621 VGS Historic Flight answered the call from the Air Cadet organisation to assist them in their 70th Anniversary Celebrations in the form of a flypast at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford last weekend.
The Historic Flight aircraft were joined, on the Tuesday, by the past aircraft flown by the Air Cadet organisation: a Tiger Moth, Chipmunk, Bulldog, Tutor, Venture, Vigilant, Viking and another of Al Stacey’s gliders, a Sedbergh to replace WB922 that is currently being recovered. A Chipmunk, Cub and Robin were used to the five gliders.
After practice on Wednesday, display approval was given on Thursday, with the first flypast of Fairford taking place on Friday evening. Sadly Saturdays display had to be cancelled due to wet weather. It was a close call on Sunday with wet and blustery conditions calming just in time for the display to go ahead.
At the Hanger Party, RIAT’s traditional closing event, the display was given special mention by Air Commadore Nigel Wharmby of the Air Tattoo’s Flying Control Committee. “The display with training aircraft and gliders was truly remarkable given that the wind and weather made conditions phenomenally difficult,” he said, adding: “I salute you.”