Air cadets on a high (From News Shopper)

Air cadets on a high

11:21am Monday 10th September 2007 in Lewisham

Thirteen cadets from 1921 (Lewisham) Squadron have just come back from a week-long annual camp at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, where aviation was key.

The cadets went on the camp with cadets from Shoreditch, Battersea and Dagenham to spend a week experiencing life in the RAF first-hand.

There were various section visits where cadets could find themselves hooking loads underneath helicopters or getting thoroughly soaked at the fire section.

All this on top of a host of adventure training, sports, leadership training, target shooting and flying for the cadets to participate in.

The cadets travelled to Boscombe Down for air experience flying and some cadets even managed to complete unscheduled gliding induction courses with 618 Volunteer Gliding Squadron based at RAF Odiham.

The flying highlight of the week for all the cadets had to be a trip in the RAF's heavy load helicopter based at RAF Odiham, the Chinook.

The cadets were given a thorough briefing before climbing into the back of the Chinook for their flights above the skies of Hampshire. Taking in the sights, Cadet Phelan Voke, aged 14, of Blackheath, exclaimed after his flight: "This is the first time I have ever flown in a helicopter, it's amazing! I can't wait to tell everyone back home about this!"

The cadets were also treated to two special visitors during the week, both flying in during the camp.

The first visitor during the week was Polly Vacher, an aviator who aims to fly to all 206 airfields in the UK, listed in the Jeppesen VFR manual to raise money for Flying Scholarships for the Disabled.

This charity was set up in memory of the Battle of Britain hero Douglas Bader and enables disabled people to take to the skies and in many cases achieve a private pilot's license.

Polly, president of Wallingford Squadron Air Cadets, is flying around the UK in an orange single engine Piper Dakota. This comes after her 2003 flight over the North and South Poles, where she was the first woman ever to have done so in a single engine aircraft.

The second visitor to the camp was Rob Davies, owner of 'Big Beatiful Doll', a P-51D Mustang dating from the Second World War.

This type of aircraft was flown by 18 (B) Squadron during the war, which is now one of the current Chinook squadrons based at Odiham.

The Mustang is in the colours of Colonel Landers of the US Army Air Corps and has been a star of many Hollywood films including Memphis Belle, Empire of the Sun and Saving Private Ryan.

Rob, father of Flt Lt Julie Davies, officer commanding 33F Battersea Squadron ATC, was a former RAF apprentice and air cadet himself.

He informed the cadets about the history of the aircraft and answered a number of technical questions.

Adult Sergeant Pat Adams, of 1921 (Lewisham) Squadron, said after the visits: "We were delighted that both pilots could take time out of their schedules to stop and speak to the cadets.

"Both aircraft were quite different to the type cadets would normally get to see on camp and they provided a great finale to what was a very rewarding week."