Sure thing there !. Forget about BGA, on this thread, a) it's never going to be changed to Air Cadet /BGA United for all manner of reasons b) the aims and objectives are completely different c) it's not bringing anything to the party in terms of the shocking mismanagement by VSO's and d) it's not adding anything about the still minute level of activity given that the entire VGS fleet was brand new in about 1990
And.....whilst on topic, yes the Air Cadets are something pretty great, it has nurtured many, many, outstanding pilots through the medium of the VGS training and the ability to spot young talent. Not only that, for those who didn't necessarily shine in the air, it has also formed the bedrock of future technicians and other ranks through the medium of the teaching and discipline at Squadron level.
Yes, I do thoroughly deprecate the way in which the recent changes have "trashed" the volunteer force, the latest slap down, being the cheap and cheerful "plastic" Queens Commission for Air Cadets as opposed to the RAF VR(T) commission. Even the Commandant herself - a former scribbly, has confessed that "if they'd known what they were embarking upon, they wouldn't have started from here" . What a state of affairs, the blind leading the blind.
On to the future, we have the Chief Spin Doctor, aka Commandant, spurting out Facebook "Good news" stories, but the reality on the ground is rather less good. For example , out of an original 53 Vigilant T Mk1 plus some few others purchased second hand, we now have a huge 6 recovered, with only ONE ( yes one !) flying in any way for Air Cadet training !!, and..........as if that were not enough........it can't be used for Cadet Solo training as it isn't allowed out of the circuit due to lack of FLARM. Then of course, it gets worse, FLARM overheats, can't fix it, and so guess where this is heading when the Duty holder can't sanction anything to get a result !!And they are due out of service in the not too distant !
On the Viking T Mk1, we hear that one or two locations are working up again, but with a much reduced fleet, and only just beginning to produce any Cadet output, which are almost all Blue badge Air Exp sorties.
The
PR machine has now introduced different badges for almost anything now, perhaps even one for sitting in a glider, such as the much hyped "simulator" , and "Aerospace camps" where as many aircraft are flown in and Cadets get their backside off the ground.
Add to that, the news that Air Cadet numbers have declined ( yes, their official figures not mine !) by quite a few per cent ( hardly surprising since VGS activity has taken such a hit ), and we can perhaps see where things are going, given the shocking shortage of money in the Defence budget.
Sadly, and very regrettably, the people responsible for this appalling waste of money, ( and potentially exposing Cadets and Instructors to risk if the airworthiness case is correct !) are completely untouched by any disciplinary process, and potentially they may even receive an honour, something which has been short supply for the many totally dedicated and totally professional staff who have been treated so badly.
Time for an Aspirin now !
