Flying high
During the summer holiday, Year 13 pupil and CCF RAF cadet, George Williams, took to the skies at every opportunity.
He successfully achieved his first solo flight in a powered aircraft while completing a prestigious RAF flying scholarship at Tayside Aviation in Dundee. Each cadet received up to 12 hours of flying instruction and had to pass their Air Law examination before being cleared to fly alone in a single-engine Grob Heron plane. This is the first step on the way to achieving his Private Pilot’s Licence.
Two weeks later George travelled to Hampshire to undertake a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm gliding scholarship. Participants stayed at HMS Sultan in Gosport and were each provided with 20 aero-tows with the goal of completing a solo flight by the end of the week. George took to the skies alone after eight launches and successfully achieved his solo gliding flight on day three of the course. At the final presentation, he received both the Best Pilot Award and the Best Powered Flying award. As a result George has been invited to attend a two-day powered flying course with the Fleet Air Arm at RNAS Yeovilton in October.
Earlier in the holiday, George completed the demanding Air Cadet Leadership Course at RAF Cranwell. This was a tough week of leadership training, outdoor exercises and intensive drill practice. George was selected to lead his flight for the final day and graduated from the course with merit.
Three other College CCF cadets also enjoyed RAF courses during the summer holiday – Year 13 pupil Bertie Beeching attended the flying scholarship course in Scotland, Year 12 pupil Ed Hodges graduated from the Air Cadet Leadership course at RAF Cranwell and Year 11 pupil Giles Kerr completed a first aid course.
In June 2015 Eastbourne College was awarded Platinum Partner Status in recognition of the high number and excellent quality of candidates from the College who have entered the Royal Air Force over the past five years. The College is one of only 100 educational institutions in London and the South to have received such an award.
