2146 Activity Reports
Read about what activities 2146 Cadets and Staff have been up to recently...
Drill and Ceremonial Camp 2015
Royal International Air Tattoo 2015
Wing Parade 2015
Air Cadet Pilot Scheme 2014
Early in 2014 I was fortunate enough to be offered a place on the Air Cadet Pilot Scheme, also known as the Flying Scholarship. 186 places are available to Air Cadets and CCF Cadets each year on the course, which is held at Tayside Aviation in Dundee.
On Monday 1st September, I boarded the train at Keynsham station at 0845, before going to Bristol Temple Meads for my CrossCountry train to Edinburgh. The train journey was long (and free) but having a plug socket by my seat made the journey bearable. After my transfer in Edinburgh to Dundee, I made it to the Hilton hotel at 1900. My roommate had already arrived and was at dinner, so I left my bags and headed downstairs to the restaurant, to meet everyone else.
On my course (course 23) there were three other people; one a CCF cadet, the others with the ATC. At dinner, however, there were more people who are at Tayside Aviation on scholarships with other organisations such as the Air League. We ate dinner, and then my course went to one of our rooms to watch Frozen, scout Tinder and get to know each other better.
Early in 2014 I was fortunate enough to be offered a place on the Air Cadet Pilot Scheme, also known as the Flying Scholarship. 186 places are available to Air Cadets and CCF Cadets each year on the course, which is held at Tayside Aviation in Dundee.
On Monday 1st September, I boarded the train at Keynsham station at 0845, before going to Bristol Temple Meads for my CrossCountry train to Edinburgh. The train journey was long (and free) but having a plug socket by my seat made the journey bearable. After my transfer in Edinburgh to Dundee, I made it to the Hilton hotel at 1900. My roommate had already arrived and was at dinner, so I left my bags and headed downstairs to the restaurant, to meet everyone else.
On my course (course 23) there were three other people; one a CCF cadet, the others with the ATC. At dinner, however, there were more people who are at Tayside Aviation on scholarships with other organisations such as the Air League. We ate dinner, and then my course went to one of our rooms to watch Frozen, scout Tinder and get to know each other better.
Tuesday was when the course properly began. We were taken in to a briefing and had to complete some paperwork, before being taken on a tour of the school. We were shown to the cadet hut, which would be our home when at Tayside. On the first day, we were briefed for two sorties, and then flew them both. These were basic recap skills of the basic use of controls in an aircraft, as well as straight and level flight. We logged the flights in our shiny new PPL log books and headed back to the hotel for down time. Free time at the hotel on this course was spent one of several ways; eating, sleeping, watching films, in the gym, pool, sauna or steam room.
Unfortunately, the weather was bad for the next couple of days; on one day it rained, and two other days had very poor visibility, meaning we had three no-fly days. We used this time to study hard for the pre-solo exam, be briefed ahead of our next few sorties and watch a lot of films. Each day, cadets have duties to carry out, such as cleaning the hut, emptying the bins and hovering every few days. On one of the no-fly days, it was one of the Air League students’ birthday, so we wore party hats, ate cake and went out for a posh meal in the evening.
On Saturday, the weather had cleared and we were able to fly again! The next few days included sorties which looked at climbing, descending and stalling. We continued this for several sorties, incorporating stalling while turning and recovering from stalls with flaps, imitating the base leg and approach of the circuit. By Monday, we were ready to start looking at the circuit we would be flying on our solo flight. On Tuesday 9th September, we looked at EFATOs (engine failure after take-off) and other potential issues whilst in flight, such as if the engine fails during the flight and how to land without power or without flaps. On this day, we all also took our pre-solo exam and passed first time. This meant that it was just the solo brief and our performance between us and the end goal aim; the first solo flight.
It happened on Wednesday. I had one sortie left to complete, which was just more circuit practice. I then had to wait for a couple of hours before my pre-solo check flight, as the press were at Tayside Aviation to do a report on the school being awarded the £1.5 million contract with the RAF to continue to provide the ACPS course to cadets. During this time, my instructor gave me my solo brief and it was just a waiting game. My pre-solo checks went well, with the exception of a microlight in the circuit which kept getting in the way, meaning the checks took longer than anticipated. Nonetheless, we landed, taxied to the apron, where my instructor got out and wished me good luck.
It was time. I carried out the power checks on the apron, and requested permission to taxi to the runway, via ATC. I had to wait at holding point Charlie, whilst two other aircraft landed. Upon hearing ‘Tayside 1 Hotel-Delta, backtrack and wait, runway 09…’ I released the parking brake and set off. I lined up at the end of the runway and waited for clearance, before increasing to full power and taking off. It was an amazing sense of accomplishment to fly solo; much different to that of flying a glider solo! I flew the circuit as practiced and landed uneventfully. I was congratulated by ATC and taxied back to the apron where my instructor got back in and I took us back to Tayside.
After having gone solo in 9 hours 45 minutes, it meant that I still had two hours of my scholarship to spare. The day after my solo was pretty uneventful, as my instructor had the day off. However, an instructor at the school organised a visit to Dundee Airport ATC for those of us interested. We went along, mainly for the change of scenery. In the tower, we were spoken to about the various roles of the Air Traffic Controllers, the equipment they use, the training procedure and the importance of the squawk code we use in the aircraft and how this interlinks with the aircraft’s TCAS system. Unfortunately, the weather took a turn for the worse and I was unable to use up my final two hours. I was debriefed by my instructor, who has recommended me for further scholarships and flight training in my report (of which a copy gets sent directly to the RAF!), and my log book, 3822 and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award log book were completed. On Saturday 13th September, I travelled home.
Overall, this scholarship was fantastic. We worked out that to do what we had done privately, including hotel and catering costs, would have cost at least £3,500! What the RAF and ATC are offering to cadets here is an amazing opportunity; it allows you to begin logging hours towards a PPL, develops you as a person, allows you to demonstrate skills enhanced throughout cadets, as well as being a perfect initial stepping stone on the path to a career in aviation.
Cdt Flt Sgt S Barbour
RAF Akrotiri Overseas Camp 2014
I was lucky enough, during the Easter months to successfully secure one of the four wing places on the annual Air Cadet camp to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. The venture began before sunrise on Friday 11th April, when I met the cadets from my wing and southern wings on our minibus journey to Birmingham airport, after the initial nerves were lifted by a familiar face from previous RAF station camps and a mug of Costa Coffee, the excitement kicked in and I longed to land on Cypriot soil.
The week began with an initial station exploration in our assigned flights, Zeus flight, as I was pleased to belong to, won the initial race. The following activities included swimming, to test and prepare for the next days adventure to Water World, Ayia Napa, one of Cyprus’ largest waterparks; watching the Wing Warrant Officer of the North West Wing speed down the water rapids alongside all the other staff was a
rare air cadet experience, and one I could never forget. Each morning we were woken early by the roar of the Red Arrows on their training exercises; one day we waved at the pilot, and from his low altitude we could see him reciprocating the gesture.
The next few days saw station visits to Bomb Disposal and RAF Akrotiri control tower, we also got involved in go-karting and team sports. One of the most memorable activities was a visit to the training base on station, where we carried out initiative-exercises, such as driving a car blindfolded, these tasks contributed points to the overall flight record. My favourite exercise involved a minefield and a team leader, who could only communicate with us, his team, using sounds and not words. The most exciting activity was a trip to Pathos, where we boarded a Mediterranean cruise ship and spent the day relaxing in the sun with new friends.
After ten days of new experiences and a final sods opera, (a traditional air cadet send-off) we boarded the inboard flight; I thoroughly enjoyed my overseas experience at RAF Akrotiri and would suggest that anyone with the opportunity to do so takes the chance. You will not regret it.
Cdt Sgt S.A Tyson
What we do in Air Cadets!
In Air Cadets we do a variety of activities; for example fieldcraft, gliding, shooting, first aid, archery, sports and map reading. Fieldcraft involves learning how to make a shelter out of various items in the environment, as well as using tents and other supplies such as ration packs. Gliding with the ATC includes going to a nearby airfield (Hullavington in Wiltshire), where we are taught how to use gliders such as the Grob Viking and Vigilant. Shooting involves the group going to Keynsham Squadron (or one of the other local ones with a range) where we use the brilliant shooting range at the squadron centre to learn how to use firearms properly. When we do first aid training we learn how to do heartstart, bandaging and other ways to heal injuries. When doing archery we use our mess hall as an archery range to practice and learn how to use a bow and arrow correctly. We do a variety of sports in Air Cadets such as football, rugby and cycling. Map reading in the Air Cadets usually also involves fieldcraft where
we plan an expedition around a certain area, but this however is usually only on special occasions such as when participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Cdt E Saunders
Cadet NCO course
Part of the challenge of becoming a Junior NCO is the passing of the JNCO course. Set across one weekend, every cadet is required to prove themselves in drill, leadership, uniform presentation and finally their ability to successfully implement lessons that are appropriate for all levels of cadet training. In order to secure a place on the course, each cadet must attend a pre-course evening where they are assessed to see whether the cadet meets the criteria expected.
Cpl Cross, Cdt Piggott and I attended the JNCO course over the weekend of 15th to the 16th of March 2014, beginning with a full drill assessment and progressing to lessons on correct procedures and expected standards of each NCO. The most intense part of the course was the drill assessment in which both our personal and instruction was assessed, the preparation for the test began much
before the initial course with help from the squadron Warrant Officer. Balancing the stress of the course with the annual squadron awards evening brought a late evening finish and an early morning start for the second and final day of the course.
Alongside the JNCO course was the Senior NCO course, which was undertaken by FS Barbour; this course furthers understanding from the JNCO course and is a requirement of the Sergeant promotions within the Corps.
2146 Squadron was successful during the course, with all participants achieving the required marks to pass the course. Congratulations must be passed onto Cpl Cross, Cdt Piggott and FS Barbour for their achievements, in which all achieved above average results.
Cdt Sgt S.A Tyson
Alpine Adventure 2014
Every year, Bristol and Gloucestershire Wing run Alpine Adventure. This is a week long skiing 'holiday' in Germany. On Friday 14th March, I arrived at 2152 Squadron in Filton where we were to be picked up by the coach. I was the only cadet from 2146 Squadron, however I knew a few people from previous cadet activities. The journey was long and delayed, due to Dover port being closed because of the storm, however we finally arrived at the lodge late on Saturday night. Sunday was an early start and to the hire shop to collect our skis, poles, boots and helmets. It was then to the slopes to begin a week's skiing. Bristol and Gloucestershire Wing invite a small number of cadets from Aberdeen Wing in Scotland to Alpine Adventure, and I was placed in a group entirely of the Scottish contingency. This mattered little to me as we all got on well and enjoyed the skiing. The evenings were equally as busy as the skiing, with a visit to a local air rifle shooting club to shoot and participate in the Bavarian sport of leg wrestling, to a swimming
complex and various games and quizzes ran at the lodge. Thursday evening was the Gala night; a chance for staff and senior cadets to perform for the entire camp. Myself and the other SNCOs from the camp performed a dance to 'Superman', which was rather embarrassing, however everyone embraced the mood of the evening. We were presented with our UK SnowLife Awards before returning to the lodge to sleep prior to the final day skiing. This last day was a large scavenger hunt across the resort, which our group won. We then returned our kit to the ski hire shop before packing. The journey home was much quicker, with everyone still very hyper from a fantastic week of skiing.
Cdt Flt Sgt S Barbour
Air Experience Flying
On Sunday 2nd February, myself, Cdt R Edwards-Cinca, Cdt Coombes and Cdt A Edwards-Cinca, accompanied by Flt Sgt Sudol, went to Colerne for a morning of flying. We arrived at 0800 for the 0830 briefing, where we watched a video which illustrated emergency procedures. We were then required to simulate an emergency, by going through the procedure of evacuating the aircraft and deploying the parachute. We were then allocated to our pilots in one of the three operating aircraft for the morning.
Cdt Coombes was the first to fly, followed by both Edwards-Cincas, and I was last. On my flight, I was fortunate enough to be offered aerobatics. As I had previously completed my Gliding Scholarship, I was allowed to fly the manoeuvres myself. I flew a loop and a stall turn, after demonstrations from my pilot instructor. The thirty minute flight concluded with a combination of moves, which consisted of a half loop, double vertical roll, pushover and then a half Cuban eight. The whole experience was
exhilarating and I would recommend it highly to any cadet offered the opportunity.
Cdt Flt Sgt S Barbour
RAF Halton Autumn Camp 2013
I went to RAF Halton in October 2013 on the week long autumn camp and I was the only cadet from 2146 Squadron to attend. RAF Halton is near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. We did many things at RAF Halton such as night exercises, flying, shooting, team building exercises and some sport. The night exercise was fun and lasted 2-3 hours. The aim of the night ex was to find and disarm 6 “bombs” before the other team found and disarmed their 6 “bombs”. There was a twist however, each team was split into 3 squads. The 1st squad had to find a bomb then come back and relay this information to the 2nd squad so they could disarm it whilst the 3rd squad would rest. We rotated roles so once the 2nd squad had disarmed the “bomb” then the 3rd squad would search for the next “bomb”. 12 of the cadets that were attending were randomly selected to go flying with 6th AEF (Air Experience Flying) Squadron. I was one of the cadets selected to go flying. I flew for 30 minutes. I got to put the plane into the loop after the pilot showed me how. The pilot also put us into other aerobatic manoeuvres such as 0G, a barrel roll and a stall dive. We also spent a day on the station range. The L98A2 trained cadet fired first, firing L98A2s; they then went to the electronic range while we fired the No.8 rifle, also
known as the .22 Rifle. I fired 20 rounds getting a reasonable grouping. We used the high ropes course the station has, to learn about team building. We spent 2 hours swinging around and screaming at each other which was great fun. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at RAF Halton and would advise anyone to sign up for this camp, or any other similar ones.
Cdt B Piggott