September Training Programme

See below links for the September

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Lots happening this month....keep a look out for sign-up sheets at the Squadron.

OPEN EVENING

On Wed 7th September, 84 (Coventry Airport) will open the doors for any interested new recruits to come have a look around and find out what we get up to.

If you are aged between 12yrs and in year 8 (or starting year 8 this time around) and 17yrs this is the time to join the Air Training Corps.

Our next intake will start the following week on Wed 14th September. 

Open Evening starts at 1930hrs and will finish approx 2100hrs. Check out the Contact Us page for directions. You will be directed where to park when you arrive.

Please bring with a parent / guardian with you.

If you've been before and want to start in the intake this September we should already have your details and you'll receive an email soon to confirm your place.

If you don't quite meet the age range, please do come along as we hold regular intakes throughout the year so we can keep your details on file for when you get to the right age.

84 Squadron in the Spectator Seats

On Saturday 13 August a contingent from 84 (Coventry Airport) Squadron travelled to Royal Air Force College Cranwell for the 75^th Anniversary Flagship Celebration organised to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the Air Training Corps. They were treated to an afternoon of aerial displays and picnics before an evening concert of drill displays, musical performances and fantastic fireworks.

Cadet Sergeants Lauren Coker and Phoebe Jenner, Cadet Hiran Patel and Mrs Jenner, parent and Civilian Committee member were lucky enough to get prestigious tickets and set off to represent 84 Squadron on the Warwickshire and Birmingham Coach. During the afternoon there were many photo opportunities with a range of VIPs and display teams including Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty and Honorary Group Captain Carol Vorderman, both of whom mingled with visitors and happily posed for selfies with cadets!

During the formal parade, an impressive continuity drill sequence was performed by cadets who had attended a week long ceremonial drill camp. Afterwards, a Spitfire and Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – both of which are as old as the Air Training Corps! – flew over the college, interrupting the address by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, with the roar of their engines.

Later on in the programme, the RAF Falcons dropped in with a fantastic parachute display, bringing the ATC torch with them. They stayed around for some time after they landed, and the cadets managed to take selfies with most of the Falcons, as well as a group photo with the full Falcon team. The final aerial display was by The Red Arrows who flew back and forth for several minutes demonstrating their different manoeuvres with great skill.

Throughout the afternoon and evening live music was provided by the National Marching Band, the National Corps of Pipes and Drums, the National Fanfare Team, various Cadet Ensembles, the National Concert Band and the National Choir. The standard of their playing and singing was amazing – who knew that there was so much musical talent in the ATC! One of the most memorable performances was Squadron Leader Nick Sermon belting out Robbie Williams’ ‘Let Me Entertain You’ backed by the National Choir – once seen, never forgotten!

The evening was rounded off by a fabulous fireworks finale with RAF College Cranwell as the perfect backdrop for the event. Another long and tiring adventure for 84 Squadron but many memories and a huge sense of pride to be part of the extra special celebrations.

Check out the Squadron Facebook Page for full photographs.

Written by Mrs Jessica Jenner, Civilian Committee Member.

A Busy 24 Hours of Torch Relay for 84 Squadron

On Sunday 7^th August, Warwickshire and Birmingham Wing hosted the Air Training Corps' 75^th Anniversary Torch as part of the UK-wide relay involving every unit in the organisation. 84 (Coventry Airport) Squadron were involved throughout the entire 24 hour period supporting the route through the Wing on foot and even in the air!

The Torch was formally presented at midday to Warwickshire & Birmingham at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire where it was paraded with all the other Wing banners for the handover of the torch from the Wales & West Region to our Central & East Region. The torch then spent the afternoon in Birmingham City Centre where the local squadrons had organised a Climbing Tower, Music Displays and the chance to sit in a Scale Model of a Spitfire. Then it was Coventry’s turn.

Cdt Sgt Jenner and Instructor Richard Pedley

Cadet Sergeant Phoebe Jenner from 84 Squadron had the privilege of flying the torch into Coventry Airport from Birmingham International Airport as part of her Private Pilots Licence. She set off from Coventry in the 2 seater Cessna late afternoon and amazingly managed to negotiate the much bigger aircraft at Birmingham even sharing the runway with a RAF Airbus A330 Voyager which was still taking off as she landed! Sgt Jenner flew a miniature version of the torch back to Coventry with ease alongside her instructor Richard Pedley from Almat Aviation and landed perfectly to greet a crowd of cadets from local squadrons and the Lord Mayor. Sgt Jenner remarked that “it was quite daunting flying into Birmingham but I am so proud to have been allowed to do this and contribute such an important aviation element to the torch relay”.

84 Squadron with Coventry Lord Mayor Lindsley Harvard

Safely landed, the torch spent time at 84 (Coventry Airport) Squadron in the sunshine where cadets had the opportunity to take photos with the torch and with Lord Mayor Lindsley Harvard who chatted with cadets and staff before heading off into the city centre for the next leg of the journey.

Cadet Corporal Jake Garrett had the privilege of traveling with the torch accompanied by the Lord Mayor in COV 1, the official chauffeur driven car for the Lord Mayor.

At Coventry Cathedral, Cadet Corporal Dylan Chauhan met the torch with the 84 Squadron banner to witness the handover to 8F (Wyken), 163 (Coventry Phoenix) and 2286 (Arden) Squadrons. Further along the route at the War Memorial Park it was back to Sergeant Jenner to take up the banner and parade along with the four Coventry Squadrons as the torch made its way through the park whilst Corporals Garrett and Chauhan did a quick change into walking gear so they could join a small group of cadets walking the torch from Coventry to Kenilworth, to portray the Air Training Corps' involvement in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. Finally, at 2200 hours, the torch was handed to the Kenilworth squadron in the eerie darkness of Kenilworth Castle.

Squadron Banners at Kenilworth

The torch was up early on the Monday morning and visited Warwick Castle, Shakespeare’s birthplace and Stratford city centre before making its way to Wellesbourne airfield where the remaining county squadrons paraded with it and the historic Vulcan bomber. 84 Squadron’s involvement finished when Sergeant Jenner joined the other Wing banners at Bruntingthorpe airfield where the torch was handed over to the next Wing. A truly busy 24 hours!

For full photographs, check out the Squadron Facebook Page.

Written by: Flying Officer Rosie Robinson RAFVR(T) and Mrs Jessica Jenner, Civilian Committee Secretary and Parent.