MEF Flying Day Sat 17 Feb 24

As a service club our aim is to get young ground-based service personnel in training at RAF Cosford and RAF Shawbury into the air and, if it sparks their interest, to get them to solo level. The MEF gliding scholarship gets them into the air – see our blog at https://www.rafshawburygc.co.uk/blog/z046a1b81gyeb4id9f4jd3mdv9rd5y - and the RAFGSA “Go-solo” scheme, a fully funded Junior Rank/JNCO gliding scholarship takes them on to achieve their first solo flight. 

It is a highly successful programme that saw, amongst a number of solos last year, Connor sent solo by instructor Geoff Matthews in May 23.  Subsequently, Connor has funded his own flying and just been selected to fly with the RAFGSA Exped to Sisteron in the French Alps in Apr/May 24.  Well done indeed Connor.

Today, with a fast-approaching front, there was just time to get all our MEF students into the air before light drizzle and a 900ft cloud base brought an end to flying at 13:00.  With this short window in mind, just the 2-seaters were taken out on to the airfield.

All got 2 flights in during this short period……

……and there was just time to take in some of the views around Shawbury.

When they weren’t in the air, we had plenty of people-power on the ground to move aircraft

In the air, Harry demonstrates that the aircraft is properly trimmed 😎

Another weather interrupted flying day but thanks to our great bunch of MEF students for taking it all in their stride.  See you all in two weeks’ time.

Finally, and whilst all this flying stuff was going on, Andy was in the club house sweating over his Bronze Exam.  Well done Andy on achieving a pass.