Flying at RAF Wyton
On the 13th of November 2004 our squadron went flying at RAF Wyton.
For me this was the first time flying with the air cadets. As we sat in the briefing room we were told that the first time flyers would be going first. After we watched a video, all the first time flyers were called out to get ready for their flight. We were lead through a hangar into a small building where all the flight suits and helmets were and we were told to get a flight suit then, we were given our parachutes. We were also given a helmet which made you deaf if you weren't in the plane! Finally we were asked our Surnames and we were told to sit on a stool. The stools were all lined up in a row and I sat in the second stool next to the door of the kit room.
Then, one of the people said to me and another cadet, "come with me please". We were given two cushions for the plane, then we left the room to go to our aircraft. When I arrived at the plane I was going to be flying in, I started to get really nervous. I was asked to step into the plane's cockpit and I was strapped in; after that all the people around the aircraft moved away as my instructor started the engine.
When the engine started, the plane's panels shook like crazy until the engine had stopped revving up. We taxied to the runway where we were going to take off, (we had to wait a little while for another plane to take off, then it was my turn) and the instructor throttled the plane down the runway. After only a few seconds the plane lifted up and we were airborne. We climbed up to about 2,000 feet when the instructor levelled off the plane, and decreased the thrust which made the plane lose some height (it felt like I was falling). After that the instructor showed me how to stay level using only the horizon in flight (Called the attitude). While he was showing me he put the plane out of level flight and then asked me to level the plane up. After that he showed me how to level off turns and then asked me to do the same. Then he showed me how to turn and keep level. I was then taught how to trim the aircraft which helps to maintain level flight without using the stick all the time. Straight after that we circled the airfield then landed. All in all it was a good day and I can't wait to go flying next time.
Cadet Yardley
(Dates on photos are incorrect - incidentally this was Cdt. Yardley's camera...)
On November 13th I and nine other CDTs went flying.
For some of our Cdts it was a new experience (e.g. CDT Yardley). For me, though, it was roughly my 6th time flying.
Flying for me is a really good way to overcome your fears. On my first experience flying I was very nervous, but when I first went up I became more confident and wanted to do more, but as it was my first flight then I couldn't do much.
Every other time I went I did more things, for example aerobatics and trimming. Trimming is basically learning the controls of the aircraft and learning how to actually control the plane.
Now aerobatics is another story. Really it involves barrel rolls, stall turns and loops. When I went flying that day (the first time in ages) I did aerobatics and I did some of it myself, for example a loop. It was difficult at first but I got the hang of it.
Cpl Bronze