Ramblings from the AEO’s Panel – Part 1
Barry Masefield was the Air Electronics Officer (AEO) for Vulcan XH558 and had flown in this iconic aircraft for over 30 years, also being a key
Following reorganisation of some Cadet Squadrons and of course Covid we were very please to welcome back 150 (City of Oxford) Squadron Air Cadets after quite a break. This meant that we needed to find some new activities that would enable new recruits to benefit from hands on experiences. So what better that taking apart a Jet Engine out of a EE Canberra or even dismantling a Chassis Mounted Fuel System from a Bristol Olympus 200 series.
Well over three days, 28 October, 25 November and 9 December over 30% of the squadron has had experience of dismantling complex aircraft components.
The purpose of the exercises was to teach and entertain. So it was particularly useful that we had our AVON Axial Jet Cutaway engine to talk through the principals of jet power, also with the range of items available in the stores we could demonstrate the progression of radio communications from WWII through the Cold War to early 80’s. All of this giving a side to cadets that they might not ordinarily have a chance to sample.
The days are full length and it is fair to say that when the Cadets leave they are fairly exhausted, the supervising team are anyway! There is little doubt that the hands on experience is well received and there are likely to be more days in the forthcoming year if for no other reason that the Jet Engine is not yet completely dismantled.
As a footnote we would point out that the cadets do not have to put the items back together!
On the 14 December we took the ‘Attack on Sorpe Dam’ film show on the road. Going down to headquarters of 150 (City of Oxford) Squadron Air Cadets at Headington, Oxford. The purpose being to give the Cadets and their Instructors an insight into the role of Bomber Command during WWII and the cost in terms of lives that brings along with telling the Dambuster Story from a totally new standpoint.
What was particularly interesting was the question-and-answer session held after the showing, It is clear that some aspects of both WWII and The Cold War are simply skipped over under the current education curriculum. Whilst one cannot dwell on the past it should never be ignored.
A great evening enjoyed by all who attended and one that it is hoped can be repeated with some new features during 2024.
Barry Masefield was the Air Electronics Officer (AEO) for Vulcan XH558 and had flown in this iconic aircraft for over 30 years, also being a key
Valiant Bomber 249 Squadron. Ejection Seat chain of events. I completed Boy Entrant training as an armourer at 16 years of age in 1960 and
On 19 October 1945, just over two months after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, English writer George Orwell’s essay, “You and the Atomic Bomb” , was published
Vulcan XH558 had been the star of the RAF’s Vulcan Display Flight (VDF) for six years, from May 1986 to September 1992, but as a result of budget cuts the MoD