Sandy cadets get valuable helicopter experience

On arrival the cadets undertook the safety briefing, before being kitted out for their flights. Each of the cadets got to experience a flight which lasted 15 minutes.

Throughout the flight the cadets were connected to the aircraft’s intercom, allowing them the unique opportunity to talk to the aircrew and listen to the crew at work.

During the flight, some of the cadets even had the chance to put on a harness and sit at the edge of the aircraft’s large side door.

After their flights the cadets got the chance to have an up-close look around the aircraft, which next year will go out of service along with the end of RAF search and rescue operations.

Cadet Brandon Beddall, 14, said: “The day was really amazing.

“Not everyone can say they’ve been able to fly in an RAF helicopter.”