I start air cadets tonight!

[jakegazzard]

I start air cadets tonight! im so nervous!

[Adrian]

well done jake hope you enjoy it,i was in the atc for 4 years and got to flt/srgt and i loved it ,went flying loads and got to stay in germany and cyprus with them.

Thats going back a few years mind back in 1980/84

[glen_j]

you'll really enjoy it jake i did when i was a cadet

[andylinney]

Jake, I too was in the ATC for about 5 years (left to join the University Air Squadron) and I loved every minute of it. Just go along and enjoy it, it's a great laugh and teaches you some really valuable things.

I was in from 1992 to 1997 and went to Raf Akrotiri in Cyprus, Raf Bruggen in Germany got my glider wings did a flying scholarship and my duke of edinburgh award alongside loads of other great stuff.

[Mart61]

I joined Air Cadets and stayed a member just long enough to get the uniform.

Oh the joys of young boys, being allowed to act like men, smoke in the crew room at 13 with all the other young lads.

Those were the days...

[bolders]

I was in the ATC about 20 years ago also.

I loved it (didnt even mind the drill) but the best bits that I remember were the basic glider training course (flying Grob powered gliders every weekend ), flying experience in Chipmunks and a flight over the north sea in a tristar tanker refueling Tornados. Not to mention lots of abseiling and other outdoor pursuits especially lots of hill walking in wales and the lake district. Oh and a bit of shooting (mainly 22s and the L98) but tbh i was never a very good shot.

If you can except the discipline (which is not a bad thing) and the drill the ATC can open up so many opportunities for you. Hope you enjoy it and find it too your liking

[ChickenHawk]

I was in the ATC over 40 years ago!!!!!!
You will love it Jake.

A bit of discipline,cameraderie,annual camps at working RAF stations.
Just wait until you see what the flyboys are given for breakfast in the NAAFI(canteen)...your eyes will pop at the variety.

Oh yeh.....lots of planes and stuff,flew in Chipmunks,Argosys,Andovers and if you took the time to take your 3822 (passbook) to a working Raf station you used to be able to get short hops to Europe and back in all sorts of aircraft.I don't know if you can still do this.
I have many treasured memories from this time and hope that you derive the same pleasure that I did all those years ago.

[bolders]

Ahh the the battered 3822 I remember it well. Think I still have mine in the loft somwhere.

[andylinney]

Yeah, still got my old hardback 3822 and remember being so pleased everytime you got to write stuff up in it and then get it signed. Great days...

[Adrian]

Still got my 3822 remember sat up front in a fat albert (herc) with the pilots signing it as we were doing circuts and bumps..happy days

[Mark Chaplin]

Hi Jake,

I was an Air Cadet too some 30 years ago and enjoyed every minute of it. As others have already said there are many activities to enjoy. I also went to Cyprus and spent a weekend with the Rock Apes on a training exercise firing blanks on a machine gun etc. Also while I was there spent time with the MP dog unit. Got put into a protected suit and was pulled down by a Police dog! Great times.
We also had a marching band where I played lead trumpet.
The disciplin was good. Great team moral.
As for flying I flew in Chipmunks ( air experience) and T22 gliders.
UK camp was a RAF St Mawgan, Newquay. Got a flight in a Nimrod for nine hours.
I managed to get to Sargent stripes.
All in all great times.
I still have my log book, and still have friends from those days that fly model helis and full size aircraft.
The Squadron I was a member of; 5F Northampton.
Hope you enjoy it.

Regards,

Mark.

[ChickenHawk]

So many memories have been triggered by this thread....things and people I had not thought about for many many moons

Watching Vulcan bombers doing circuits and bumps,actually touching a Red Arrows Gnat and getting up on the wing.

Mugs of ridiculously strong cocoa and spam sandwiches for supper at camp....the stuff that dreams are made of.

Our officers were a right bunch of Geezers.
One was a mid-upper turret gunner on a Lancaster,another was in a Dakota in transport command.
Our CO and his second IC were both fighter pilots towards the end of WW2....these guys hads seen it all.

Gliding in Zedburghs with a leather do-nut helmet and aviator goggles on you can imagine how a 12 year old felt......Biggles and all that
Anyway better stop before I bore you all...............
Jake you will love it.....remember 'you only get back what you put in' so get involved and things will start to happen.
I managed to get to Flight Sgt. and passed all the exams to get the Staff Cadet Lanyard....I can still remember some of the Morse Code I was taught........nuff said ............ChickenHawk out

[andylinney]

I must admit I liked so much that I went back as an adult civilian instructor and taught principles of flight, navigation and was also a range control officer. Getting my RCO ticket was a right laugh but bloody hard work. My arms ached for days after spending so much time on the range after I lost count of how much .22 ammunition I put down.

I totally agree with the others too, it's all about being willing to put everything into it. The rewards are incredible and the memories and friends last for ever. My best man last year was a guy I met at cadets and I still speak to so many others. We even had a reunion last year and it was like we had never been apart despite the 12 year gap.

Jake, you'll love it. Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut on the first few nights and watch and learn.

[Gav]

air cadets here too while at sixth form (just a few years ago) flying the good ol chimpmonk - gliding - getting winched up in a wessex heli etc great memories and a good bit of disciplin training too.

enjoy Jake!!!

[David Drew]

You will LOVE it.

It'll be the making of you too.

Great grounding for adult life.

Keep those nerves under control & look, listen & learn.

David