Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 26, 2019 11:12:09 GMT 12
The other night I was thinking about how the Air Training Corps was set up in WWII with the main aim to prepare teenaged boys for service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force when they turned 18. This still continues today of course with the ATC still in existence, which is great. The thought occurred to me, how about a similar group that gives young people the knowledge and practical experience to lead into the world of flying, rebuilding and maintaining warbird and classic aeroplanes rather than the Air Force?
Warbird Cadets
I am thinking a group of young boys and girls, say 13-20 years old, who have regular parades with lectures on principles of flying, navigation, meteorology, good airmanship, engineering, using a radio in the air, history, research, aviation law and regulations, and other such classroom work. You could cover the range of engineering skills from engines to avionics to safety equipment to upholstery to painting, etc.
And of course flying - Taildragger flying lessons with classic and warbird pilots. Advanced warbird/classic flying. Aerobatics. Display Flying. It could all be covered over time, even if as introductory courses that are designed to lead to more.
Plus hands-on practical skills working on restoration projects with actual restorers in a similar way to how the schools that build homebuild aeroplanes do it. Static restorations could be done, maybe even flying restorations. And the maintenance and practical care of both flying and static warbird/classic aircraft in collections.
Also the chance to meet and interact with veterans, work on the flightline at airshows and other events, perhaps group modelling builds to help build up their practical skills and their knowledge of history. And cadets could be set research projects and have to present their findings to the group to build their research and presentation skills.
Maybe their own special uniform or badge could be developed to distinguish them as a special group that stands out from the crowd. But it would not have to be in opposition to what the ATC already does, I am sure young people could be members of both and the meetings and projects could be designed so as not to clash. I reckon a lot of ATC cadets would be keen to be involved in Warbird Cadets too.
There would not have to be any parade drill and that sort of thing that other cadet groups do, this would be more a social development group that provides awesome skills and experiences to the younger community, whilst also providing the warbird and classic community with a stream of enthusiastic, keen and knowledgeable youngsters coming through.
Once you got it going, it would be self-perpetuating as older more experienced cadets could pass on their knowledge to younger ones, just as happens in the three military cadet organisations.
I know there are similar things happening already on perhaps a smaller scale and much less formally at Ardmore already but I think this could be developed into an actual group that could be taken nationwide. I can see Warbird Cadet groups being established at Ardmore, Omaka, Masterton, Tauranga, Christchurch, Ashburton and any other aviation hub where there is already an established warbird or classic industry. All it would take is for the existing warbird owners, pilots, maintainers, restorers, museum staff and others in the industry to lend their support and time to get it established. And perhaps some sponsorship and government backing.
What do you all think? Is the a feasible idea? And would it benefit the warbird industry, museums, airshows, and the wider aviation industry down the track? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Warbird Cadets
I am thinking a group of young boys and girls, say 13-20 years old, who have regular parades with lectures on principles of flying, navigation, meteorology, good airmanship, engineering, using a radio in the air, history, research, aviation law and regulations, and other such classroom work. You could cover the range of engineering skills from engines to avionics to safety equipment to upholstery to painting, etc.
And of course flying - Taildragger flying lessons with classic and warbird pilots. Advanced warbird/classic flying. Aerobatics. Display Flying. It could all be covered over time, even if as introductory courses that are designed to lead to more.
Plus hands-on practical skills working on restoration projects with actual restorers in a similar way to how the schools that build homebuild aeroplanes do it. Static restorations could be done, maybe even flying restorations. And the maintenance and practical care of both flying and static warbird/classic aircraft in collections.
Also the chance to meet and interact with veterans, work on the flightline at airshows and other events, perhaps group modelling builds to help build up their practical skills and their knowledge of history. And cadets could be set research projects and have to present their findings to the group to build their research and presentation skills.
Maybe their own special uniform or badge could be developed to distinguish them as a special group that stands out from the crowd. But it would not have to be in opposition to what the ATC already does, I am sure young people could be members of both and the meetings and projects could be designed so as not to clash. I reckon a lot of ATC cadets would be keen to be involved in Warbird Cadets too.
There would not have to be any parade drill and that sort of thing that other cadet groups do, this would be more a social development group that provides awesome skills and experiences to the younger community, whilst also providing the warbird and classic community with a stream of enthusiastic, keen and knowledgeable youngsters coming through.
Once you got it going, it would be self-perpetuating as older more experienced cadets could pass on their knowledge to younger ones, just as happens in the three military cadet organisations.
I know there are similar things happening already on perhaps a smaller scale and much less formally at Ardmore already but I think this could be developed into an actual group that could be taken nationwide. I can see Warbird Cadet groups being established at Ardmore, Omaka, Masterton, Tauranga, Christchurch, Ashburton and any other aviation hub where there is already an established warbird or classic industry. All it would take is for the existing warbird owners, pilots, maintainers, restorers, museum staff and others in the industry to lend their support and time to get it established. And perhaps some sponsorship and government backing.
What do you all think? Is the a feasible idea? And would it benefit the warbird industry, museums, airshows, and the wider aviation industry down the track? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
