Cadets are regularly offered opportunities to fly in a variety of aircraft from light civilian aeroplanes to helicopters and fast jets. There are many courses that they can undertake to increase their  experience and develop their skills. Here are some of the flying that the ACO offers.

Air Experience Flights:

Air Cadets have the opportunity to fly with Royal Air Force pilots in the Tutor aircraft. Flying takes place at No. 3 AEF at Colerne where cadets are shown how the aircraft flies and given the chance to control the aeroplane, experience aerobatics or simply admire the view.

Flying Scholarships:

Cadets can win a Flying Scholarship either through the RAF, the RAFA or other organisations such as the Air League. They receive 20 hours flying enabling them to work towards gaining a Private Pilot's Licence (PPL).  

Air Navigation Scholarships:

The Pilot Navigation Scheme allows cadets to attend a two week pilot navigation course and have 8 hours flying learning new skills and developing existing ones.

Opportunity Flights:

Apart from the AEF flying, some Cadets also get the opportunity of flying in a variety of other RAF aircraft. Some lucky individuals are even put forward for flights in 'fast jets'. During their 'careers' many Air Cadets will have flown in a variety of Service aeroplanes and helicopters and it is not unusual for some of these flights to include trips overseas. Most of these flights take place during Annual Camps when Cadets visit an RAF Station.

Flying at 2442 Sqn:

The squadron has four fully qualified pilots and the unique situation of adopting their own De Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk, an ex-RAF basic training aircraft. The Chipmunk is currently based at Oaksey Park, south Gloucester and all our cadets gain the opportunity to fly it. The DHC-1 Chipmunk was the first aircraft designed by De Havilland's Canadian subsidiary and evolved as a successor to the legendary D.H.82 Tiger Moth, of which a special version had been built in Canada. The type was designed as a primary trainer and despite its low performance and fixed tail wheel landing gear, the DHC-1 was thoroughly a modern type with an enclosed cockpit, a stressed-skin construction of light alloy, a low-set wing with trailing-edge flaps, and the attractive lines highlighted by the typical De Havilland tail unit. The first example flew in May 1946 with a 108-kW (145-hp) Gipsy Major 1C inline engine. The Royal Air Force Favoured its fully aerobatic form and this resulted in the British manufacture of 1,014 Chipmunks, of which 735 Gipsy Major 8-powered examples went to the RAF as Chipmunk T.MK 10. In service, it was used by all 17 UAS (University Air Squadrons) and many RAFVR (RAF Volunteer Reserve) flying units.