[QUOTE=Big Pistons Forever;10629913]Have a friend with British relatives. Their 15 yr old is airplane mad ( another poor young man with a blighted future
) and is thinking of joining the UK Air Cadets. Will he get any flying ?[/QUOTE
Sadly most of the youngsters who really want to fly are avoiding the Air Cadets or leave early.
Not surprising as their actual contact with real aircraft is minimal, and what was the jewel in the crown of hands on gliding has been reduced to a minimum and replaced by the joke that is the Part Task Trainer for badge attainment.
Of course the current Cadet membership never saw the Gliding operation 'as was' so are not aware of what has been lost., and the days of a local 'flying' RAF Station being available for ad hoc visits long gone.
As this thread has alluded to, real solo flight has all but been abandoned and replaced by a 'synthetic experience', with a brave attempt to get the Vigilant fleet back in business under a LAA supported scheme thwarted by those who were going to be somewhat embarrassed by them rising from the ashes of what had been a proud capable flying training organisation.