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Cadets touch down for Summer Camp at RAF Odiham

Five Cadets from the Squadron were amongst 40 lucky Cadets chosen to attend the Beds and Cambs Wing Annual Camp at RAF Odiham recently.

Cpl Watson and Cadets Hamilton, Tyrrell-Thompson, Hines and Sheikh enjoyed a week with the RAF taking part in a range of activities including navigation exercise, station section visits, Bowling, flying, night exercise, visit to Portsmouth, various briefings and leadership exercises.

Highlights of the Camp included a visit to USL (Under Slung Loads) and JHSS (Joint Helicopter Support Squadron), where the Training Team showed Cadets and Staff how under slung loads were achieved with the Chinook helicopter. Following training three members of Staff were able to undertake this under the watchful eye of the team. It was quite an achievement, with the Chinook flying so low. All the Staff and Cadets were able to fly in the Chinooks twice courtesy of 18 and 27 Squadrons, and 20 Cadets achieved their Air Experience Flying, plus 8 Cadets undertook their GICs (Gliding Induction Course) whilst on Camp.

The night exercise was brilliant in the Bramley Training area. Cadets had to build a landing area, not knowing of course that the Chinook, piloted by the Officer Commanding 18 Squadron would be landing at the end of the exercise to take them back to RAF Odiham. This was achieved successfully and it finished off the exercise on a high for all concerned.

Grateful thanks are expressed to the Station Commander at RAF Odiham, Group Captain Shell and the ACLO team.

RAF Station Commander’s Visit

The Station Commander of RAF Henlow/Brampton/Wyton and Stanbridge, Group Captain BVH Walcot MA BA RAF paid an informal visit to the Air Cadets and Staff at 2500 (St Neots) Squadron this week.

She watched the Squadron Band in action praising them for their musical ability and knowledge, she also watched the other Cadets taking part in initiative exercises. Following a break she talked with the Cadets and Staff about how she joined the RAF and how important it was for the Cadets to be in the Air Cadet Organisation and gain knowledge they will require for later in life when they commence work, whatever they decide to do.

On final Parade she handed out awards and achievements gained to the following Cadets –

Cadet Philip Hamilton – Gliding Scholarship Blue Wings

Cadets John McRae and Harry Silcock - Gliding Induction Certificates

Sgt Ryan Hanson, Cadets George Curtis, Taylor Curtis and Mark Tyrrell-Thompson – BTEC in Aviation Studies.

The Commanding Officer Flt Lt David Webb commented on what a pleasant evening it had been and congratulated all the Cadets on their achievements.

Cadet wins gold medal at Wing Athletics

Cadets from No 2500 (St Neots) Squadron took part in the Bedfordshire & Cambridgeshire Wing Athletics last Sunday, held at the Bedford International Athletic Stadium in Bedford.

Cadet Rogers won two gold medals in the Youths 100 and 200m. Cadet Ray too part in the 200m final for the Junior Boys and Cadet Tyrrell-Thompson the 100m final in the Senior Boys. Cadet Northover took part in 100 and 200m finals for the Senior Girls.

Some of the Cadets will go on to represent their Wing at Region at the end of the month. The medals were presented by Officer Commanding Beds & Cambs Wing, Wg Cdr Paul Bower. Congratulations to all participants and winners.

Zac drum rolls into 1^st position

Congratulations go to St Neots Air Cadet Zac Stimson for winning the Wing Solo Drummer Competition last weekend at RAF Brampton. One of three entries in the Beds & Cambs Wing Competition, his performance was extremely high, gaining him a rightful place to go on to represent the Wing at Region in a few months time. Congratulations also go to the Percussion section of the Squadron Band and Squadron Banner party who took part in Competitions also. Although not gaining a first place, they all gave a very credible performance during the day.

Hot Shots at St Neots Air Cadets

Air Cadets and Staff from 2500 (St Neots) Squadron visited Shooting Targets in Riseley, Bedfordshire recently. While there they took part in archery and clay pigeon shooting. The Cadets thoroughly enjoyed the experience under the watchful eye of the Instructors on site. They all agreed it was brilliant and a new experience which was awesome. A Competition was held and the Instructor decided 1^st place went to Sgt Ryan Hanson with Cdt Sheikh gaining 2^nd. Congratulations and well done to all who took part.

First Time Flyers

Air Cadets from the squadron recently carried out Air Experience Flying (AEF) at RAF Wyton. Eight cadets attended the No 5 AEF Flight at Wyton to have safety and flying training. The cadets viewed a flight safety brief video then had a parachute fitted so that they had a check of understanding on how it operates. New to the safety briefing room was the use of a mock cockpit seat for the cadets to use to demonstrate getting in and out of an aircraft, this equipment was only delivered the day before our visit so St Neots cadets were the first to have use of it.

The cadets then waited for their name to be called forward to the flying kit store so that they could be fitted out with a flying suit, gloves, parachute and flying helmet. These items are fitted by specialist members of staff at the AEF. Once kitted out the cadets then waited a short while for their Grob Tutor aircraft to be readied, pre check done on the aircraft and the cadet is then lead out to the left hand side of the aircraft and strapped in ready for the aircraft to start up.

The pilot then taxi's to the runway and takes off and then gives control to the cadet once the cadet has an understanding of the flying controls, usually a cadet will clock up hands on flying time of between 25 and 30 minutes during each sortie.

It is up to the cadets what type of flying they would like to do, aerobatics, general handling or navigational exercise, this will depend on their own skills and experience.

For five of the cadets this was the first time of flying in a Grob Tutor aircraft.

2500 Squadron Air Cadets celebrate 70^th Anniversary of the ATC

Air Cadets and Staff from No 2500 (St Neots) Squadron celebrated with the six other Squadrons in the Western Sector on Sunday 6th Feb 2011 for the 70^th Anniversary of the Air Training Corp which was hosted by No 134 (Bedford) Squadron ATC.

Despite it being a cold and very windy afternoon, the Parade marched through Bedford Town led by the Band from No 2484 (Bassingbourn) Squadron for a Church Service at St Pauls Church in the centre of Bedford. Banners from all the participating Squadrons along with the Beds & Cambs Wing Banner formed a Guard of Honour at the Church before processing up the aisle to the Church Altar. The our Banner Bearer was Cpl Jack Hanitzch.

Following the Church Service there was a March past through the Town, with the salute being taken by Officer Commanding Bedfordshire & Cambridgeshire Wing, Wing Commander Paul Bower and the Mayor of Bedford, Cllr David Hodgson outside the Magistrates Court.

Beds & Cambs Wing Commander visits St Neots Squadron

Wing Commander Paul Bower RAFVR(T), Officer Commanding Bedfordshire & Cambridgeshire Wing ATC visited recently No 2500 (St Neots) Squadron. He held an open forum with the Cadets and Staff and discussed the about up and coming changes to the Corps, also at the final parade he made presentations of the following certificates and badges to the recent achievers at the Squadron.

Communicators Badges – Cpl Taylor Curtis and Cdt George Curtis, Gliding Scholarship Certificate Silver Wings - Sgt Ryan Hanson, and Leading Cadet Badges - Cpls George Watson, Katherine Todd and Jay Milne, and Cdts Zac Stimson, J Sheikh, Jack Rogers, Michael Powell, and Dale Clark. The Wing Commander congratulated them all on their turnout and support they give to the Wing during the year.