Excited Omagh air cadets take to glorious skies for first time

Four ambitious air cadets from Omagh have went full throttle and taken gloriously to the skies at their first flying experience at Aldergrove.

Part of the local 72 Squadron, the cadets thoroughly enjoyed both getting to sit with a skilled pilot, and piloting the small single-propeller aircraft. – under supervision – at Aldergrove, outside Belfast, as part of their training syllabus.

One cadet, who joined during the Covid-19 pandemic when cadet activities were restricted, also had the exhilarating chance to nose-dive in her first flight.

Cadet Corporal Hannah Rennie said that she was ‘so excited to get up in the air’.

“I was really tired that morning, but I knew I was going to have an experience like nothing else,” she recounted. “I had my uniform ready from the night before, and we met that morning for our staff to bring us up.

“When we got there, we had to be weighed for getting our parachutes, and then we were briefed on the safety procedures.

“We were seated in a dummy cockpit, and taken through what to do in an emergency; like how to open the canopy, how to use the parachutes and all of the procedures.

“I was so nervous – even though there’s such a low chance of an accident – but I was still really excited to get up in the air.”

However, those anxious feelings would soon turn into adrenaline for Corporal Rennie, who retold the dramatic manoeuvres she got to perform in the cold morning air.

“When we were taxiing on the runway, the pilot was talking to the control tower before taking off,” she recounted. “After we got to the right altitude, he let me take control, and, after some basic skills, he asked if I wanted to do some aerobatics.

“So he showed me how to do a barrel roll, which is doing a 360 degree rotation, and then a nose-drop, where the plane when straight up, then flipped into a nosedive before levelling off,” said Corporal Rennie.

Spins and spectacular views

Having only recently joined the air cadets this year, Cadet Angelina Fazekas was keen to retell her incredible first experience piloting a plane.

“I was really excited for it,” said the brave cadet.

“It was a smaller plane, so I felt safer knowing that very little could happen to it.

“The pilot talked us through what was going to happen, from taxiing the runway to taking off, and maybe doing some spins,” she added. “When we got up, then he allowed me to take control of the plane and do some aerobatics – I absolutely loved it.”

Cadet Fazekas added, “I’m even more excited for the rest of my cadet career now, and I hope that I can go to some summer camps and get more chances to fly in the months ahead!”

Flying officer, Kathy McHugh, an adult volunteer for the air cadets, said she was overjoyed to have been given the opportunity to fly.

“As an adult volunteer, you get the amazing opportunity to avail of the fantastic experiences that the cadets have to offer,” she said. “I never would have thought that I could be able to tell people I’ve not only flown a plane – but I’ve also preformed aerobatics, too.

“To have flown with the cadets at the flying station in Aldergrove was absolutely delightful, and I would 100 per-cent go again.

“I’m so proud to be part of the team at 72 Omagh Squadron,” she continued. “I have been involved in so many unique experiences, and I have met so many people from all different backgrounds.”

The air cadets previously had to travel to England and Scotland to get this once-in-a-lifetime experience, however, in recent years, a new flying station in Aldergrove was established, allowing cadets across the north access to more frequent flying.

The Omagh cadets now get the chance to fly at least twice a year, with priority given to new cadets after enrolment. For potential newcomers between 13-17, or any adults looking to join as staff, please contact adj.72@rafac.mod.gov.uk.