1166 (Welwyn Garden City) Sqn
1166 Squadron Air Training Corps is based at Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire.
It is a local unit of the Air Training Corps (ATC), a national youth organization, which encourages a practical interest in aviation, adventure training and sport. 1166 Squadron is part of the Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire Wing of the ATC.
Air Cadets are aged 13 to 18 and are given the chance to learn to fly or gain experience in aircraft such as aerobatics, learn skills to lead expeditions and people, tour foreign countries, become a target shooting marksman, learn AbOUT aviation and aerospace - amongst a long list of the many activities and opportunities. Moreover, 1166 Sqn ATC give kids from Welwyn Garden City the opportunity for a social life with many new friends, to gain new experiences and to learn life skills.
Although affiliated with the Royal Air force it doesn't mean that cadets have any obligation join the RAF or any of the services. The ATC is not a recruiting organization, however, its remit is to show the RAF from a different angle, promote air mindedness and promote the virtues of the RAF. Should cadets wish to job the RAF later, the ATC greatly increases the chances of successful selection. To that end, the Sqn will assist any cadet who wishes to join up with their preparation for selection.
The Squadron is part of the community of Welwyn Garden City, with links to the local RAFA Club, Royal British Legion as well as local schools.
1166 Sqn also give cadets the oppertunity to complete their Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
1166 Sqn Activities
1166 Squadron undertakes many forms of adventure training, from evening escape and evasion exercises, survival training to campingand orienteering. Many cadets also go on Wing run Adventure Training Weekends. These include canoing courses on the River Thames, and also Mountain Activity Courses run at the ATC training centers in The Lake District and North Wales.
- Flying:
The ATC aims to get each cadet airborne at least once a year. The ATC operates a fleet of nearly 100 Grob Tutor training aircraft, and operates the largest Gliding organisation in the world, with over 120 Gliders, located at 26 Gliding Schools across the country.
- Shooting:
The ATC promotes the safe handling of many weapons and cadets can go on to enter many competitions within the organisation. Cadets can shoot air rifles, .22 (number 8) weapons and go on to use the 5.56mm (L-98) Cadet rifle. All shooting activities are overseen by qualified Range Conducting Officers, all trained and certified by the RAF.
- Station visits/camps:
Cadets also get the opportunities to visit ACTIVE RAF stations where there is often the chance to fly in RAF operational aircraft. Cadets could find themselves in the back of a Chinook helicopter, or carrying out Air-to-Air refueling ever the North Sea in a VC-10.
Parade NiGHTS
The Sqn parades each Tuesday and Thursday their Headquarters along Lemsford Lane, Welwyn Garden City.
Joining 1166 Sqn
New cadets join at one of number of intake nights. These nights are designed to show to interested potential cadets, aged 12 1/2 to 16, what the Sqn is all about and what they will expect. If they like what they see, The New cadets return on the next normal parade night and start the process of becoming a cadet. This involves gaining some knowledge about the organization, learning new skills such as drill and weapon handling as well as how to correctly wear the uniform.
The next induction night is on Thursday 27 Sep 2007.