| Last October, 5 cadets from 57 ATC became the
first cadets to fly in the RAF's newest aeroplane. The Potters Bar cadets
flew for an hour in a C-130J Hercules C4 from RAF Lyneham.
Cdt Sarah Greenwood and Cpl Dan Quinn airborne in the new Hercules. The aircraft was flown by a crew from 57 Squadron RAF and it was a trip that had been offered to them nearly a year before. Various problems had prevented the cadets from being able to take up the offer earlier, (in the meantime becoming the first non-RAF personnel to fly the "J" simulator) but they were at last able to accept 57's hospitality. |
The weather was not perfect but all cadets got a chance to see one of the new Herc's important features, the fully electronic flight deck at first hand because at least 3 cadets were on the flight deck at any one time. Also ably demonstrated was the high rate of acceleration given to the new aircraft by its more powerful engines and 6 bladed propellers.