Giving something back

In August this year (2012) I will be doing a sponsored skydive to raise money for RAFA to give a little back as I benefited so much from the trip to RAF Akrotiri in 2011. If you wish to donate or just see how I'm getting on please feel free to visit the site below:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Hannahskydive

Thank-you.

A huge thank you!!

Well, I can honestly say the past week has been one I won't be forgetting anytime soon! Three years ago when I was enrolled as a member of the Air Training Corps I never would have thought that I would ever have the chance to fly out to Cyprus, meet the Red Arrows and do all the incredible things that I've done this past week. I am truly grateful to all the people that helped organise the camp and who made it as good as it was. I would like to thank Flight Lieutenant Etheridge, Wing Commander Molloy and Group Captain Middleton for supporting my application for the trip. Also I would like to say thank you to all the cadets and staff who went on the trip. And last but by no means least, I would like to say a huge thank you to RAFA for giving me and the other nine cadets the opportunity to go on the once in a life time trip to RAF Akrotiri.
I would thouroughly reccomend the experience to any one who has the oportunity to go. For any more information please visit the RAFA website:

http://www.rafa.org.uk/


                                    Thank you RAFA!

RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. 28th March-1st April 2011

Time to fly home

We woke up this morning really really tired and after breakfast we finished packing and returned the sofa to the front room. We gave it a quick clean and then said a sad bye to the place we had called home for the past week.

 



Clare doing a little bit of last minute packing






We then packed all our bags onto the mini bus and set off for Larnaca airport. On the way there we stopped off at another landmark.

 

 The girls and our Red Arrows bears :)

Some flowers

We then got to the airport and checked in. After walking around for a while and buying a few last minute souvenirs we all sat down for a last game of cards before boarding the plane. The meal wasn't as good as it was on the flight out but I didn't mind too much because I wasn't really that hungry.

We landed at Manchester airport four hours and thirty five minutes later. We all collected our bags and then it was time for the hardest part of the trip, the goodbye. I never thought that we would have become so close over just a few days but after taking the incredible journey togeather we really had become close. I admitt that I did cry when we where saying bye but we've all said that we will have to meet up sometime in the future and we are all going to keep in contact. I went to cadets that night and they seemed interested in what i'd done. I also got my Senior classification certificate so it was a good night. The perfect end to an amazing week!

A last hug before we left

Our last full day

After breakfast we all hopped onto the mini bus and headed for the Army base. We where a bit early so we decided to take a detour an go and see a famous landmark called 'Aphrodite rock'. What a beautiful place.

 

After taking more photo's we got back onto the mini bus and headed to the Army base. When we arrived we where still a bit early so we all sat out in the sun for a while until the instructor came. We then went into the room that contains the DCCT simulator. The Dismounted Close Combat trainer. This is a shooting range with the weapons but they are not actually armed. The screens on either side of the room simulate real life situatuations. This is useful for their training. After spending a while with the simulator we went to the mess and had a lovely lunch and then returned to the simulator for a while. We then had a photo with some of the people on the base for Blackpool sqn.

On our way back to the base we stopped off at some more Greek ruins. Tha stadium was huge!

 

A poppy growing in the ruins

We returned to our accomadation for a change of clothes and we headed for the beach. We went to one a bit closer to the base this time so it didn't take to long to get there. We played a bit of vollyball and then sunbathed after a little paddle in the sea :)

 

We then went back to get ready to go out for a meal at 'Chris's Kibabs'. We where told that it was a six course meal and there would be a lot of food, and there was! It was really nice to chill out with everyone after a long week and the food was really good.

Back at the room and it's time to start packing. We've got most things sorted tonight so we don't have to rush in the morning which is good. I can't believe it's our last night :'( I'm looking forward to seeing my mum and my bed but I'm really going to miss everyone and the lovely sun. A few games of card and a good girlie chat to finish off a good night.

Meeting the Reds :D

Up early again to go and see the RAF Police Dog section. The dog handlers showed us around the kennels and then we went into the field to watch a demonstration of how the dog would 'attack' the enemy. I got bitten to death by mosquitoes in the field but it was really good to watch the dog do it's job.

    

After saying bye to the dogs and the handlers we set off in the mini bus to the end of the runway. We all were excited but we got more excited when we saw all the Hawks parked up perfectly in a row. We did a FOD (Foreign object damage) check then walked to where the Hawks where. The first thing I thought was that they are huge! Then I thought oh my gosh! I'm touching the Red Arrows! It all felt so surreal. After getting a few photo's with the beautiful red machines it was time to meet the legends themselves. We sat in their flight brief and I have to be honest I hadn't got a clue about most of what they where saying but I was too excited about being there to mind that I had no clue what was being said.

Me just chilling on the side of a hawk, like you do

I'm small but this just makes me look like a doll!

Me & Charlie

We then went up to the cliff to watch the Reds on their last practice of the day. They incredibly practice the sequence three times a day, five days a week! And we all had the privilege to watch them this close. We went up with the Red arrows commentator. He often goes up with the team to take photo's and also to help the team improve. After watching the mind blowing display this close up you can fully appreciate the pure skill that each pilot and engineer has to keep the display at the standard that it is.













Red Arrows

After they finished we made our way back down towards the runway where they where taxiing in. We met the pilots as they got out of their planes. It still all felt surreal. We had a group photo with them all and then as we where walking back for them to have their debrief I looked around and saw the legend herself! Flt Lt Kirsty Moore is the first female pilot to fly as a member of the Red Arrows and she is my absolute idol! Me and Clare went up to her and the first thing I said was ma'am I'm so jealous! Because I am, but I also told her that she is my idol and she is where i want to be in twenty years time. She really is a celebrity in my eyes and meeting her was a dream come true! She is an absolutely lovely person and she was an pleasure to talk to. I wish I could have spent more time with her but she had to go and join the others for the debrief.

I took a photo of the Red Arrow pilots after the flight. I think this photo is rather good, it looks professional :)



The girls with Flt Lt Kirsty Moore

We then followed the pilots back to their debrief room and sat in for a while. Again, I didn't really understand what they where saying but I still enjoyed being there.

We then returned to our accommodation and changed into civilian clothes to go for tea. After tea we went down to the on base bowling complex and had a few games. It was good to chill out after a long day and have a laugh with everyone. When we got back to our room we all ironed our uniform for the following day, got ourselves sorted and contacted home. My mum was really excited to hear about what I'd been doing and U was excited to tell her. We all had a few games or cards then went finally went to sleep.

First full day on the base

Early start today, had to be outside for half seven in Wedgwood's. We went to the mess for a lovely breakfast of sausage, toast and bacon, then we had a group photo outside.

We then met the Station Commander, Group Captain John Bessell, and had a photo with him infront of the Lightening. We then made our way to the USAF part of the base to see the U2 spy plane. Unfortunately we were'nt allowed to take photo's of the plane which is understandable. It is an incredible plane and it's amazing to watch it take off. Something not a lot of people can say they have seen.

                                             

Now time for a change of clothes and a trip to Curium beach. A favourite amoung the locals. We sunbathed for a while and had another group photo.

After spending a few hours at the beach we stopped off at some Greek ruins, had a walk around and took more photo's. 



Y.M.C.A

When we got back to the base we got changed and went to visit number one overseas squadron. This is a cadets squadron for the childeren living on the base that want to be a part of the ATC. It was good to see how their squadron works and see the differences and the similarities between my squadron.After having tea we went and played some pool.

 We decided to move the sofa out of our room and onto the landing to make more room for us. After about fifteen minuetes of struggling we managed to get it through the door and after sorting out the room we ironed our uniform and settled in bed for another early start.



Todays the day!

Good Morning :) I'm really really excited now! I do have to go into school this morning to hand in some course work because I'll be away for the deadline.

On route to Manchester Airport and I'm filled with excitement. I absolutely love flying so I'm really looking forward to the four and a half hour flight to Larnaca Airport. We're flying with Cyprus Airways on flight CY359.

We arrived at Manchester a bit early so decided to have a drink at 'The Airport' pub at the the end of the runway where you can watch planes land and takeoff. After watching an Airbus A380 land, we made our way to Terminal One departures check in. This is where I met the staff. They are all absolutely lovely and I really appreciate all their input in the organisation of the trip.

After all the cadets arrived and we'd all checked in our luggage we introduced ourselves. I already knew Jonny because he was on camp with me at RAF Leuchars in 2010 and I had spoke to Fran on Facebook. We all then made our way through to the departure lounge and had a wander around the shops before meeting at the terminal to board the plane.

I was sat with Charlie and Luke on the plane and over the flight we got to know each other. For the inflight meal we had lasagne with profitor rolls as desert, yum my favourite.

We arrived at Larnica 11:15 local time. We then loaded our luggage into a mini bus and set of to the base. On the way there Luke did a quiz which broke the ice and we had a good laugh.

Finally we arrived at our accomadation near the base hospital. We got an appartment to stay in with one bedroom, which the staff stayed in, a little kitchen, bathroom and front room. We were all given camp beds to sleep on so we set them up and settled down for the night because it was nearly half two in the morning, local time and we have a big day planned tomorrow.