When a light aircraft suffered damage after engine problems, leading to a successful emergency landing which all walked away from, many thought its life was over; not Simon Adams of The Citation Centre based at Bournemouth International Airport. In negotiation with 2515 (Ringwood and Fordingbridge) Air Cadets, he agreed to donate the aircraft to provide a much needed training tool allowing the young people of the squadron to understand and learn about the complex instruments within the cockpit.

B & H Worldwide Sales Director Keith Leonard organised transportation. Sales Manager, Dave Morton-Jones, and Lorry driver, Ashley, worked the weekend and delivered the fuselage free of charge from Kidlington Airport in Oxfordshire to the squadron headquarters at Fordingbridge.

The aircraft will now be modified by the staff and senior cadets at the squadron to provide a valuable learning environment that will give the cadets an understanding of the flying instruments before they have to use them in the air

Cadet Corporal Mark Empson of the squadron, who has been instrumental in the delivery of the aircraft, is keen to demonstrate the facilities available to new recruits including a state of the art flight simulation suite and training facilities.

Squadron Commander, Flight Lieutenant Phillip Giles, was on hand to oversee the delivery and commented that “This is a magnificent gesture by two local businesses in delivering this aircraft to us at no cost which will allow us to step up our training programme. It this just this kind of support that we need from local companies to develop local young people” He also paid tribute to the cadets involved in negotiating the agreement stating that “They have been involved at every stage from initial discussion through to delivery. There are not many squadrons in the U.K with live aircraft to train in and they should be proud of their achievements