Last week twelve RAF cadets spent the day at RAF Linton-on-Ouse for some Air Experience Flying in Grob Tutor aircraft, accompanied by Pocklington School teacher, Flt Lft Patrick Dare.
Following the section’s recent visit to RAF Topcliffe where seven cadets started their Blue Wings Aviation Training Package (Blue ATP) with ground training and gliding simulator flights, five cadets had the opportunity to consolidate their training and upgrade to their full Blue Wings.
All twelve cadets flew. For two of them, it was their first flight, the five cadets passed their blue wings and some of the senior cadets got to experience the thrill of aerobatic manoeuvres on a fantastically clear day with conditions perfect for flying training.
Flt Lft Patrick Dare said: “For me as an RAF volunteer officer, it is always a pleasure and a privilege to organise air experience flying. As a French teacher, whilst I try to make my lessons as positive as possible, I can never quite get the same reaction after teaching the ‘present perfect’ as I can when I get the cadets airborne for the first time!
He recalls: “I still remember my first ever air experience flight in a De Havilland DHC1 Chipmunk with 2192 ATC Squadron back on 22nd August 1980 (Yes, I still have my old log book!).
Patrick concluded: “During our visit to RAF Linton-on-Ouse, the RAF pilots were absolutely brilliant with our cadets and I would like to thank everyone at the Squadron for the time spent with our students.”
Later this summer, some of the RAF cadets will be attending summer camp at RAF Odiham, where they hope to do more air experience flying at RAF Bosco be Down, as well as fly on Chinook helicopters with 27 Squadron, so there is plenty more to look forward to and skills to learn.
Below are some quotes from the cadets who attended air experience flying at RAF Linton-on-Ouse:
“It was very nice flying over York, an amazing and unique experience that I would certainly do again!”
“It was great fun and an unforgettable experience, especially when we did aerobatics and flew upside down!”
“I had a really good flight and could see as far as Middlesbrough in one direction and Leeds in another. We did loads of aerobatics and I had the controls for much of the flight.”
“It was a very enjoyable experience and the weather was excellent for flying. I learnt a lot from the pilot and I am looking forward to flying again.”
Please click here to view photographs from the day in a Flickr album.