US AIR FORCE VISIT FOR LOCAL CADETS
Air Cadets from 209 (West Bridgford) Squadron and 1936 (Newton) recently spent the day with the United States Air Force at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk. During the morning they visited the Air Traffic Control Tower and the Bird Control Unit.
The staff of the Bird Control Unit showed the cadets the Hawks and Falcons they use to keep other birds away from the aircraft.
After lunch the cadets were shown around a KC-135 tanker aircraft of the 351st Air Refuelling Squadron. The cadets were split into two groups. One group was shown around the cockpit by a pilot. The other group was taken to the rear of the aircraft and shown where the Boom Operator lies to control the refuelling boom which connects to other aircraft to deliver the fuel.
Cadet Alex Charnley said: “The whole experience was really good and I enjoyed meeting the American aircrew.”
One Air Cadet who didn’t go to RAF Mildenhall was Corporal Alex Curtis, who was one of 55 Air Cadets from all over the UK who spent 10 days at RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus.
The 10 days were a multi-activity camp which saw Alex and the other Cadets explore the base, including visiting the Griffin Search and Rescue Helicopters of 84 Squadron.
Alex was shown the rescue equipment used on the Griffin and allowed, although only on the ground, to winch his fellow Cadets into the helicopter.
Away from RAF Akrotiri Alex visited the ‘Green Zone’ which separates the Turkish and Cypriate sides of the island. There they saw ‘UN Zone 66’, which is a shopping centre abandoned and deserted since the war. Nothing has changed there since ‘freezing’ the mall in time.
There was also plenty of time spent at the beach and at a local waterpark. Alex said: “My 10 days at RAF Akrotiri was the experience of a lifetime.”
Anyone over the age of 13 interested in joining 209 Squadron can telephone them on Parade Nights of Monday and Thursday between 7pm and 9pm on 0115 969 6434.
You can also visit them at 209 Squadron HQ on 110 Wilford Lane in West Bridgford, or visit their website at 209atc.co.uk.
