On Tuesday, 11th June, 2267 (Brize Norton) Air Cadet’s played host to RAF Brize Norton Station Commander, Gp Cpt S Lushington ADC MA RAF who as part of his visit opened the newly installed flight simulator. The simulator has been a long project for the unit in terms of fundraising and receiving grants to allow the cadets the opportunity to develop their airmanship skills and support the Air Experience Flying offered on the Grob Tutor and Vigilant gliders.
FS Naworynsky, Sgt Buchanan and Cpl Woolliams who are all senior cadets at the squadron that have achieved a number of gliding qualifications with 2 currently instructors at 612 VGS at Abingdon explained how the simulator will support the cadets understanding of flying. The squadrons aim is that by having the simulator located on site that the cadet experience can be enhanced further and bring another element of the Air Cadet experience in house to the unit and offer further opportunities. Flt Lt Booth from 101 Sqn further explained how the skills and knowledge that service instructors provide to the cadets will be further enhancing the experience as he heads up the project for the squadron along with First Officer Mark Windle from AirTanker who as part of the company’s sponsorship with the squadron are assisting with the simulator project. Gp Cpt Lushington was impressed with the set up and functions of the simulator and after a quick sortie himself further supported the squadron’s plans for the simulator and looked forward to hearing how the initial use of the simulator goes.
During his visit to the squadron he was shown around the facilities by Officer Commanding Flt Lt Colin Burrell who explained about the activities the cadets are currently involved in ranging from syllabus studies through to adventure training and upcoming summer camps. With over 80 cadets the unit is constantly busy both on Tuesday and Thursday parade evenings and also at the weekends with various activities such as rock climbing and sporting events taking place.
At the end of his tour the Station Commander sat with all the cadets to talk about what is happening at RAF Brize Norton with a number of events upcoming such as the departure of the VC10 fleet and the arrival of the A400M. Gp Cpt Lushington spoke about the Queens Flypast happening on Saturday 15th June and touched on the planning that was involved in such an important and complex task to which cadets across the UK would get to be a part of on flying on one of the Voyager aircraft. He explained further about the history of the VC10 at RAF Brize Norton and the stations plans to send off the aircraft in final farewell tour around the UK Stations. He then asked the cadets about the activities they are all taking part in over the upcoming months including camps at RAF Wittering, Linton-On-Ouse and Gibraltar and congratulated the squadron on its recent sporting success as the overall sports winner in the ‘Thames Valley Wing’. After opening up to the cadets for them to ask questions about RAF Brize Norton and the RAF in general he ended the night offering his continued, full support to the squadron and all the best for the upcoming year ahead.