CCF Cadets on Cloud Nine

The Air Experience Flight (AEF) day was simply amazing – there’s no other way to describe it. The ability to go and have such an experience is great. The day had a distinct structure – firstly, after we arrived at RAF Benson (the base we had the AEF at), we were issued clothing, flight suits. We then went over to a common room, in which we went through drills, involving abandoning the aircraft. After being individually tested, everyone had some spare time before the RAF pilots were ready to fly us cadets. Soon, the pilots were ready to begin, and so we went back to the kit room to receive flight helmets and parachutes. A small wait ensured, in which a queue of people next to fly was established. Eventually, my turn came, and I was escorted to the aircraft, a Grob Tutor. The feeling accompanying lifting off the ground was ecstatic. The cloud level unfortunately forced us to fly lower than usual, but despite this, the cadets still all had a chance to fly the aircraft themselves for a few minutes, these minutes being the best in my opinion. We also got the chance to experience the effects of a few G. Eventually, my turn was over, and so we landed back at RAF Benson. Finally, we took off our kit, and prepared for the return journey. The trip as a whole was spectacular, and I would happily do it a hundred times over. 

Michael N (Third Year)