This weekend, 739 Scarborough squadron was privileged enough to have one of our own cadets, Cdt Sgt Abbi Flynn, awarded with a flying scholarship from the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA). Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hiller, the Chief of the Air Staff topped off the application experience and presented Cdt Sgt Flynn with her scholarship which is to start in the summer.

However, this momentous achievement didn’t come without hard work; Cdt Sgt Flynn was competing against another 250 cadets from many different organisations across the UK who had also applied for the 11 spaces available on the scholarship. To narrow down the applicants, they had to select 25 people from all the applications. These 25 were further narrowed down to 16 and then invited to RAF College Cranwell to sit the RAF Officer and Aircrew selection tests along with interviews. To stand out from the crowd Cdt Sgt Flynn had to explain why she was worthy of receiving such an opportunity that only a select few cadets can experience each year. But with determination and the goal in sight, she was able to pass all these tests and interviews and emerge successful.

After being informed of her success, Cdt Sgt Flynn was then invited to the RAFA annual conference in Birmingham to formally collect her scholarship from Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hiller.

After comprehending her achievement, Cdt Sgt Flynn had the following to say - “Being awarded a scholarship from the Royal Air Force Association is a very humbling experience that I will be forever grateful to the organisation and the Air Training Corps for. To have 12 hours of free flying tuition is potentially a once in a lifetime experience for me. I would also encourage anyone else interested in aviation to join the ‘Royal Air Force Air Cadets’ and pursue a scholarship too – you don’t know until you try”.

Flt Lt Steven Lewis RAFAC, Officer Commanding 739 Squadron said "Sgt Flynn has been a cadet with us now since age 12 joining just after the age you could join was lowered. I took her on her very first flight in a Grob Tutor at RAF Linton On Ouse and she was extremely apprehensive and nervous and after the flight stated she would never go flying again.

We were concerned she would miss out on one of the most enjoyable cadet experiences of the Air Training Corps so we gently persuaded her to try it again and since then she hasn't looked back. When she came to me and asked if I would support her application for a RAFA flying scholarship I had no reservations is saying yes.

We are so proud of her achievement against a field of very high calibre young men and women to succeed and be awarded this prestigious award and she is an inspiration to those around her and definitely an example to be followed."

Story by Cdt Sgt Goerge Brown & Photos provided by Cdt Sgt Abbi Flynn

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Thanks to the good weather on Friday evening and Saturday all day 36 cadets from 739 Scarborough Squadron (17 cadets) and our friends from 266 Stockton (8 cadets and staff), 740 Whitby (7 cadets & staff) & 2394 East Cleveland (4 cadets and staff) Squadrons enjoyed our new Archery equipment.

We really couldn't have asked for a better day with blue skies and low wind allowing us to conduct an outdoor archery session using the Squadrons new equipment which was partly funded by a generous donation from Central & East Yorkshire Wing ATC and donations from the general public.

Hundreds of arrows were shot at the two targets and luckily only two damaged, but repairable - no Robin Hood shots today which is kind of lucky as the OC forgot the haribo!

Everyone seemed to really enjoy it with lots of smiles and shaken hands at the end of the day to the 739 staff for arranging the day. We thank our friends for travelling far to join us in enjoying this fantastic activity and long may the collaboration continue.

If this kind of thing interests you we have another intake in less than two months. We train all cadets and staff under official Archery GB qualified instructors and use their rules for governance.

Flt Lt Steven Lewis RAFAC, Officer Commanding 739 has dreamed of bringing this activity to 739 Squadron for years and to have it finally become a reality really is the proverbial "icing on the cake". Well done to all who attended and we sincerely hope to see you all again with us soon and that you enjoyed it!

Story by Flt Lt Steven Lewis RAFAC

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