New Squadron Adventure Training Equipment

Members of 361 (Gateshead) Squadron with the recently acquired Adventure Training equipment which will allow cadets from the squadron to participate in Expedition section of the Duke of Edinburgh Award over the coming months.

The three tents, six rucksacks and roll mats were purchased with the help of a grant of £1000 from the Viscount Ridley North of England Cadet Forces Trust which is administered by the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for the North of England to whom we are extremely grateful.

New 361 Squadron Instructor Cadets

Cpl Callum Tearney, Sgt Jack Dawson and Cpl Luke Craig with their recently awarded Instructor Cadet Certificates and Lanyards. 

These are awarded after successful completion of a Method of Instruction course and a presentation demonstrating their instruction skills to Sqn Ldr Chris Miller, the Durham / Northumberland Wing Training Officer and qualifies them to instruct cadets at the squadron.

New 361 (Gateshead) Squadron Badge

Time for a change...

After many years of having a Bulldog on our squadron badge the time has come to introduce a new emblem which is more appropriate to our location in Gateshead.

Our new badge incorporates the Angel of the North- the massive iconic sculpture by Anthony Gormley which is seen by many thousands of motorists as they approach Gateshead from the South and a new squadron motto "Aspire & Achieve" which encompasses what the Air Cadet Organisation is all about.

The Angel of the North also has wings, which is more relevant to an organisation which aims to get its members flying. (Although we all hope that the Angel of the North itself remains firmly rooted to the ground...)

Recent Flyers

After a number of cancellations earlier this year due to poor weather, twelve cadets from 361 (Gateshead) Squadron have been flying with 11 AEF (Air Experience Flight) at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire.

Flying took place on four different days in the last three weeks and cadets included a number of first time flyers as well as more experienced members of the squadron who experienced the thrill of aerobatics including loops, barrel rolls and stall turns. 

All cadets had the opportunity of taking control of the aircraft in the air to learn about the effects of the controls.

We've done it again!

At the recent Durham/Northumberland Wing Competitions Day, 361 squadron won the Banner Drill Competition for the fifth year in a row. (That is every year since Banner Drill was added as a competition in the Wing.)

The winning team consisted of Sgt Jack Dawson, Sgt Owen McPake, Cpl Ryan Vasey, Cdt William Fletcher and Cdt Sam Dawson who put on an excellent display of precision banner drill.