A good start to Sea Cadet Aviation 2017
This year's Sea Cadet Aviation programme got off to a good start when 16 cadets from all over the UK traveled to Weymouth for ground school and a chance to gain their Bronze Wings.
The week began with three days in the classroom where the cadets studied a variety of subjects including basic instruments and controls, human factors, air law and basic radiotelephone.
The Sea Cadets AV instructors were pleased to welcome from Captain Naval Recruiting Lt Christian Smith RN (Observer) and S/Lt Tommy Brownlee RN (ab intio pilot) during the week when they arrived from
Portsmouth to give a talk on the current roles of the Fleet Air Arm and the aircraft they operate and discuss the navy's new aircraft carrier 'Queen Elizabeth'. There then followed lessons on meteorology and navigation ending the day with a practical lesson on flight planning.
Storm Doris was at its peak when the course visited RNAS Yeovilton for a visit to 727 Squadron towards the end of the week. No flying took was able to take place as 50mph winds swept the airfield so CO of the Squadron Lt Cdr Jim Ashlin RN and Operations Officer Lt Jon Duke RN pulled out all the stops to ensure the course had an interesting and memorable day organising visits to the Squadron aircraft, the control tower and The Royal Navy's Historic Flight.
After much hard work the cadets sat their written and practical exams and all were pleased to hear they had gained their Bronze Wings.
Cdr Gus Carnie RN, the Lynx Wildcat Maritime Force Commander,
kindly volunteered to make the presentations on the final day of the course and award the students their well deserved bronze wings. He also presented a very surprised OC Eve Flanagan from Avonmouth with the Daedalus trophy which is awarded to the top student along with various prizes donated by this year's course sponsors. These included a pilots watch from Sekonda. A flight bag and books from Pooley's Flight Equipment and Breitling who had kindly sent baseball caps for all cadets attending the course.
Ten cadets will now be invited to attend the week long 'Silver Wings' course which is held at Lee on Solent in May. This course includes both classroom study and air experience flights in a Grob 109B motorglider belonging to Portsmouth Naval Gliding Club.