2013 Issue 3
S&NI Newsletter Newsletter Date Jun 2013 In this Issue: 1. Replica Spitfire Unveiled 2. Royal opening of Outdoor Centre 3. Junior Leaders 14 5. 1740’s New HQ Opened 6. 287 - Under New “Management” 7. The Magnificent Sevens 8. Whitelees Hillwalk 9. Small Bore Winter League & W J Taylor Shooting Competition Results 10. Shawlands visit Police Dogs
RAF Association Award Camp – 17 – 24 Apr 13
T
he RAF Association have an annual award for Air Cadets, where the RAF Association organise and sponsor a fully-funded camp to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus for 10 cadets. The trip is planned to coincide with the dates that the RAF Aerobatic Team (the Red Arrows) are on training detachment. This year it was the turn of Scotland and Northern Ireland Region Air Cadets to participate. The Cadets selected were accompanied on the trip by Sqn Ldr H McAdam and Flt A Hartnell and leading the team was a staff member from the RAF Association, Ms A Henson, assisted by RAF Association members (Serving RAF personnel ) located at RAF Akrotiri. The cadets nominated for the Award were CWO R Fitzsimmons, Sgt S Hirst, Sgt R Gilchrist, Sgt J Greenaway, Cpl S Wallace, Cpl W McLennan, Cpl D Wilson, Cpl C Thomson, Cdt R Ferrie and Cdt V Hain. On 17 Apr 13, 10 cadets and 2 CFAVs from SNI Region arrived in Cyprus, many of whom who had never travelled outside of the UK. The first full action packed day included a visit to the RAF Police dog section, meeting with the Station Commander, Gp Capt Group Captain J E Linter OBE MA RAF who agreed to be in the official camp photograph. Later the camp personnel rested at the Station Beach and was invited to the 1 (Overseas) Sqn Annual Formal Inspection.
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In the days that followed; the cadets and staff visited Curium Beach off Station, participated in Clay Target shooting and improved shooting skills in the Dismounted Close Combat Trainer at Episkopi Garrison. The cadets and staff also visited Paphos, a small coastal Harbour town, a shopping centre on the outside of Limassol and the landmark Aphrodite’s Rock.
The highlight of the trip for all was the views from the cliff top watching the Red Arrows train for their 2013 display, which will be their 49th display season. Red 10, Sqn Ldr M Ling explained the routine and answered the many questions the cadets had. Once the display was over the cadets took time to visit the memorial dedicated to the two Red Arrows pilots who had lost their lives recently. They were then transported to Gate 7, to get up close with the Hawk aircraft. The cadets were shown around the Aircraft by an Engineering Officer, who explained how the pilots maintained their positions in the air and how the famous smoke is released. The cadets were extremely lucky to be in the right place at the right time, as the Red Arrows pilots were completing a photo shoot, which the cadets were invited to join in with. During the last few days, the cadets were able to meet with the U-2 highaltitude reconnaissance aircraft pilots and watch one pilot being suited up and then take off at the USA Olive Harvest facility, The camp personnel also had a fantastic time on the Station Go-Kart race track and had a BBQ with the Station RAF Association members, the local RAF Association Aphrodite Branch and 1 (Overseas) Sqn personnel. At the end of camp BBQ the cadets presented Ms A Henson of the RAF Association a RAF Akrotiri Station wall plaque, as a token of their appreciation and to give her something to remember RAF Akrotiri, as it was to be her final trip with the RAF Association Award Camp.