AIR Cadets from Whitchurch can now take to the skies over north Shropshire – all courtesy of a new flight simulator.

Whitchurch town mayor Councillor Andy Hall joined with cadets from 79 Squadron last week to formally unveil the new simulator and even got to ‘fly’ over north Shropshire himself.

He was joined by the squadron’s commanding officer Flight Lieutenant Mark Goddard and members of the Whitchurch Armed Forces Veterans Club, without who the project would not have been delivered.

OTHER NEWS:

Flt Lt Goddard said he was delighted that the project was able to be delivered and thanked all those who ensured it would.

“On the evening of October 24, after nearly a year of hard effort and planning, our Aircraft Flight Simulator was unveiled formally during a visit to our squadron by Cllr Hall, mayor of Whitchurch,” he said.

“The simulator started as a concept idea by me, an ex-RAF engineering officer, and has then become a joint community effort between the squadron, its civilian welfare committee and other community projects within the town.

“This include Men in Sheds, led by Alan Eadie who built the structure and Jay Taylor of Taylor Soft Computers who built the PC – all members of the Whitchurch Armed Forces Veterans Club along with me.

“Using monies bequeathed to the squadron from the Lions Club, the simulator has top-level computing power and cutting-edge software and hardware to make the cadet experience second to none.

“With the squadron staff qualified to train cadets up to their pre-qualification level leading up to their Blue Flying Training Qualification standard, we intend to pre-qualify all cadets from our squadron plus many more from neighbouring ones within our sector.

“Thereafter, the development of future Mavericks is unending.”

Cllr Hall was able to enjoy the work for himself but also stayed to talk to cadets about how their experiences of being in the squadron have been and caught up with what work it had been carrying out.

Get in touch

Share your views on this story by sending a letter to the editor. To get in touch email news@whitchurchherald.co.uk, or fill in the form on this section of our website.

Flt Lt Goddard continued: “Having 'flown' over north Shropshire for a period of time, the mayor then had the opportunity to meet up with the cadets who explained their recent experiences.

“[They had been] on the squadron wing’s week-long Windermere Adventure Training Camp in Windermere in the Lake District.

“As well as the Wing and Regional Athletics competitions at RAF Cosford and their training on the squadron on their Essential First Aid assessments.”