Air Cadet AEF Flying Height and Weight Requirements

[Siforest65]

My son has been nominated for his first AEF at Cranwell on 16th May. Just wondering if any of you guys knew of any height/weight requirements?. I know for gliding there is a weight requirement but can't find anything on powered flight experience. He is a touch small for his age and I'd hate him to be dissapointed and not allowed to fly.

[thedonnmeister]

Well Im 6ft 3 & 14st so can only just fly in them! But on the other end of the scale, my mates Sister is rather "petite" and she can fly. Its all about his height/chest as he needs to wear a parachute. But I'v seen tiny lads go flying.

Good luck to him, he'll love it! :ok:

[muppetofthenorth]

Can't remember the figures off hand, but unless he's absolutely minute, he'll have no problem. A girl on my UAS who was no more than 5'1 was fine to fly.

[Siforest65]

Thanks for the replies. He is 4 feet 10 inches tall.

Fingers crossed he will be allowed to fly. If he isn't, I appreciate there must be a good reason from a safety perspective.

[BEagle]

Thanks for the replies. He is 4 feet 10 inches tall.

Torpy isn't much taller than that...:E

[Pontius Navigator]

I know there is a weight limit for the parachute at about 7.5 to 8 st but don't know if they apply that to the AEF.

No one has every jumped from an AEF ac as far as I know. Crashed, yes, jumped, no.

[Background Noise]

That's an encouraging thought to send him off with PN. :rolleyes:

[RB877]

Height shouldn't be a problem as they have seet cushions to boost them up a bit. The ACP says between 35 and 114kg fully clothed but without parachute. If he is not within this, send him anyway and let the AEF staff make the decision. I'm sure it will be fine and he'll have a fantastic trip.

RB

[Pontius Navigator]

That's an encouraging thought to send him off with PN. :rolleyes:

True, but true and sad too. As people may recall there was a mid-air only this year. Thankfully the accident rate is very low per sortie flown. Don't know what it is but I know of less than a handful in decades.

I was wrong about no one jumping at all as there was a jump from a Varsity IIRC that led to the redesign of the parachute harness. Late 70s perhaps?

[airborne_artist]

No one has every jumped from an AEF ac as far as I know.John did. I know he did, I saw the film of him doing it.

[Pontius Navigator]

John did. I knew he did, I saw the film of him doing it.

OK, what, where, when, why?

[Wholigan]

The parachute upper weight limit has recently been changed to 122 kg, but this has not reached the cadet APs yet.

There also used to be a height limit of a minimum of 1.1 metres to the shoulder, but I can no longer find reference to this in the APs.

[Wholigan]

I think the phrase used is "no cadet has had to jump from a training aircraft such as the Tutor".

However, they have exited hurriedly from other RAF aircraft, including the Harrier.

[GPMG]

Jump, jump Sir.

[Pontius Navigator]

Wholigan, that is what I meant, certainly.

Can't remember, but my first flight could have been in a Hastings or Dakota and just missed a chance in a Lincoln, but the Chippy was the most common.

[airborne_artist]

A mate and his beefer had to abandon a 'Dog. Mate landed in Farmer Giles' lush green meadow. Beefer landed in the slurry pit :}

[taxydual]

John Alan Quinton - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Alan_Quinton)



I bet this thread is really boosting Siforest65's confidence.
But don't worry Mother Siforest65, the operative word is 'banter'. banter definition | Dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/banter)

Never mind the flying, will your boy get used to the banter?

:ok::ok:

[chevvron]

Mid air near Reading mid 60s; 2 chippies from White Waltham (one 5 AEF and the other a UAS aircraft I think); I believe the pilots got out but the cadet didn't but I may be wrong.

[TEEEJ]

Jump, Jump John was the pre-flight film.

Jump jump John - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums (http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=23361)

TJ

[Siforest65]

Once again, thanks for the replies folks.

Don't worry taxydual, I am well aware of the dangers but then again crossing the road is a risk. As for the banter, he enjoys that sort of stuff at Cadets because it's not done with the nasty edge that some stuff at school does. It made his day last night when someone smaller than him joined and one of the other lads asked how he will cope with the competition :) . Joining the Cadets makes you realise that there really are some nice kids about, not to forget the adult volunteers who put so much time and effort in.

I will post when he has done (or not done) the flight to let you know how it went.

[taxydual]

Well done. I wish the lad well.

Regards

[Beancountercymru]

Before John it was Sgt Clark , if I recall correctly. I always thought Sgt Clark too clever for his own good

Sgt Clark was instructed by his Officer in a smart barathea battle dress as all good Officers wore in those days

[Siforest65]

Just a quick update.

My son did his flight today and had no probs with height or weight. He absolutely loved it. Not sure if his mum was keen when he said he had done a loop and barrell roll :ok:

[Culio]

Ah yes, the infamous, "Now this is your first flight isn't it cadet?" "Yes Sir" "Well then I really shouldn't do this but oh well" Aerobatics ensue.

Great fun :}

[taxydual]

Siforest65

Thats something he'll remember for the rest of his life.

Fantastic.

Best regards.

[Siforest65]

taxydual

yes it is something he will never forget

Before he left I specifically told him to thank the pilot and also the Civilian Instructor who drove them all there. Unless I'm mistaken, unpaid volunteers who give up their time to make it all happen.

[BEagle]

Ah yes, the infamous, "Now this is your first flight isn't it cadet?" "Yes Sir" "Well then I really shouldn't do this but oh well" Aerobatics ensue.

When I did a little AEF Chipmunkery at Scampton in 1979, the one inviolate rule was that it was totally and absolutely verboten to do any aerobatics on a cadet's first ever flight, no matter how much he pleaded!

I guess it's the old AEF vs. Rules syndrome again - as we saw all the time at Abingdon in the late '80s and early '90s.....

But great that your son enjoyed his flight, Siforest65 - and here's to many more....:ok:

[deltahotel]

Glad he enjoyed it. Pretty much all voluntary. I fly at Cranwell and it's no burden I assure you. Light a/c are fun and many many years ago someone gave their time for me in the back of a Chippy. Always good to give something back.

DH

[airborne_artist]

SiForest - yes - CIs are unpaid. Consider joining the Civilian Committee of the Squadron to help with fund-raising etc. Good fun, worthwhile and not a huge amount of time needed, probably only 5-6 meetings a year.