On the 28th February 30 cadets and four members of staff travelled to DCAE Cosford. The weather to begin with was overcast and threatening rain. However after the long coach ride to DCAE Cosford the skies thankfully began to clear looking for a promising days flying.

2438 (Bishop Ullathorne) Squadron took five cadets and one member of staff. Two of the cadets, Cdt McQuillan and Cdt Harrison had never flown with the ACO before. They were both up in the air in no time experiencing an activity unique to the Air Training Corps. They are now true Air Cadets as they have taken control of an aircraft at 4000ft! However the good day did not end there for Cdt McQuillan. He and the other cadets who had not flown in the Vigilant aircraft where invited over to 633VGS who had spare gliding allocations. So for Cdt McQuillan he had his first flight in the Grob Tutor and in the Vigilant on the same day.

Cdt Adams, Cpl Earp and CWO Parker also flew later on in the day who were all lucky enough to experience gut wrenching aerobatics.

A huge advantage of going to DCAE Cosford is that firstly the Cadets are able to have a rewarding flight in a Grob Tutor but afterwards are all able to visit the Museum. At the museum the cadets can practice their Aircraft recognition techniques and also go to the hands on section and learn why the aircraft they just flew in flies!

Plt Off Hegarty Adjutant of 2438 “Flying in the Grob Tutor is a wonderful experience for all the cadets new and old. One of our Cadets was especially lucky in getting two flights on different aircraft on the same day.”

The journey back in the coach was unusually quiet but it turned all the cadets were asleep after an exhausting but exciting day.

2438 Squadron sends its regards to the Flight Staff Cadets at 8AEF and 633VGS who helped the day run smoothly and to all the Pilots and Staff from 8AEF and 633VGS who had a relentless flying program but ensured that each and every cadet had a memorable flight.