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RAF Section

The CCF(RAF), along with the Air Training Corps (ATC), forms the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC), better known as the Air Cadets.  The CCF(RAF) is the Air Cadets section of the Combined Cadet Force. There are around 200 RAF Sections with approximately 10,000 cadets and 540 adult volunteers. The CCF(RAF) aims to offer an exciting and challenging cadet experience, based around aviation, cyber, engineering, flying & STEM to inspire young people to learn and develop new skills.

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The RAFAC’s aims are to:

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  • Promote and encourage a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force among young people

  • Provide training which will be useful in the Services and civilian life

  • Encourage the spirit of adventure and develop qualities of leadership and good citizenship

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Membership of the CCF(RAF) is exciting, rewarding and above all fun. You'll discover skills you never knew you had, do things and visit places you never thought you would, and meet lots of like-minded people who will become your team-mates and friends.

 

You’ll also have the opportunity to challenge yourself with adventurous training, be selected to represent your country or school on the International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE) programme, or develop your potential on the Air Cadet Leadership Course (ACLC). You can really shine as a cadet.

 

Every year the CCF(RAF) provides cadets with approximately 36 flying scholarships, with every cadet having the opportunity to have at least one flying lesson with a qualified RAF pilot.

Some of the key CCF activities such as first aid, navigation, leadership and drill will be undertaken by cadets from all sections of the CCF. However, each service will also have specialist activities.

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Flying

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It’s our aim to get you airborne as often as possible, as a passenger in a light aircraft, a glider or even on-board RAF aircraft such as our Typhoon fast-jet or a Chinook helicopter.

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Every Air Cadet gets the opportunity to have a flight each year with the Air Experience Flight (AEF). You'll join a long list of cadets going back over 50 years – including royalty - who have benefited from this fantastic experience. The first AEFs were formed in 1958 and flew the classic DeHavilland Chipmunk which served faithfully for almost 40 years until it was replaced by the Scottish Aviation Bulldog.

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Recently, it's the Grob Tutor that has become the aircraft of choice. It has great visibility from its large canopy and is agile enough to allow it to perform full aerobatics. You'll soon feel right at home in the Tutor and hungry for more flight time.

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Prove that you have the aptitude for flying and you could bag yourself a prestigious flying scholarship. There are several scholarships available to Air Cadets each year. These are sponsored by the Royal Aero Club, the Air League Educational Trust, the RAF Charitable Trust, the Geoffrey DeHaviland Foundation, Babcock Defence Services, the RAF Association and the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators.

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For many cadets these courses are the stepping stone to their PPL - Private Pilots’ Licence - and potentially a career as a pilot with the RAF, the Royal Navy, Army or commercial airlines.

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Some Cadets achieve their PPLs before they even get their driving licence, so the sky really is the limit!

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Air Squadron Trophy

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Each year the CCF(RAF) Section compete in the Air Squadron Trophy, where a team of Cadets from across the year groups compete against other CCF(RAF) section in a military skills competition.

The competition consists of two parts; Regionals at RAF Cosford and Nationals at RAF Halton. The top 3 placed teams at Regionals advance to the National event.

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Teams are scored for competency in Leadership, Drill and Uniform, Shooting, First Aid, RAF Knowledge and Air Recognition.

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We are very proud to say that 2022's team placed third at Regionals and will we are excited to see how they do at the National event in Spring 2023.

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