Trustees and members from FAST (Farnborough Air Sciences Trust) museum opened their doors to the Cadets from 413 Aldershot Sqn ATC on Monday 28th September.

After having the obligatory and non optional group photograph taken against the back drop of a Jaguar T2 aircraft they moved inside to see the ‘Cody replica’.  The Cody aeroplanes full title is ‘the British Army Aeroplane number 1A, no RAF in those early days!.  It was the first powered aircraft to fly in the UK on October 16th 1908 and it made that first historic flight just a short distance away from where the museum building is situated.  Mr Cody built and flew the aircraft while working for the Army in Aldershot just a short distance away.  He was employed by the Army as there head kite and balloon instructor.  The aircraft measures in at a massive 52 foot wing span.  Far bigger the Grob Tutor we usually fly in!

The Museum building also dates from 1908 and was built as the headquarters of the Royal Balloon School when that moved from Aldershot.  They clearly chose a good spot to make that first flight from, there are runways there now and we call it Farnborough airfield.  Aircraft have been flying there continuous for 101 years and one of the world’s biggest business air shows takes place there every other year.

In the Museum the cadets also saw photographs and exhibits from the early years of aviation and important pieces of aviation history, like Sir Frank Whittle's earliest jet engines and research models of Concorde. They watched a demonstration of a working wind tunnel and the trustees were on hand to answer difficult questions.  A big queue formed at the flight simulator exhibit where various enemy aircraft were finally despatched after much computer ammunition was wasted on wild misses.

The Trustees passed round a questionnaire for the cadets to rack their brains with.  There were many gloomy looks and claims of ‘I wasn’t trying’ when the winner of the questionnaire was announced – Cadet Rakesh Gurung who only joined a few weeks before the visit.  He may not know much about the ATC yet but he sure does know a lot about the early years of aviation! 

With many thanks to Brian and Ken at FAST Farnborough.  Thank you for an excellent visit.