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THE SALAMANDER | DECEMBER 2017
The Air Cadet Organisation
(ACO) has officially changed
its name to the RoyalAir Force
Air Cadets (RAFAC). Another
change is the use of electronic
media - 2433 Squadron now
have a busy Facebook page
and Twitter feed.
Significant
changes have also occurred in
aviation training within the ATC.
Non-powered flying i.e. gliding,
had been “paused” for some
4 years meaning that most
currently serving Air Cadets will
never have been airborne in a
glider. However, airframes are
now returning to service. There
have also been challenges in
powered flying as a shortage
of pilots and air traffic control
have also reduced the amount
of hours on offer. Hopefully this
will also be rectified soon to
allowmore cadets to experience
powered flying.
To alleviate some of these
shortfalls, 2433 Squadron
embarked upon an ambitious
plan to build a Flight Simulator
called a Part Task Trainer
(PTT) in our training centre.
Beginning with donated and old
equip-ment, staff and cadets
began to convert three rooms
of the training centre into an
aviation training suite. Initially a
single room was converted into
a training room with a number
of terminals allowing cadets to
learn the basic techniques. This
also saw the cadets take their
first steps towards creating air
traffic control, giving them a full
range of training options.
It was at this point that the
Worshipful
Company
of
Firefighters came to our aid
with a generous donation from
the Charitable Trust. This
donation allowed the purchase
of everything from a computer
to drive the main training room,
through flat screen TVs and a
lectern for the briefing room.
Finally, painting, power, cabling
and all the accessories were
connected.
The practical construction of
the facility was carried out by
both staff and cadets as part of
the overall pro-ject, everyone
getting their hands dirty painting,
sawing and generally getting
stuck-in. Although progress-
ing well, the cadets and staff
received a bit of a shock when
they were informed that 2433
Squadron had been nominated
as the top Squadron in Kent as
part of the annual Morris Trophy
competition for 2017. By the time
of the first inspection however,
the PTT was up and running.
We were all extremely pleased
to be confirmed as top sqn out
of over 160, and nominated
as finalist for the region in the
national competition, where
the Inspecting Officers were
extremely impressed by the
PTT and the team who built it.
2433 squadron were particularly
pleased to be supported by the
presence of members of the
Worshipful Company of Fire-
fighters during each visit. We
were placed in the top three
nationally (out of nearly 1000),
an achievement of which we
are very proud.
The thanks of all ranks at 2433
(Ramsgate and Manston)
Squadron go to the Worshipful
Company of Firefighters for
their ongoing support and we
look forward to working with
the Company for many years to
come.
A 2433 Squadron cadet using the new Part Task Training (Flight Simulator)
G R E Hobbs-East
Flight Lieutenant MBIFM RAFVR(T)
Officer Commanding
No. 2433 (Ramsgate & Manston) Squadron