My lad's just joined the ATC
Discussion
He's 13 and getting a bit past Scouts so on Tuesday, we went to a local ATC Squadron with some of his buddies and other dads for a bit of a meet and greet session.
He was a bit sceptical (mention of lessons on ironing uniform triggered a bit of a negative reaction!!!) but decided to give it a go and went for the first time last night. He loved it and I've got to say I'm properly impressed with the whole set up. The stuff they do is incredible and all for a tenner a month. Met two 16 year olds who were about to get their gliders pilots license, a few that had been up in jet fighters, Sea Kings, etc..
Plus, it certainly instils a bit of responsibility beyond what you'd consider the norm these days. There's a lot of scrotes out there that could benefit from the ATC me thinks!
He was a bit sceptical (mention of lessons on ironing uniform triggered a bit of a negative reaction!!!) but decided to give it a go and went for the first time last night. He loved it and I've got to say I'm properly impressed with the whole set up. The stuff they do is incredible and all for a tenner a month. Met two 16 year olds who were about to get their gliders pilots license, a few that had been up in jet fighters, Sea Kings, etc..
Plus, it certainly instils a bit of responsibility beyond what you'd consider the norm these days. There's a lot of scrotes out there that could benefit from the ATC me thinks!
I migrated from scouts to ATC at about that age. Loved it, basically because it got me inside aeroplanes. That said, I've found scout skills 100% more useful in daily life, ie I need to tie knots, pitch tents, and sharpen axes, far more frequently than I need to use a machine gun or fly a glider.
Its a great organisation,I'm a civilian instructor and my 2 youngest sons are cadets,the oldest has just gone solo in a motor glider and got his wings and is currently away at RAF Akrotiri,by all accounts having a great time and is particularly impressed by the unusual aircraft operating out of there!
topsparks said:
Its a great organisation,I'm a civilian instructor and my 2 youngest sons are cadets,the oldest has just gone solo in a motor glider and got his wings and is currently away at RAF Akrotiri,by all accounts having a great time and is particularly impressed by the unusual aircraft operating out of there!
UAVs? 
I was in the Air Cadets, a brilliant organisation.
Night Excersises, map reading, basic aeronautics, DofE, camping, woodcraft, discipline, marching, aircraft recognition.
I improved my marksmanship skills, flew backseat in a chipmunk with stick time on many occasions and several trips in operational aircraft. Learnt to canoe to a very good standard. Went on a lot of summer camps on RAF bases seeing how the RAF operated, a weeks trip to RAF Gutesloe and trips to RAF Llanbedr on outward bound training.
But most of all it gave me a feeling of confidence and respect.
I have little doubt that if I had not been in the ATC I would have really struggled when passing training in the Royal Marines.
Writing this email has made me wish I was 13 again, what an awesome organisation.
Night Excersises, map reading, basic aeronautics, DofE, camping, woodcraft, discipline, marching, aircraft recognition.
I improved my marksmanship skills, flew backseat in a chipmunk with stick time on many occasions and several trips in operational aircraft. Learnt to canoe to a very good standard. Went on a lot of summer camps on RAF bases seeing how the RAF operated, a weeks trip to RAF Gutesloe and trips to RAF Llanbedr on outward bound training.
But most of all it gave me a feeling of confidence and respect.
I have little doubt that if I had not been in the ATC I would have really struggled when passing training in the Royal Marines.
Writing this email has made me wish I was 13 again, what an awesome organisation.
Ah,the ATC. Fantastic organisation,I joined aged 13 mainly because I could go flying but also because I was going to be joining the RAF post education. It was great,got to fly in all kinds of aircraft,did lots of great outdoor stuff too and it certainly helped me when I started my RAF training. I hope my kids give it try when they are old enough,it would certainly do society a favour if most kids went to one of the cadet organisations.
Simpo Two said:
How does it fit in with the CCF, or not?
CCF is run by schools and staffed by teachers, while ATC will be run by community volunteers and serving staff. So CCF will generally be quite integrated with the school, while ATC operate from their own facilities or perhaps on a base if one's nearby. They all have access to the same resources (kit, camps, experiences etc) as other cadet organisations (ACF / ATC / Sea Cadets etc). Staff are trained the same (RAFVR).
In my time I don't know anyone that got a fast jet passenger ride, but I'd recommend it to everyone of that age. Great fun, and at practically no cost. Plus you learn to iron, polish shoes, and tie a tie, which will be useful in practically any job interview
Edited by essayer on Friday 20th April 19:24
Great stuff, sat on the runway about to take off at Filton in a chipmonk. Pilot to me, how many times you flown in a chipmonk. Me, 5 or 6. Pilot, you have control.....
Not sure what they are like today but aerobatics over the Severn Bridge, loved it. One of the lads got a ride in a lightning trainer when he went on summer camp in Germany. Got rides in dominie around Gibralter, and some pilot decided to do the vomit comet on us in a VC10 somewhere over the UK. Half the plane was seats and the other half them pallet shifting roller balls. No one was sick.
And then there were guns....
Not sure what they are like today but aerobatics over the Severn Bridge, loved it. One of the lads got a ride in a lightning trainer when he went on summer camp in Germany. Got rides in dominie around Gibralter, and some pilot decided to do the vomit comet on us in a VC10 somewhere over the UK. Half the plane was seats and the other half them pallet shifting roller balls. No one was sick.
And then there were guns....
I did it, aged 13-18. Even got to the dizzy height of Flight Sargeant before I buggered off to Uni and subsequently the RAF.
Had loads of fun there and I think it did tailor me for life in the RAF and the militaristic life I lead. Did lots of marksmanship shoot comps using the .22 rifle and air experience flights in chipmunk, bulldog and valiant (about 40hrs total.
Had loads of fun there and I think it did tailor me for life in the RAF and the militaristic life I lead. Did lots of marksmanship shoot comps using the .22 rifle and air experience flights in chipmunk, bulldog and valiant (about 40hrs total.
He'll love it, I joined up at 13 flew in all sorts of aircraft which created a love of aviation I have to this day.
First flight in 1987 in the humble old Chipmunk..'jump John, jump!' for anyone who remembers the safety briefing! Now fly air cadets in Tutors for fun at weekends, at the same air experience flight I flew with in 1987.
If your son goes Tutor flying and the pilot asks him what he wants to do, ask for his full aero sequence ;-)
First flight in 1987 in the humble old Chipmunk..'jump John, jump!' for anyone who remembers the safety briefing! Now fly air cadets in Tutors for fun at weekends, at the same air experience flight I flew with in 1987.
If your son goes Tutor flying and the pilot asks him what he wants to do, ask for his full aero sequence ;-)
jmorgan said:
Great stuff, sat on the runway about to take off at Filton in a chipmonk. Pilot to me, how many times you flown in a chipmonk. Me, 5 or 6. Pilot, you have control.....
Not sure what they are like today but aerobatics over the Severn Bridge, loved it. One of the lads got a ride in a lightning trainer when he went on summer camp in Germany. Got rides in dominie around Gibralter, and some pilot decided to do the vomit comet on us in a VC10 somewhere over the UK. Half the plane was seats and the other half them pallet shifting roller balls. No one was sick.
And then there were guns....
Talking of sickness, a couple of friends of mine used to be in the atc, used to have a little trick where they would gross out the junior cadets by "puking" into a sick bag that they had already put potato salad in and the proceed to eat it ! Not sure what they are like today but aerobatics over the Severn Bridge, loved it. One of the lads got a ride in a lightning trainer when he went on summer camp in Germany. Got rides in dominie around Gibralter, and some pilot decided to do the vomit comet on us in a VC10 somewhere over the UK. Half the plane was seats and the other half them pallet shifting roller balls. No one was sick.
And then there were guns....
I probably wouldn't be flying aeroplanes for a living if I hadn't joined the ATC when younger. Great opportunities... Pilot training, guns, free trips to the USA, outdoorsy stuff, guns again...
Yes, 'Jump, jump, John!'. 'John' was a flight staff cadet at 6 AEF where the Chipmunk abandonment film was made, and eventually became a Tornado front-seater. His Dad was my pilot-navigation instructor. All those fun hours spent in the back of Mk10 Chipmunks as a lad. I'm lucky enough that I still get to fly one, but from the front seat nowadays.
Used to shoot .303, SLR and 5.56 L98, as well as a bit of small-bore competition stuff. Don't think the scouts do assault rifles...
Yes, 'Jump, jump, John!'. 'John' was a flight staff cadet at 6 AEF where the Chipmunk abandonment film was made, and eventually became a Tornado front-seater. His Dad was my pilot-navigation instructor. All those fun hours spent in the back of Mk10 Chipmunks as a lad. I'm lucky enough that I still get to fly one, but from the front seat nowadays.
Used to shoot .303, SLR and 5.56 L98, as well as a bit of small-bore competition stuff. Don't think the scouts do assault rifles...
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