First Time Flyers

On the 19th April, 3 cadets from 361 squadron experienced their first flight in a Grob Tutor T1 training aircraft with 11 Air Experience Flight at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire.

Cadets Jubb, Jackson and Wilcox all had the opportunity to take control of the aircraft in the air and were presented with First Flight Certificates to mark the occasion.

Recent Presentations

Recently four cadets from 361 (Gateshead) Squadron received a variety of awards.

From left to right: Flt Sgt McPake was presented with a St John Ambulance Activity First Aid Certificate which allows him to teach other cadets up to Youth First Aid level. Cdts Istrat and Ruddick were both awarded their First Class Cadet badges and Cpl Fletcher was promoted to Sergeant.

Lord Lieutentant's Presentations

Ten cadets from Durham/Northumberland Wing were recently presented with BTEC Diplomas by Mrs S Winfield, the Lord Lieutenant of Tyne & Wear in a formal ceremony held at HMS Calliope on Gateshead Quayside.

Amongst these recipients was Flt Sgt Owen McPake from 361 squadron (pictured third from the right) who was presented with with his BTEC in Music for Practical Performance which is one of three BTECs available to members of the RAF Air Cadets.

New First Class Cadets

Last night, eight cadets from 361 squadron completed their basic training and were presented with First Class Cadet badges to mark this stage of their progression in the RAF Air Cadets syllabus.

Pictured (in no particular order) are Cadets Wilson, Starling, Jackson, Adamus, Wilcox, Jubb and the Atkinson twins with their newly presented badges.

Air Cadet National Concert Band

Recently Corporal Sam Dawson from 361 Squadron attended the Air Cadet Organisation National Concert Band Camp at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell.
This camp is attended by selected cadets from all around the UK, most of whom had never played together before, and after a week of intense rehearsals the camp culminated in a final concert in Whittle Hall at Cranwell.

Cpl Dawson who is also a member of the 361 squadron band and the Durham/Northumberland Wing band (which won the ACO National Marching Band competition in 2016) is this week attending another band camp with the Air Cadet North Region Band making it a full house having played in the Squadron, Wing, Region and Corps bands!

2017 Wing Cross-Country Competition

Last Sunday 361 squadron took part in the Durham/Northumberland Wing Inter-Squadron Cross-Country Competition at the Rising Sun Country Park in Wallsend. Unfortunately the park did not live up to it's name as the sun remained hidden and the weather was wet, cold and miserable throughout the day.

Nevertheless our team, consisting of Cadets Atkinson and Hunter as well as Corporals Mos, Frazer-Denham, Kulik, and Craig, battled through the mud and finished the course successfully and the photo shows them at the end of the competition.

Well done to them all!

Air Experience Flying at RAF Leeming

On Friday, 10th February four cadets from 361 (Gateshead) Squadron went flying with No. 11 Air Experience Flight at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire.

Cadets Jack Fisher, Ryan Jackson and Alesha Ruddick all experienced their first flight in Grob Tutor T1 aircraft whilst cadet Akeesha Adamus had her second flight.