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21st May 2005

Open Day 2005

Despite prolonged heavy rain, the 134 (Bedford) Squadron, 2005 Open Day has been deemed a total success.

Guests were greeted and given a brief introduction of by members of the squadron before being taken on a tour of the grounds and building. The guided tour followed a set route and took in activities and displays demonstrating what the Air Cadets has to offer the next generation.

First port of call was the SWAT range, SWAT stands for Shoulder launched, Water based, Anti Tank system and was built for a training exercise in 2003, however it has proved to be a very popular activity with the squadron members and the public ever since.

Next the visitors were shown the different ways in which we use shelter to sleep outside, ranging from Duke of Edinburgh expedition tents, through 12 x 12 military tents to bashers, ponchos and a parachute tepee. Corporal Scully then introduced some useful knots and lashing scenarios and how to use rope to your advantage.

Then our guests were shown into a large tent which contained a set depicting a night time escape and evasion type exercise, the display included a multi media briefing for an exercise simulating a downed pilot behind enemy lines. The briefing was followed by a slide show with pictures depicting some of the ‘green' activities that our cadets get involved in.

Outside visitors were shown a rope bridge in action with demonstrations being given on crossing the rope and also sending equipment and stretchers across using a running pulley. Adjacent to the rope bridge were the two squadron soap box racing cars. The complete car built by the staff for the 2004 Red Bull race was accompanied by the Tornado themed racer being constructed by cadets for the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing competition which is due to take place later this year.

Inside the squadron building displays giving detailed information on flying, sports, shooting and the academic syllabus gave potential recruits a further flavour of what they could expect by joining the squadron. The tour finished in the squadron cinema with a presentation of the six and a half minute squadron recruitment video (also available to download on this website by clicking here).

The squadron staff were extremely impressed with both the effort put in by the current cadets to display their squadron at its best and also by the level of interest shown by the visitors. If you missed the open day but are interested in joining please click the link below to contacts us.

Interested in joining? Click here to contact us.