Cottesmore
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Cottesmore
Hi all,
Just graduated from IOT last week and currently taking 2 weeks out before ground school. Following that I have a hold (6 to 9 months they say) before Linton at RAF Cottesmore with 1 Sqn.
Has anyone been to Cottesmore or 1 Sqn itself? Any feedback on the station, mess or anything else you might feel is relevant would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Woo Woo
Just graduated from IOT last week and currently taking 2 weeks out before ground school. Following that I have a hold (6 to 9 months they say) before Linton at RAF Cottesmore with 1 Sqn.
Has anyone been to Cottesmore or 1 Sqn itself? Any feedback on the station, mess or anything else you might feel is relevant would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Woo Woo
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Although there are bound to be more qualified people to answer this, I was at Cottesmore for a week with UAS a few summers ago.
The mess is pretty good, but rather cavernous (since it was once the TTTE) and therefore a bit empty. 1 sqn I visited for only a day but they were very welcoming, and I had a few beers in the bar with them later.
Not really sure about what there is do to locally, but as regie mental says, the station is pretty standard, although it seems to be one of the better equipped and more modern - plus there are plenty of other bases around to escape to!
Good luck with ground school, and have fun on the hold
Hungry
The mess is pretty good, but rather cavernous (since it was once the TTTE) and therefore a bit empty. 1 sqn I visited for only a day but they were very welcoming, and I had a few beers in the bar with them later.
Not really sure about what there is do to locally, but as regie mental says, the station is pretty standard, although it seems to be one of the better equipped and more modern - plus there are plenty of other bases around to escape to!
Good luck with ground school, and have fun on the hold
Hungry
Firstly congratulations for escaping Sleaford Tech! If you're holding for that long, which you will be, come on all keen, volunteer to do stuff around the sqn. You'll probably be there in time to volunteer for the stn xmas draw to! Once you've spent time doing all that, get off the stn, visit other places so you can get an idea about how other places work and get on as many AT courses and expeds as you can!!! Gliding, parachuting, diving etc. All free (at least the courses are) and it'll look good! ENJOY 
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Best pubs in the air force. Well kept secret. Make sure you visit as many as possible and don't miss the George in Stamford.
Shame about the Black Horse in Greetham. Undergoing a complete rebuild when I went past the other day. The lounge bar was a real snug with no room for the cat let alone swinging one.
Shame about the Black Horse in Greetham. Undergoing a complete rebuild when I went past the other day. The lounge bar was a real snug with no room for the cat let alone swinging one.
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Woo Woo
I have just had the pleasure of spending a couple of months holding at Cottesmore. As for holding, unfortunatley theres no getting away from the fact that it is the worst part for holding pilots atm. Unlike some of the ground branches who get posts where they end up doing a job thats relevant, theres not really much chance of it on a harrier squadron.
The mess will seem very quiet compared to what you are used to as there are onlg abou 20 livers-in, but there is always someone in the bar from 9-ish if you wish to partake.
The advantage you have over non-aircrew is that you have an aircrew med-cat which means that if the T10 becomes available at short notice, its a lot easier for you to get the back seat trip.However you will have to fight with the 2 other guys holding on 4 atm.
If you want any more info, let me know.
I have just had the pleasure of spending a couple of months holding at Cottesmore. As for holding, unfortunatley theres no getting away from the fact that it is the worst part for holding pilots atm. Unlike some of the ground branches who get posts where they end up doing a job thats relevant, theres not really much chance of it on a harrier squadron.
The mess will seem very quiet compared to what you are used to as there are onlg abou 20 livers-in, but there is always someone in the bar from 9-ish if you wish to partake.
The advantage you have over non-aircrew is that you have an aircrew med-cat which means that if the T10 becomes available at short notice, its a lot easier for you to get the back seat trip.However you will have to fight with the 2 other guys holding on 4 atm.
If you want any more info, let me know.
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Cottesmore
Thanks for your replies guys. Yeah, I heard there are not many livers-in there which will be a change to Cranditz but hey. One thing I would like to know is whether 1 Sqn is close to the main base or whether you need a car to get to the Sqn (ie around the perry track??)
Other than that it seems as though most people are confirming my hunches. Will be looking to do stuff around the sqn but will ultimately end up wanting to get out and do some AT of some form.
Woo Woo
Other than that it seems as though most people are confirming my hunches. Will be looking to do stuff around the sqn but will ultimately end up wanting to get out and do some AT of some form.
Woo Woo
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It's a very compact site - if you live in the mess you can walk everywhere with ease. It's further from the dining room to the mess west exit than it is from the west exit to the ops briefing room! There is nothing on the far side of the airfield connected with the Sqns. So no, you don't need a car - unless, of course, you want a social life off the station!
If you're working with Harrier mates, you'll need to get used to the following:
1. De-briefs in the showers
2. Warm slices of quiche for lunch
3. Warm glass of milk before an early night
4. Any wives at the bar telling you what their husband does
5. A mirror in the cockpit to check appearance
1. De-briefs in the showers
2. Warm slices of quiche for lunch
3. Warm glass of milk before an early night
4. Any wives at the bar telling you what their husband does
5. A mirror in the cockpit to check appearance
