to and departure from the airport, covering the history of Air Traffic Control leading up to how it works today and including some speculations about future develop- ments.
Wg Cdr Revell also talked about some of the additional problems that had to be coped with, including unauthorised incursions into controlled airspace and adverse weather conditions, and how factors limiting visibility can have a dramatic effect on the airport’s ability to service flights.
It was fascinating to learn that radar can be used to monitor surface movements around the airport, together with the control of aircraft in the air.
RAF CAREERS
Cadets were given a well presented and informative talk on careers in the Royal Air Force by Sgt Jamie McIlroy of the RAF Youth Engagement Team. He
Aiden Booth's winning novelty pancake
18 CADET REVIEW SUMMER 2021