The Shuttleworth Collection
On the weekend of 2nd of September 2017, cadets from 2524 Oakington Squadron ATC, along with nearly 80 other Air Cadets from around the Wing, deployed to The Shuttleworth Collection in Old Warden for a weekend of aviation focused activities.
Keen to make the most of the weekend, the 2524 Cadets were the first to arrive on Saturday morning and soon set about erecting their camp.
Once camp was set up, the cadets were split into flights and set off to undertake a range of exciting activities focused on engineering and aviation. The activities included constructing catapults against the clock to launch eggs over the greatest distance, the construction and launch of aerodynamic “rocket” darts, aero-modelling, and guided tours of the aircraft and the engineering workshops.
During the day some 2524 Cadets were lucky enough to help return a Hurricane to it’s hanger. Flight Sergeant Margetts said “It was a fantastic opportunity to get up close to one of the most iconic planes of World War Two!”
Cadet Edgar said of the day: “It was a great day which really helped me connect to the Air Training Corps values, and I made a few friends in the process.”
Sunday was all about aircraft. The cadets all had plenty of time to view the aircraft both on land and in the skies during the airshow.
As well as the aircraft, vintage vehicles, workshops and mechanics were all around the site during the day, and as Cadet Thurston puts it: “There was so much to do, and all of it was really fun!”
All of the Oakington Cadets had an excellent weekend and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and it helped both raise the profile of the air cadets in the public eye and the cadets’ knowledge of the aircraft.
