1300 Squadron ATC: Flying and Gliding

AEG Saturday 1st March 2008

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:38:30 GMT

On Saturday 1^st March 2008, three cadets were taken by Adult Sergeant Young to RAF Syerston for Air Experience Gliding in a Vigiliant T1 (propelled) glider.

Yes, that’s right – it has a propeller and an engine.

Corporal Daniel Barnes and Cadets Aron Marshall and Matthew Parry had to wait a while in the Cadets Common Room due to the high winds at RAF Syerston.

Unfortunately, the winds won the argument and the cadets didn’t get to fly (sorry glide!)– but they did play pool!

(photos taken by Corporal Daniel Barnes)

(Editor AWO Coleman)

AEF Saturday 9th February 2008

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:34:52 GMT

On Saturday 9^th February 2008, four cadets from the Squadron were taken to RAF Cranwell for Air Experience Flying.

Flight Sergeant Matthew Turner, Sergeant Luke Chadburn, Corporal Daniel Barnes and Cadet Scott Walters each had approx 20 minutes flight in a GROB 115 Tutor.

Next is Gliding at RAF Syerston on Saturday 1st March 2008.

AEF Saturday 26th January 2008

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:14:14 GMT

The first Air Experience Flying of 2008 at RAF Cranwell was on Saturday 26^th January. Three cadets were taken by AWO Coleman. Corporal Sharon Parker, Cadets Mathew Parry and Scott Walters each had a 30 minute flight in a GROB 115 Tutor. Both Cpl Parker and Cdt Parry have been up before in 2007 but Cdt Scott Walters had his first Air Experience Flight of his ATC career.

Next AEF will be on Saturday 9^th February.

AEF Sat 17th Nov 2007

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 21:39:27 GMT

Three cadets went Air Experience Flying on Saturday 17th November at RAF Cranwell. Cadets Antony Shaw and Martin Thomas both got up for 20 minutes each but the last man flying was Aron Marshall who had a flight for 40 minutes in a GROB 115 Tutor.

Air Experience Gliding - Saturday 27th October 2007

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 16:37:40 GMT

On Saturday 27^th October four cadets from the Squadron were taken to RAF Syerston for Air Experience Gliding accompanied by Adult Sergeant Andy Young. Cadets Matthew Bonser (15), Aron Marshall (15), Lee Moss (14) and Matthew Parry (13) all got up twice for a 30 minute flight in a Vigilant T1 (propelled) glider.

AEF at RAF Cranwell Sunday 9th September 2007

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 10:59:50 GMT

6 Cadets were taken by Civilian Instructors Young and Carrington to RAF Cranwell for Air Experience Flying on Sunday 9^th September 2007.

Flight Sergeant Matthew Turner (17), Cadets Joseph Stones (15), Scott Thompson (15), Matthew Bonser (15), Daniel Barnes (14) have all been Flying before in a GROB 115 Tutor but Cadet Matthew Parry (13) has never been flying before.

All 6 cadets got at least 30 minutes flying time in the Tutor but Cadet Parry got a second flight as he was a first timer to No.7 AEF at RAF Cranwell.

AEG Saturday 18th August 2007

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 14:08:57 GMT

Six cadets were taken by AWO Coleman and CI Carrington to RAF Syerston no.644 VGS (Volunteer Gliding School) for Air Experience Gliding.

Cadets Jordan Shead, Aron Marshall, Scott Thompson and Corporal Sarah Livermore; all aged 15; have all been up in a glider before. But Cadets Lee Moss (14) and Matthew Parry (13) are both novices and this was their first flight, in a Vigilant T1 glider made by GROB.

All got up for about 25 minutes before the rain decided to stay for the rest of the day.

Next Gliding experience will be in December; but you don’t have to wait that long for some Air Experience as Flying is on the cards for September.

Sutton cdets take to the skies - Chad.co.uk

AEG at RAF Syerston Saturday 4th August

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 17:43:50 GMT

On Saturday 4^th August 2007 3 cadets were given an extra chance to go gliding at RAF Syerston.

CI Andy Young took Cadet Jordan Shead (15), Corporal Sarah Livermore (15) and Flight Sergeant Matthew Turner (16) and all got up twice for a 30 minute flight in a Vigilant T1 glider - a propeller glider - yes, that's right, a glider with an engine.

Next opportunity will be Saturday 18^th August 2007.

AEF Sunday 24th June 2007

Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:11:04 GMT

Cadets Martin Thomas, Jack Sharpe and Corporal Sarah Livermore got away from the morning Wing Field Day events by attending Air Experience Flying at nearby RAF Cranwell, No.7 AEF.

Cadet Jack Sharpe had his first ever flight whilst Cadet Martin Thomas enjoyed his second. Corporal Sarah Livermore is now an experienced cadet in flying.

All got up for a 30 minute flight.

Air Experience Flying - Sunday 4th March 2007

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 15:40:33 GMT

On Sunday 4^th March 2007, AWO Coleman took three cadets to RAF Cranwell for Air Experience Flying; Corporal Christopher Jones and Cadets Luke Armstrong and first timer Lee Moss.

The weather was bright on the drive from Sqn HQ to RAF Cranwell but once we hit the ridge there was nothing to see and I mean there was nothing to see – fog all round – had I misunderstood the message from RAF Cranwell?

No, I hadn’t misunderstood; the fog had only just arrived and would hopefully go away within the hour.

The first wave of cadets to fly started at 09:30 and after 30 minutes when the first of the first wave landed we were ready for a swap over of cadets. But no, it was not to be; there was a “weather hold” broadcast over the radio and the remaining Grob Tutor’s landed and the brakes were now on for about half an hour.

The flying resumed at about 10:30 and all were wondering if the weather would hold back long enough for the remainder of the thirteen cadets to fly that day. It did, and all cadets got up with about 30 minutes of flying experience.

Once we were on our drive back to Sqn HQ, the heavens opened and there was no more flying for No.7 AEF at RAF Cranwell.

By AWO Coleman

Cadets take to the skies - Chad.co.uk

Air Experience Flying & Gliding - Sunday 28th January 2007

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 17:09:26 GMT

The Squadron took the opportunity to take cadets to both Air Experience Flying at RAF Cranwell and Air Experience Gliding at RAF Syerston this Sunday 28th January 2007.

Mr. Carrington took four cadets; Cadets Anthony Shaw, Liam Chance, James Draycott and Corporal Christopher Jones; to RAF Cranwell for Flying in a Grob 115 Tutor.

AWO Coleman took three cadets; Cadets Matthew Bonser, Sharon Parker and Sergeant Michael Tucker; to RAF Syerston for gliding in a Vigilant powered glider. The weather was a bit windy but all managed a 20 minute flight each.

Air Experience Flying 11th November 2006

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 17:36:56 GMT

Four cadets were taken to RAF Cranwell for Air Experience Flying - Cadets Sharon Parker, Martin Thomas, Cpl Michael Tucker and Sgt Danielle Gent.

All had a good 20 minutes flight and all came back with smiles on their faces!

If anyone would like a copy of the photos taken today then please email AWO Coleman on sutton1300@hotmail.com stating the ref number of the photo required and quantity. All printed photos will cost 30p each.

The Reid-Buckle Bursary

Sat, 07 Oct 2006 15:08:56 GMT

I applied for the Reid-Buckle Gliding Bursary as soon as the CO informed the squadron of this opportunity.

To obtain the Bursary I had to fill in a lengthy application form detailing my achievements in and out of cadets, and write a large passage about myself and my reasons for wanting the Bursary. The CO then wrote a passage about me and then sent the form to the Bursary trustees. The next stage was a thirty minute interview with two of the trustees. I was asked about my motivation, my time in cadets, my hobbies/sports by one trustee and many gliding questions by the other, most of which I didn’t know. I acquired the bursary because I was able to convince them of my motivation and commitment to the gliding and the ATC and RAF.

On the 1^st July I began my gliding at the Dukeries Gliding club. I was given 300 pounds by the trustees to glide. This was paid to the club in exchange for training to solo standard or a years membership (whichever comes first). I glide on Saturdays and Sundays weather permitting. I am being trained by the club instructors who are very accomplished pilots. I began by learning the basic controls of the glider and then did various upper air exercises such as soaring and stalling. I am currently close to solo standard and am getting used to landing without much prompting from my instructors ( circuits and landing are usually taught last). I have also learned how to handle gliders on the ground as all members are expected to help prepare the gliders for flight, and not just fly then go home. I am enjoying my gliding immensely and would recommend the experience to anyone.

by Flt.Sgt.Paul Cosgrove

Taking up my Prize

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 18:40:22 GMT

Last year I was fortunate enough to win a prize of a flight in a light aircraft through a competition I entered with Air Cadets, which was run by the Royal Institute Of Navigation in London.

On Sunday 24^th September I travelled down with my Dad to Conington Airfield in Cambridgeshire to take up my prize. Conington is a small village with the ex wartime airfield set just to the north east of it. During the second world war it was the home to 457^th Bombardment Group USAF, flying B17s, they dropped almost 17,000 tones of bombs, and 142 tons of leaflets over Europe.

The journey down took one and a half hours, covering around 80 miles. Upon arrival we were met by Group Captain David Broughton who had kindly donated the prize , and who is the director of the Institute.

Mr. Broughton welcomed us and showed us around the aircraft we would be flying in, describing in detail all aspects both inside and out, whilst at the same time carrying out some pre-flight checks . The plane its self was a four-seater Piper Arrow, registration G-BGKU, with a 200bhp fuel injected engine, complemented with a variable pitch propeller and retractable undercarriage.

We all got on board, Mr. Broughton and myself in the front , Dad in the rear. We started the engine and taxied out to the runway, lined up and off we went. Upon reaching 1300ft, Mr. Broughton handed control of the aircraft over to me, for which seemed like a lifetime, but was actually 45mins, until taking back control for landing, as I was starting to feel a little nauseous through the turbulence. We flew over open countryside local to the airfield, passing Grafton Water, a large wind farm, various airfields both used and disused (runway marked with an X ), the A1 and numerous rivers and canals.

On landing we parked the aircraft safely and retired to the flying club bar for hard earned refreshments, and enjoyed Mr. Broughton’s hospitality. After watching the comings and goings of various aircraft for a while we thanked Mr. Broughton for the opportunity, and his generosity, and started home about 3-30.

All together it was a very enjoyable day, the weather brightened up for us and we came home all that little bit wiser.

So, many thanks to Group Captain Broughton and FLT SGT Collis for encouraging me to enter the competition in the first place.

By Cadet Matthew Bonser