Page 25 - Cadet Review Autumn 2024

AIR CADETS
EXPERIENCE
FLYING
During August, six cadets from 868 (Mirfield) Squadron enjoyed their first experience of getting airborne with the Air Cadets, in a powered aircraft; three on each of two occasions.
Cadets Ava Balbontin, Ava Gomersall, Joshua Hutchinson, Jayan Pathak, Neri Pinto and Sam Thompson all visited the No. 11 Air Experience Flight at RAF Leeming where they each had a half hour flight in a Grob Tutor light aircraft, with a qualified RAF flying instructor.
The cadets had a safety briefing before being kitted out with flying suit, parachute and helmet ready for take-off, one at a time. During their flights, their instructors demonstrated how the aircraft responds to the flying controls and each cadet had the opportunity to fly the aircraft themselves and to experience aerobatics.
Delivery of this experience is one of the highlights for air cadets, and all six have now achieved their Blue Wings as part of the RAFAC Aviation Training Package which consists of three elements:
• Flying Operations element of First Class Cadet training syllabus
• Synthetic Training using Ground Based Training Equipment (GBTE) – flight simulators
• Air Experience Flight (either powered flight or glider)
Squadron Commander Flight Lieutenant Peter Doubell explained afterwards that the cadets had really enjoyed their flights, and all were keen to go again. He said “the Air Cadet Organisation is a very wonderful thing for young people to be a part of;
we offer a wide range of activities but at the very heart of these is of course the opportunity for flying. When our cadets get airborne, whether in a powered aircraft or a glider, there is a great emphasis on delivering the best experience for the cadet and this will usually mean giving them the chance to take
the controls and fly the aircraft themselves, under close instruction. Later there are opportunities for scholarships to train to fly solo in gliders and light aircraft.”
Ava Gomersall, who had also been gliding earlier in the year, reflected on her aviation experiences:
It was a very enjoyable and entertaining experience
“My experiences
during flying and gliding are that it was
a very enjoyable and entertaining experience of which I would offer to anyone who is of
age and able to do. My personal favourite was flying as it provides a range of things to do
in the air, not only do you get the chance to control the aircraft but also get the opportunity to do aerobatics such as barrel rolls. Although my favourite was flying, I would also recommend gliding as
it was a different way of flying in an aircraft I had ever seen before. In gliding you also get the opportunity to control it yourself. Overall, my experience was enthralling with the help of the RAF officers,
staff and pilots who constantly check up on you throughout the flight and ensure your safety.”
Cadets Neri Pinto and Ava Gomersall, fully kitted ready to fly
Cadet Ava Balbontin, ready for flight
Joshua Hutchinson before his flight
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