Giant Experience for 13 ATC Cadets

Cadets and Staff from the Sqn have visited Royal Air Force Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, the largest base in the RAF.

RAF Brize Norton employs over 4,000 people and is home to the 30 large aircraft of the RAF's strategic air transport and air-to-air refueling forces. It is the main station for deploying UK Military passengers and cargo worldwide, particularity to Afghanistan.

The Cadets were given a tour around all three of the bases' flying Squadrons and had an opportunity to see the Tri Star, VC10 and C-17 Globemaster aircraft that they operate. During a visit to 99 Squadron they were shown the massive C-17 airlifter by a former Cadet of 13 Squadron, Flight Lieutenant Matthew Leyman. Matt, who left the ATC in 2003 to join the RAF is a pilot flying the Globemaster and took time to show the Cadets the huge aircraft which can transport over 150 troops, outsized loads such as tanks and helicopters, as well as humanitarian cargo. It is also used as a flying hospital to return the injured to the UK and to repatriate the fallen to RAF Lyneham

The Cadets also visited the Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit the tri-service organisation that tests the suitably of all equipment to be carried in, underneath or dropped from the UK forces airplanes and helicopters. They were give a tour which  including a mock up of the new Airbus A400 airlifter, which only flew for the first time in December and will replace the RAF's remaining original Hercules in the next decade and then given a ride in two of the Army's Ridgeback armored vehicle which are currently being deployed in Afghanistan. One Cadet remarked "it was really strange to be shown round a unit on a RAF base by a Navy Officer while watching a demonstration by the Army!"