Success for Top Flight cadet…

A Bristol teenager & Air Cadet, Flight Sergeant Matilda Parry, has successfully completed the Royal Air Force Air Cadets’ premier Qualified Aerospace Instructors Course (QAIC) and has received the ISS Defence Leadership “Best Student” Award for her course.

Matilda, 19, has already enjoyed 6 years experience as an Air Cadet at 2152 (North Bristol) Squadron in Filton. She has completed a full First Aid qualification, won the Air Cadet national drill team championship, completed solo flights on a gliding scholarship and flown over 8 hours in variety of aircraft.

She was selected for the course because of her interest in instructing younger cadets and, after a period of life and work experience, hopes to follow a career as an aircraft technician in the Royal Air Force.

The course links the principles of flight through wind tunnel experiments, with navigation, flight planning and air traffic control procedures and puts these into practice on the flight simulator at the Air Cadet Regional Aerospace Centre at MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire.

In parallel, Matilda was part of a group of fellow cadets studying leadership, instructional techniques and teamwork leading to a tense but well-rehearsed presentation to senior RAF officers at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, north Yorkshire.

Commenting on her leadership award Matilda says: “I was extremely surprised and happy when I found out as the calibre of QAIC cadets is incredible! I went on the course to improve my self-confidence and perseverance, and it had been a good bridge before starting work and towards my ambition to be a RAF technician.”

QAIC Director at Boscombe Down, Robert Westerberg, said: “This is a top flight course for senior cadets looking ahead to a university or employment application, and perhaps a life with the RAF.”

On successful completion, Matilda and her fellow cadets have earned a Level 2 Award in Team Leading from the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), Royal Aeronautical Society recognition, and have brought the coveted Qualified Aerospace Instructor status back to their squadrons.

Potential adult volunteers and young people aged 12 to 16 wishing to learn more about the Royal Air Force Air Cadets should contact us to find out more.