Air Cadets fly in BBMF Chipmunks

Header image: Air Cadets of the Battle of Britain Mini Flight pose for a group photo after their Chipmunk flights, with the BBMF pilots who flew them and the two BBMF Chipmunks behind them. (Photo: BBMF)

The BBMF has a long-standing relationship with the Battle of Britain Mini Flight from the Scotland and Northern Ireland Region Air Cadets. The Mini Flight builds, maintains and displays radio-controlled model aircraft, and has supported and fund-raised for the RAF BBMF over many years.

The air cadets often help out in the setting up of the annual Members’ Day, and also present their model aircraft in a static display in the hangar.

The Mini Flight air cadets were at RAF Coningsby again this year to support Members’ Day. On Friday 29th September, to thank them for all their hard work, the 12 air cadets were each given the chance to have an air experience flight in the BBMF DH Chipmunks, WG486 and WK518, with one of the BBMF fighter pilots flying them, a very special treat.

The DH Chipmunk was used to provide air experience flying for RAF Air Cadets from 1958 to 1996 and many ex-cadets (like the editor) will have had the experience of flying in the back seat of one as an air cadet. The Chipmunks were replaced on the Air Experience Flights by the Bulldog in the mid-1990s and from 1999 by the Grob Tutor T1. The BBMF Chipmunks are the last of the type in RAF service. It is therefore many years since air cadets routinely flew air experience flights in Chippies, making this a special day all round.