Air Training Corps

Wallsend Air Cadets Take To The Skies

7 Aug, 2008 Posted in Latest News

Getting up early in the holidays is sometimes worth it as three Wallsend Air Cadets found out. Cpl   Matty Holland age 16 from Wallsend, Cdt  Michael  Corness age 15 from Hadrian Park and Cadet  Matthew Masters age 15 from Wallsend  were picked up at 06.45 at the High Street East Headquarters to be transported down to RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire for FREE flying lessons.

On arrival at Number 11 Air experience Flight the 3 Wallsend cadets along with others from Chester-le-Street, Blaydon and Durham city were welcomed by the unit commander Flt/Lt Russ Brownlow who conducted the statutory RAF Safety Briefing before introducing the Air safety Video for the two seat Tutor aircraft in which the cadets would be training.

Following the briefing and video Cadet Masters was sent to the fitting out room where he was issued with a flying suite, soft leather flying gloves and a flying helmet with an integrated voice activated communications system and lastly a custom designed cadet parachute. 

Although a little apprehensive about his first flight in a small aircraft Cadet Mathew Masters found no difficulty in clambering in to the cockpit.  30 minutes later the grin from ear to ear told everyone that Matthew had had a flight to remember.  Although it was his first flight  Mathew  had taken control of the aircraft in the air and taken his first steps in practical flying training.

Experienced flyers Michael Corness, MattyHolland undertook more advanced exercises in the air controlling the aircraft through a series of aerobatic manoeuvres such as a loop and stall turn and inverted flight.

Each Air Cadet is allocated at least one powered training flight per year and many undertake more especially if they volunteer for Glider Pilot Training.  If a cadet is good enough and is prepared to make the commitment he can be trained up to Glider Pilot Instructor level for free. The Air Training Corps also provides Microlight, Hanggliding and Parachute courses to selected cadet volunteers.