BY INSTRUCTOR CDT FS SAMUEL JAMES
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“Sorry Mum but you can’t beat this years’ Christmas present!” These words coming from Cadet Abigail Cox (13) after enjoying an exhilarating thirty minute flight in a Sea King search and rescue helicopter. Cdt Cox joined eleven other cadets along with two staff members for the flight of their lives.
The day began with an early morning start, meeting at the squadron for a two hour trip to Wattisham Airfield. The twelve cadets and two staff members, who were split into two groups, were then briefed and kitted out with their helmets by staff from 22 Squadron.
Once the crew had received their flying brief, the first group was ready to take off and head for the skies. For the majority of the flight, the side cabin door was left open providing fantastic views of the local countryside. Cadets even had the chance to sit on the floor with their legs hanging out of the aircraft – strapped to a harness of course! Cpl Daisy Buck (15) said: “This experience completely blew me away!” Some cadets were also lucky to visit the cockpit during the sortie and to talk to the pilots.
Cadet Charlotte Hunt (15) explained: “The whole thing was amazing from beginning to end, from take-off to touchdown. The word ‘epic’ was used too many times to remember – I think it might become our new squadron motto!”
One of the staff members supervising the cadets, CI Luarina Nash commented: “It’s amazing what fantastic opportunities are available to 1066 cadets. It’s one of the best experiences of my life and I shall never forget it!”
Commanding Officer of 1066, Flt Lt Erica Vey, who organised the trip explained: “This opportunity was an amazing one for all of us and we are so grateful to the personnel at Wattisham for hosting our visit. Having the door open during the sortie and being able to sit with our legs outside of the aircraft during the flight was a superb experience and I know that we will never forget it.”
Four cadets and a staff member from 1066 (Hitchin) Squadron experienced a taste of the high life, with a flight in a BAe 146 airc
raft on Monday, 24 November.
It was a very early start for the group with an 0730hrs arrival at the departure lounge. On the road at 0545 hrs, 1066 Commanding Officer, Flt Lt Erica Vey, I/Flt Sgt Lewis Stockwell, Cpl Matthew Woodward and Cdts Hope Wagstaffe and Holly Somerville survived the motorway traffic to arrive at the departure lounge with 15 minutes to spare!
Seven other Air Cadets from as far afield as Wales joined the 1066 group for a briefing on the aircraft and busy day that lay ahead. The flying commenced just before 0900 hrs and the gro
up returned to RAF Northolt at gone 1600 hrs. The flight saw the aircraft stop at various places including Liverpool, Plymouth, London City and Guernsey.
The cadets enjoyed exploring the aircraft and sitting in the very seat The Queen uses on the aircraft. A hot meal was also kindly provided by the crew. After a long but exciting day, the cadets returned to their squadron for a regular parade night.Cadet Holly Somerville (15) added: “It was an amazing opportunity – not very many people can say that they have flown with The Royal Squadron.”
BY FLT LT ERICA VEY
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Sgt Benjamen Reed (16) of 1066 (Hitchin) Squadron is celebrating after he gained his solo gliding scholarship wings on Sunday 14th September.
Sgt Reed completed a residential course at 616 Volunteer Gliding Squadron at RAF Henlow, but bad weather prevented him from flying solo at the end of his course.
He was invited back two weeks later to undergo an assessment and was then allowed to complete a solo flight.The gliding scholarship provided Sgt Reed with over ten hours of tuition before he went solo. A written exam was also passed.
Sgt Reed who has been a member of 1066 Squadron since 2004 and hopes to be a pilot in the Royal Air Force said ‘My time with 616 VGS has been absolutely terrific. My solo flight was something I will never forget and it has been my best activity undertaken with the Corps to date. Knowing that you are being trusted with the aircraft is quite daunting at first but at the same time it is a great honour. Given the opportunity, I think every cadet should complete a gliding scholarship, it is great fun.’
BY FLT LT ERICA VEY
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Friday 18th April 2008 was a busy night for 1066 (Hitchin) Squadron. It was its annual awards evening which provides the cadets, staff, committee members, family and friends the opportunity to look back on achievements over the past year by the squadron and individual cadets. 2007 saw 1066 being crowned as best squadron in Herts & Bucks Wing, winners of the Wing aviation day competition and April 2008 saw the squadron representing the Wing as the Lee’s trophy inspection nomination.
The reviewing Officer for the awards evening was the Squadron’s President Air Vice-Marshal Alan Merriman. Wing Commander David Henson was also in attendance. Upon AVM Merriman’s arrival at the squadron he inspected all of the cadets on parade escorted by Flt Sgt Lewis Stockwell (17) and Sqn Ldr Paul Mimpress, WSO for the squadron who was also presenting the evening. This was on behalf of 1066 Sqn Commanding Officer Flt Lt Erica Vey who is recovering from her third lot of surgery this week following her injury at annual camp. The inspection was followed by a march past and band display led by Drum Major Flt Sgt Lewis Stockwell (17).
A review of the past year presented by Sqn Ldr Mimpress followed and also a short talk by Martin Vey, Treasurer of the Civilian Committee and Flt Sgt Stockwell spoke about the band. Refreshments were then provided by the Civilian Committee and this gave parents and family the opportunity to look at the static displays produced by the cadets.
Wing Commander Henson then presented a host of certificates including eight wing blues, seven examination certificates, three bronze and two silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, one Air Cadet Pilot Scheme certificate to Sgt Emilie Pearson (17) and seven bronze National Navigation Awards. Sgt Samuel James (17) was awarded a Diana Award for his hard work and effort at the squadron above and beyond that expected of a cadet.
Annual awards were presented by AVM Merriman. The Warrant Officer’s Award for highest uniform inspection scores for the year went to Cdt Oliver Martin (15), The High Flyer Award for examination results was awarded to Sgt Michael Page (17) who achieved the equivalent of six GCSE A*-C grade with the squadron during the last year. Cdt Charlotte Hunt (14) was presented with the Freddy Petch Endeavour Shield. The Erica Vey Award for the cadet(s) that helps others to further achieve went to Sgt Samuel James (17).
The Marksmanship Award was presented to Cpl Matthew Woodward (15) for the highest shooting scores over the past year. The Cadet of the Year award based on monthly scores went to Cdt Emiko Kemp (14). The highest points for sporting event attendance, medals and wing blues for the title of Sports Cadet of the Year was awarded to Cpl Mariko Kemp (16). Best NCO of the year was presented to Sgt Benjamen Reed (16). Flt Sgt Lewis Stockwell (17) was awarded the Merriman Cup for Commitment. Commanding Officer’s Commendations were awarded to Flt Sgt Lewis Stockwell (17), Cdt Meredith Orman-Brown (16) and Cdt Daisy Buck (14).
When Cdt Tom Young died in 2000 his parents donated a trophy in his memory. The trophy is awarded annually to the most improved cadet of the year. This year it was presented to Cdt Henry Wisdom (15).
Flt Lt Tony Farrell RAFVR(T) Retd, Chairman of the Civilian Committee sadly died in April 2007 after a short illness. His family have kindly presented an annual award in Tony’s memory. The award is the Tony Farrell Musician of the Year award. Tony originally set up the band in the 1980s and assisted Flt Lt Erica Vey to re-form it again in 2005 when she took command of the squadron. The first presentation of the special award went to Cdt Gary Pestell (15) who in the past year has worked extremely hard during practices, parades and competitions. He plays bugle in the 1066 band and trombone in the Wing band.
BY CDT CPL EMILIE PEARSON
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On 8th of August 2007 Cpl Emilie Pearson of 1066 (Hitchin) Squadron went solo in a Cessna 152 on her ACPS Light Aircraft Course at Tayside Aviation in Dundee.
‘When I found out I’d been awarded a light aircraft scholarship, I could not believe it. I was both excited and nervous. On the 30th of July I travelled up to Dundee ready to start the course the following day. On arrival at the hotel I met two other people who were on my course as well as those cadets that had started their course the previous week. From what they said, we were in for two tough yet exciting weeks.
The following day a welcome brief was delivered and we were told that unfortunately, due to a hectic flying programme caused by a visit from the Central Flying School we would not be able to start flying that day. However, we were shown how to do a ‘walk around’ the aircraft, a check that must be done by the pilot before each sortie to ensure the aircraft is serviceable and ready for flight.
Luckily the next day the flying programme was less busy and I was introduced to my instructor and the first lesson consisted of learning the effects of the controls. At first the Cessna seemed quite difficult to fly compared to the Grob Vigilant I had flown during my Gliding Scholarship, mainly due to the fact that the control column in a Cessna is like a little steering wheel instead of a joystick, but as time progressed I got used to it.
During the first week of the course, most of the sorties were spent learning the basics, e.g. climbing, descending, turning, etc. but towards the end of the week, we moved onto circuits. To start with, flying a circuit seemed impossible. Remembering all the checks, radio calls, noise abatements turns, etc, whilst trying to fly the aircraft safely seemed like an unachievable goal. After another couple of sorties in the circuit it got easier and soon I was flying the whole circuit by myself. I was close to going solo but there was one thing I had to do before I could do this – pass my first solo exam. I passed the exam and the following day had the opportunity to ‘go solo’.
Before going solo my instructor and I set off to fly in the circuit to do some ‘pre solo checks’. This basically meant I had to prove I could fly a complete circuit with no help and also that I could deal with any emergencies that could occur during flight. After flying three circuits by myself and being tested on emergencies, my instructor said I was ready to do my first solo. I taxied to the apron to drop him off so he could go into the Air Traffic Control tower. I was then left by myself to do a first solo circuit. I thought before that I would have been nervous about doing a solo circuit but when I actually did it, I was not nervous at all.
When you are left by yourself you obviously have to do everything in the aircraft and so you do not really have time to think about being nervous or worried. Apart from the circuit being quite busy, meaning I was held at the holding point to the runway for a while, no problems occurred during my flight and I landed safely and taxied back to the flying club with a big smile on my face.
The course was fantastic and I would love the chance to do it again. I now have twelve hours towards a PPL, something that I am very proud of. The course is a great experience and definitely the best thing I have ever and probably will ever do in the ATC.’
BY CDT FS CHRISTOPHER MOORE
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As a reward for being awarded ‘Best Squadron NCO’ for 2006, Flt Sgt Christopher Moore (17) of 1066 (Hitchin) Squadron recently got the opportunity of a flight in a hawk aircraft.
‘On Tuesday 21st August I travelled to Boscombe Down. Several hours were spent being shown my kit and the pilot took me down to the aircraft and explained what I would be during the flight the following day. The equipment included a flying suit, flying jacket, helmet with oxygen mask and G-trousers.
These trousers were particularly interesting as during the flight they inflate when the aircraft pulls ‘G’ to move the blood from your legs to your head to prevent you passing out. The only trouble was trying to find some to fit me!
A quick medical on the morning of the flight included a hearing and eyesight test. Afterwards, I was taken over to the building where I put on my equipment. It was then time for a briefing by my pilot who explained full details of the sortie. 
Following that we walked out to the aircraft, strapped in and took off! The flight lasted just over one hour during which we flew a pre-planned route and carried out a mock bombing run on a building at a very low level. After this the aircraft climbed and I then had the opportunity to help fly the aircraft.
Flying in a Hawk aircraft was very different to any other flying experiences I have had. Mainly this was because of the aircraft’s speed, its complexities and the fact that the seating is tandem style which meant I had to do a lot more for myself.
It was really interesting to get a close look at this complex aircraft and the flight was a fantastic experience. My thanks go to my pilot and all the staff at Boscombe Down for their assistance during my two day stay. Also, to Flt Lt Tony Cunningham of 2F (Watford) Sqn and fellow cadet Cdt Sgt Lewis Stockwell for accompanying me and to my Commanding Officer Flt Lt Erica Vey for securing the flight for me’.