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Back in the early 80's while I was in the Air Training Corps I'd go flying as often as possible. In this picture, me and two fellow cadets (from 2473 Sqn ATC) are waiting for an air experience flight in a Chipmunk at RAF Abingdon. I was a Flight Sergeant at this stage and also doing my glider pilot training, gaining my solo glider pilot wings shortly after this powered flight.

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In this picture a cadet deposits the contents of his stomach, secured in a bag into a bin. The bag was filled due to aerobatic manoeuvres which disagreed with the greasy food the cadet had eaten for lunch

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We went on regular camping trips, here somewhere in Wales, Crickhowell or Llangattock I think

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The Brecon Beacons and The Black Mountains were our regular haunts, not far from Hereford

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Annual Camp, I went on this every year, so about 8 of them, it was a long time ago and I do not remember which one this was

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Annual Camp, at RAF Locking

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My first light aicraft flying experiences were gained with the Air Training Corps. I took this shot at RAF Abingdon as a cadet waddled out to a waiting Chipmunk for an air experience flight (the emergency use parachutes made walking very difficult). If he was lucky he would have done some aerobatics while airborne. In the background you can see some VC-10s awaiting their tanker conversion. The RAF had just acquired these aircraft from British Airways

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An early glider a Kirkby Kadet, open canopy, wind in your face, real gliding, I gained my wings in one of these. Later these were replaced by modern ASK21s

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If in doubt, build a tripod! We did a lot of fieldcraft training, survival etc and always, I mean always you would have to build a tripod. This one was for practice only (no river to cross)

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1985 and we, 2473, for the first time, won the Middlesex Wing Drill Competition held at RAF Uxbridge, I was right marker, a proud moment for all of us. We repeated this the following year

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EDS Phase 2

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EDS Phase 2

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EDS Phase 2 in the EDS Harrow offices at Queens House West, Greenhill Way, Harrow, MIDDLESEX HA1 1GR

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EDS Phase 2

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EDS Phase 2

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First and foremost, my finger is not on the trigger, but along the side just as it should be. Camp Two I think, 2 weeks at Catterick training area, serious training now. An oppo took this while we were having a quiet moment on patrol. Actually there was a Scorpion CRV (light tank) from the opposing side a couple of hundred yards away looking for enemy patrols so we were keeping our heads down - but we were still cool enough to pose for a picture

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We had regular kit inspections, everything had to be in tip-top condition and placed exactly in the correct position on the bed - very sensible as it allowed simple and efficient examination of the equipment.

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We went on regular camping trips, here somewhere in Wales, Crickhowell or Llangattock I think

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The Brecon Beacons and The Black Mountains were our regular haunts, not far from Hereford