I did a few Easter courses in the late 60s and it always amused me that the quality of cadets on those courses differed from the usual weekend types. Presumably this was because they were largely public school students and you could guarantee that one or two would be impossible, blaming the instructors for their shortcomings. The others were usually brilliant. On one course we had the charming son of the current CAS and the other cadets were trying to persuade him to get his dad to order Boscombe Down to stop messing us about with ridiculous height restrictions.

Air Cadets UNGROUNDED
 

THe 615 facebook site states flying all week, so looks like a mini course which is great news for 615 and Kenley. An Easter and Summer course was always the norm with up to 20 Cadets per time and about 9 days of flying per course. Usually fairly local units so no issues completing the training if the weather intervened. Much more simple then with the fretwork fighters and fast trailer retrieves back to the launch point. NAFFI pies and late evening cable repairs using headlights so ready for early start the next day. If we were really late the winches and caravan were 'laagered up' on the peri track near the Wattendon arms and went back to the Belfast much later.

More Tutor troubles.

From the RAF Tutor display team Facebook:

In my opinion they should never have selected the Tutor in the first place; it had to be 'modded' to make it suitable for the RAF tasks whereas the Firefly was available off the shelf.
I presume they are just used for UAS and AEF training nowadays with the Prefect II (the 'original' Prefect being an Air Cadet glider) replacing the Tutor for BFTS.

Latterly Easter and Summer courses were drawn from all parts of the country, when I did an Admin Officers role at 637 (Little Rissington) in 1991, I was collecting cadets from the local railway station at Moreton in Marsh coming in on several different trains although any shortages were often offered to local gliding schools and earlier at 613 (Halton) in the mid/late '60s they came from all parts.
NAFFI pies?
The NAAFI wagon did attend at Halton but only to the hangars during morning and afternoon breaks; as we were out on the airfield they never came near us although on one occasion, we did a special presentation one evening at which the NAAFI wagon attended. I stood waiting in line with the others and as the SWO approached, the NAAFI girl said to him ''you can f***ing sod off, I'm not bl00dy serving you'.
Never did figure out what brought that on.

We had a NAAFI shop and a NAAFI 'Club' at Kenley but no wagon. The Austin would be despatched to collect these delicacies which looked like a toy Tortoise (similar taste). However to a lonely winch driver waiting for signals they filled the gap until the Airman's mess was open.
Just one of those 'magic' experiences for a young Cadet let loose on 'equipment' that provided the means for other Cadets to achieve their A&B at a former Battle of Britain airfield within sight of our Capital.
The Hurricanes were long gone, but the spirit is still there. Long live 615

Navy Army and Air Force Institute.
I believe SPAR later took over the organisation.
As for the pies, I remember Freddie Frinton doing a sketch on TV (1960s or '70s so nobody else will remember) . In his usual 'drunk' persona, he bought a tortoise and returned later in the sketch to ask for another saying 'best pork pies I ever tasted.!!

VIGILANTS
Photo on Flyer Forums showing a huge pile of Vigilants in pieces.
I'm guessing it was taken at Kemble judging by the '747s parked next to them.
I thought the intention was to re-furbish the Vigis and re-sell them so more MOD money wasted.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....47f78719a.jpeg

Add to that the fact that 621 and 637 VGSs will very shortly cease to exist....621 was the longest serving school at one location until it was booted off the airfield at WSM in 1993, starting as 87GS in 1943. They went on to Hullavington and currently reside at Little Riss...

You'll never guess in a million years the reason they will disappear:mad: unless you're in the know...

Answers on a postcard:eek:

Not sure I see the problem. No difference between these and other front line aircraft.:E

Venture Adventure
 

They will now be 'Working from Home' to save fuel and keep the accident level down, and be carbon neutral. Sorry news but then what do you expect when the main organisation has no leadership. It is ten years since the infamous Easter pause and sadly that was the indication of what was to come. Easter courses were the real start of the season and saw hundreds of Cadet A&B polished off in a week and another batch of enthusiastic youngsters set off on life's Venture Adventure. My Goodness what idiots we had that chucked it away (full time paid Idiots) they really could not cope with all that VOLUNTEER capability and lack of B...S..... What they could not do was erase the memory of a fine basic Training organisation that was World Class and British.

https://forum.aircadetcentral.net/t/...h-spiral/10489

It’s not looking good for the organisation is it.
Apparently, the commandant, (Tony Keeling) has declared that any activity is to be zero risk or its being binned. Classroom activities are the safe way forward!

Sky Sports,
I just could not believe, or comprehend, that statement allegedly made by the Commandant. ...and as for classroom activities not being dangerous........

Whilst I'm sad I'm no longer part of such a brilliant group of people, I'm glad I don't have to swallow stuff like this.

From Little Acorns
 

Classrooms 'What Classrooms', My classroom was doing cable repairs (using Landrover headlights) at the end of a days FLYING, and ensuring everything was ok for the next day. The pay off came at the end of the week when 20 CCF Cadets paraded in front of our CO (they were some smart the CCF Cadets and even wore white spats !!) and presented him with a thank you token of appreciation for getting them all off solo despite the weather. The 'grunts' (Staff Cadets) were pleased to see them do ok, and that was our reward (plus a few NAFFI pies). It was all about great leadership and mega teamwork, plus a large dose of 'observed responsibility' that set us up for the future. Twenty plus years earlier there had been occasions when Cadets of the time had 'trolly- acked' Hurricanes and Spitfires off into action when needed, so is was some act to follow, although we did manage to find some Lloyd Loom chairs for down on the winches.

One of the biggest problems the organisation has at the moment is the mass exodus of staff.

Oh my God a spelling error
 

Well It was 61 years ago Chev, but I still remember to tap alongside the altimeter and not to stretch a glide, plus still have all my fingers left even after years of chopping cables (Imagine that today). I think the basic HAS design came from an inverted NAAFI pie (apple flavour),and used the same mixture. I see Kenley operated a 5 day course despite the weather this Easter well done to them.

Can you elaborate on this, because it’s my understanding that they have just had some accommodation built to accommodate cadets on overnight stays?

Link to the statement? Or Policy? Or proof?

13 year old son is debating Air Cadets or Army and sadly I know which way I am leaning.