Flying High

Posted at 9:25 am on 16th March, 2023

Opportunity for Wellacre Students to Fly

Andrew, Year 11, and Evan, Year 9, have recently shared news about their exciting experience of flying a plane with the RAF.

As RAF cadets for 12 months and members of the 182 Squadron, there are always opportunities for training and development.  Andrew has already completed Leadership qualifications and Silver First Aid, which means he is able to help out on the cadet base.  Similarly, Evan has undertaken Bronze Leadership and Blue First Aid qualifications, and has almost completed the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award.

     

In a classroom-based Flight School, Andrew and Evan, have been learning about aeroplanes and how they work, with opportunities to go in a flight simulator.  As part of this, cadets are invited to bid for a place to fly at the RAF 1 Squadron Air Force base for a day. 

Both were successful in their bids, and travelled to RAF Woodvale, Southport, to learn how to fly!  After safety instruction, an instructor accompanied the cadets in a Grob Tutor single engine, two-seater plane and took off before handing over the controls.

As part of the flight, Andrew and Evan had to communicate with air traffic control to update their location, and completed a series of aerobatics including wing-dipping, loops and rolls!

Evan said:

“It was thrilling to fly the plane and do aerobatics. I’ll definitely bid for the next level of flight training.” 

Andrew added: 

“We were all pulling 4G, did tricks and loops, and got to see Blackpool tower from the sky! I’ve never been on a plane before, and for my first time I actually flew the plane - it was fun.  I’d like to go into the military after college, so this is all great experience.”

There will be an opportunity for Andrew and Evan to bid for further flight experiences in the future and both are very keen to do more; this would involve more time in the air, as well as take-off and landing.  

Principal, Mrs Sharrock, said:

“ Wow, what an experience! Well done Andrew and Evan. You are very brave and talented!”