Cadet Naval Aviation Course

The newly named Cadet Naval Aviation Course got underway over the Easter holidays with 19 cadets attending. It is also the first time the course had been opened up to students from both the CCF and VCC. The instructers were pleased to welcome former Sea King Observer Lt Cdr (CCF)Trevor Buckley RNR to the team as the navigation instructor for the course. Three hard days of ground school at SCTC Weymouth covered a variety of subjects that included principles of flight, human factors, air law and meteorology before the cadets went on to the second phase of the course with 727 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton for air experience flights in the squadrons Grob 115. Unfortunately the first day had to be cancelled due to heavy rain so a visit was arranged to the Fleet Air Arm museum which went down well with the students. The following days saw perfect weather and the squadrons Operations Officer Lt Jon Duke RN and the pilots had their work cut out getting the students airborne. Unfortunately time ran out by midday Friday and as trains had to be caught and a few students missed out. However, they have all been offered the chance to return and complete their flights with the squadron later this year. After sitting a final ground school examination all students were pleased to find out they had passed the basic course and were presented with their 'Bronze Wings' by Cadet Naval Aviation Course Commanding Officer Lt (SCC) Marc Pether RNR during several breaks in the flying program. Top student this year was Cadet Ben Jordan whose hard work during the week paid off when he was presented with the Daedalus Trophy and a Sekonda pilots watch kindly donated by Time Products UK plus various other prizes kindly donated by course sponsors.