What We Do

Flying & Gliding

The RAFAC is the cadet organisation of the Royal Air Force, so naturally we give our cadets the opportunity to fly in powered aircraft, and take to the skies in gliders. For most people, “flying” means going on holiday; they never take control of an aircraft themselves, cadets at 1409 do just that.

Joining the Air Cadets opens up lots of opportunities, including the chance to fly! It’s our aim to get you airborne as often as possible, as a passenger in a light aircraft, a glider or even on-board RAF aircraft such as our Typhoon fast-jet, a Hercules Transport aircraft or a Chinook helicopter.

Powered Flight

Flying is the most exciting and prestigious of the activities offered by the Air Training Corps, and the activity that sets above all other youth organisations in the country. Your ATC flying career will probably begin in the Grob Tutor at our local Air Experience Flight (No. 11 AEF), which is based at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire. With an Royal Air Force pilot at the controls, you will taxi to the runway and complete a takeoff. The pilot will then head for some clear airspace within the circuit, and you will be introduced to the effects of the controls on the aircraft. Once you know the basics, you will usually have the opportunity to take the controls yourself.

As you become more experienced you will have the opportunity to experience aerobatics: initially you will follow the pilot through on the controls, lightly placing your hands and feet on the control column and rudder pedals to get a feel for the control inputs required to perform the manoeuvre, then you may have the chance to fly the aircraft in an aerobatic manoeuvre yourself, such as a barrel roll, stall turn, or a ‘loop’.

In addition to AEF cadets will have the opportunity to fly in other service aircraft. These flights normally occur during summer camp, but may be arranged locally by squadron commanders and can include flights as a passenger in a fast jet, onboard a tanker aircraft on a refuelling sortie or as a supernumerary crew member on a transport aircraft or helicopter. It is not uncommon for cadets to get an overseas visit as part of an opportunity flight.

Gliding

Imagine floating along thermal air currents with just the sound of wind rushing past your aircraft. You’re over 2,000ft in the air and you have the controls of an 8 metre long aircraft in your hands. It’s a buzz, and one of the biggest reasons our cadets join up.

The aircraft we use allow your first steps to flying to be totally exhilarating. They’re an integral part of the cadet experience, designed to get you trained, confident and ready for solo flying. If you have a talent for flying we’ll spot it.

Your gliding experience kicks off at a Volunteer Gliding Squadron (VGS) on our Part Task Trainers. These are full simulators to give you an idea of the basics of flying. Once you’ve completed this you’ll get a chance to go up in a glider. Alongside a VGS Pilot, you will take to the skies in the Viking T1 trainer aircraft. Since a glider is not powered, you will either be ‘winch launched’, where a cable which runs the length of the runway will accelerate you faster than a Ferrari, into the air, or you will be towed behind a powered aircraft. Your focus, along with others from the squadron will be to complete the Gliding Induction Course (GIC).

Designed to give you a taste for Air Cadet Gliding, the GIC consists of three levels of instruction. On your first visit you’ll be taught the GIC 1. Later visits will cover GIC 2 and 3. In these levels you’ll learn all about aerodynamics and controlling the aircraft, first in a classroom, then taking control and practicing what you’ve learned in the air. After you completed each course, you’ll be awarded your gliding wings!