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21st Jan 2013

Going Solo MkIII

Cadet FS Ryan Sharples (18 yrs) from 134 (Bedford) Squadron has become the third cadet in the Squadron to successfully achieve solo standard on the Air Cadet Pilot Scheme, a month after the second.

FS Sharples travelled to Tayside Aviation in Dundee, Scotland, over the period prior to Christmas and after New Year and went Solo after some 10 hours dual flying in the Grob 115D Heron Light Aircraft.

A previous recipient of the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators Gliding Scholarship, FS Sharples had also been selected for a place on the International Air Cadet Exchange in 2011 spending some three weeks in the USA. He also took part in the Air Cadet Leadership Scheme taking the Top Student Prize. His prize was a trip to Kenya, spending three weeks assisting in community activities and then taking a week’s holiday. He has now left the Squadron and is reading History at Plymouth University.

Civilian Instructor Vladek Cirin, the Squadron’s Training Officer (Air), said “. It was particularly gratifying that a total of 3 NCOs from the Squadron, FS Sharples, Sgt Nick Every and Sgt Peter Roberts were selected to be awarded Air Cadet Pilot Scheme Scholarships in 2012 These NCOs have shown just what any Air Cadet can achieve in the Corps through a combination of hard work, diligence, enthusiasm and working on behalf of the Squadron and the Corps. I would thoroughly recommend any aviation minded youngster to join the Air Cadets when old enough to do so”