2009
Reach for the Sky!
Come and join Spalding Air cadets and you can do just that. Another summer of activities has drawn to a close and the Air Cadets of Spalding’s own 1406 Squadron have been celebrating as season of success, as they commence their technical training sessions and winter sports activities they are already planning next year’s programmes.
Spalding Air Cadets have literally been flying high all summer with triumphs in their wing swimming and athletics championships and winning the Walker Trophy for being the best squadron on the wing second year in a row.
Training Officer, Flying Officer Jeff Goodley said, “Since Easter we have had a whole range of action and success, with cadets who have attended camps, courses and visits including going to the Army Training Estates base at Stanta near Thetford, adventure training at Windermere in the Lake District and Llanbedr in Wales. Camps at RAF Holbeach, RAF Wyton, RAF Valley in Angelsey and visits to, The BBMF and the Typhoon Squadrons at RAF Conningsby, and the RAF Museum at RAF Hendon. We have also had cadets Skiing in Austria, at Camp on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, on a Gold D of E expedition on Arran in the Scottish Islands. This does not include are standard programme of flying from RAF Cranwell, gliding, canoeing, orienteering other adventure training and rifle shooting. So, you can see we have been busy having fun”
The main summer camp at RAF Valley had a special surprise for one cadet who won a flight in an RAF Hawk fast jet trainer (as flown by the Red Arrows). Cadet Sergeant Will Stott, was selected for the flight with 208 Operational Conversion Squadron at no. 4 Flying School, RAF Valley. Will had to under go a stringent medical and training before he was allowed anywhere near the Hawk Jet.
Will spent over an hour in the air and took control of the Aircraft for part of the flight, his pilot was one of the squadron’s instructors, and during the sortie they carried out a fly past for local dignitaries and performed aerobatic manoeuvres.