1471 Horwich Squadron Air Training Corps

20/08/2026

✈️ STARTING YEAR 8 THIS SEPTEMBER? YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE COULD START HERE.

If you’re about to start Year 8, September is a great time to join 1471 (Horwich) Squadron RAF Air Cadets.

Air Cadets is about much more than wearing a uniform. You could experience flying and gliding, learn first aid and fieldcraft, take part in adventure training, sport, STEM, radio and cyber activities, work towards recognised qualifications, attend camps and develop leadership skills along the way.

You don’t need any previous experience, and you definitely don’t need to know anything about the RAF. We’ll teach you everything you need to know.

Parents and young people are very welcome to come along, meet us and see what squadron life is really like before deciding whether to join - we have potential new cadets visiting on 24th August at 1930 (7.30pm).

📍 1471 (Horwich) Squadron
📅 Parade nights: Monday & Thursday
⏰ 7pm–9.30pm

Interested? Send us a message or visit;

https://1471squadron.co.uk/

To find out more.

Your first parade night could be the start of something much bigger. ✈️

Join 1471 Horwich Squadron RAF Air Cadets for ages 12 to 17, serving Horwich, Westhoughton, Adlington, Blackrod and Lostock with flying, DofE and camps.

14/08/2026

This week, cadets from 1471 were joined by others from around Cumbria and Lancashire Wing on Wednesday to commemorate Cadet Christopher Bailey who was taken from us back in 1993 when RAF Westland Wessex helicopter XR524 took off from RAF Valley for a routine search & rescue training flight across North Wales with Chris as a passenger as well as three other Royal Air Force Air Cadets.

Whilst carrying out a planned training manoeuvre, the helicopter suffered a tail rotor failure causing the pilot to lose control of the aircraft resulting in it crashing in Llyn Padarn lake.

Her crew and one cadet managed to escape to safety, and even thought the air crew attempted to get the remaining cadets they unfortunately were unable to do so.

Christopher (15) along with Amanda Whitehead (17) and Mark Oakden (16) of 1036 (Bury) squadron were lost.

This week whilst on camp cadets from 1471 carried out a memorial parade with a minutes silence before the days activities as part of a 130 strong parade of cadets. Those back at 1471 HQ also carried out a memorial service on Thursday’s evening parade. On both occasions the right marker sport was left open for Christopher as a sign of him forever being a part of our unit.

We will never forget Christopher. He will forever be remembered.

Stand easy Christopher, Amanda, and Mark.

North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
RFCA for the North West of England & the Isle of Man
1036 Bury Squadron Air Training Corps
Greater Manchester Wing - Air Training Corps

01/08/2026

🚀 OUR NEW WEBSITE IS LIVE! 🚀

We are incredibly proud to launch the brand-new website for
1471 (Horwich) Squadron, Royal Air Force Air Cadets!

Whether you are thinking about joining as a cadet, interested in becoming an adult volunteer, or simply want to discover what happens at our squadron, the new website is the perfect place to start.

✈️ Flying and aviation
🏕️ Camps and adventure training
🏆 Sport and competitions
🧭 Leadership and fieldcraft
⛑️ First aid and practical skills
🎖️ Qualifications, DofE and much more

The RAF Air Cadets offers young people opportunities, experiences and friendships that can last a lifetime, and it all starts right here in Horwich.

Take a look, explore the activities and discover where your journey could take you:

🌐 https://1471squadron.co.uk/

Please help us spread the word by liking, sharing and tagging someone who might be ready for their next adventure!

Join 1471 Horwich Squadron RAF Air Cadets in Horwich. Aviation, adventure training, leadership, DofE, first aid, camps, sport and youth development for young people, with opportunities for adult volunteers.

26/07/2026

✈️ Are you be ready for a new challenge?

1471 (Horwich) Squadron RAF Air Cadets is welcoming new cadets to join our squadron.

The Royal Air Force Air Cadets offers far more than simply learning about aviation. Cadets can take part in activities including flying and gliding, fieldcraft, shooting, first aid, radio and cyber training, space, STEM, sport, adventure training, camps, leadership development, drill and community events and more.

Along the way, you'll build confidence and reliance all whilst making new friends, developing valuable life skills and achieving recognised qualifications and awards.

No previous experience is needed, just enthusiasm, commitment and a willingness to get involved and take part.

📍 1471 (Horwich) Squadron at St Joseph's RC Secondary School BL6 6HW
📅 Parade nights: Monday and Thursday
⏰ 7:00pm–9:30pm

Parents, carers and potential cadets are welcome to contact us to find out more about joining.

Come and discover where the RAF Air Cadets could take you. ✈️

28/06/2026

Yesterday, 1471 Horwich Squadron Air Training Corps had the honour and pleasure of taking part in Bolton Armed Forces Day 2026.

Our Squadron has a proud connection to the Armed Forces. Amongst our Cadet Forces Adult Volunteers (CFAV) we have Veterans from the Royal Air Force and a Service Instructor from the British Army. We also maintain close ties with cadets who've left our Squadron to Serve in the RAF and the wider defence sector.

We're proud to have taken part in the parade and following celebrations yesterday. We thank those who have Served, and those who currently Serve in His Majesty's Armed Forces.

Part of the event was the annual (hotly contested) Cadet Shield. Team competitions across multiple disciplines - paintball target shooting, soft axe throwing, giant tetris and a physically demanding 2k team row.

We put in a tremendous effort but were pipped to the post this year by the Army Cadets. Despite this, all cadets enjoyed themselves representing the squadron and put in a sterling effort.

There were many visitors to our stand too. Hopefully we'll see many new Cadets joining the squadron soon and potentially a new member of Squadron staff.

If you’re a potential new Cadet or know someone who might be, take a look at the link below to find more information on the range of activities offered by Royal Air Force Air Cadets

https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/

To register your interest in becoming a Horwich Squadron Cadet or CFAV please visit here.

https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/find-a-squadron/?squadron=/aircadets/find-a-squadron/north/cumbria-lancashire-wing-hq/1471-horwich/&showall=1


(Credit where due to Bolton News and Phil Brickell MP for photos)

21/06/2026

🤖🚀 STEM Weekend 🚀🤖

This weekend, one of our Royal Air Force Air Cadets represented 1471 Horwich Squadron at a two-day VEX IQ Robotics STEM event.

The challenge was to design, build and programme a robot capable of operating autonomously to retrieve secret ingredients from a hazardous area, navigate a series of obstacles, and safely deliver them across a ravine to a designated safe zone.

Despite attending as our only cadet, they performed admirably throughout the event, demonstrating determination, problem-solving skills, resilience and teamwork. Robotics competitions like this require participants to combine engineering, coding, critical thinking and innovation to overcome complex challenges under time pressure.

A special thank you goes to the teams from Wigan and Chorley, who provided support, encouragement and assistance throughout the weekend. Their willingness to share knowledge and work together highlights the fantastic spirit of the RAF Air Cadet community.

Well done to our cadet for representing the squadron so positively and embracing the challenge.

We look forward to seeing more STEM events in the future, both at Squadron and beyond!



Cumbria and Lancashire Wing
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
Chorley Air Cadets - 92 Sqn RAFAC
723 Wigan Squadron - RAF Air Cadets

25/05/2026

On Saturday we had the honour of celebrating Westhoughton Royal British Legion's 105th Anniversary at Westhoughton Cricket club. Carrying both our own and RAFA Leigh Branch's standards.
Cumbria and Lancashire Wing

06/05/2026

Cadets take flight!
Last week we had 3 cadets travel to 10 AEF at RAF Woodvale for an air experience flight in a Grob Tutor with all 3 cadets getting in the air.
Cumbria and Lancashire Wing
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets

01/03/2026

Please see this opportunity to do some online classification training. Further details are available on cadet portal.

UPDATE - The first class session on Tuesday 03 March has been cancelled, however, the session will be rearranged for Tuesday 17th March.

✈️ Are you working towards First Class or Leading Classification? 🎓

The Wing Training Team have arranged multiple classification sessions over the course of March. Each session will be delivered virtually using Microsoft Teams.

Sessions include:

The Air Training Corps - Second Class Cadet
The Royal Air Force - Second Class Cadet
Basic Radio - First Class Cadet
Initial Expedition Training - First Class Cadet
Principles of Flight - Leading Cadet

If you are interested, please sign up to the event on Cadet Portal and access using the link within the event description. Further details can be found on Cadet Portal too.

07/02/2026

Today 14 cadets from arround the wing came to 1471 Horwich Squadron to complete their Bronze Space Course. The course covers technology, satellites & rockets and much more. The course also makes up part of the Level 2 BTEC in space studies. Well done to all those that completed it.
723 Wigan Squadron - RAF Air Cadets
1969 (Rossendale) Squadron Air Cadets
Chorley Air Cadets - 92 Sqn RAFAC
Preston Air Cadets
1262 Blackburn Sqn Air Training Corps
2050 (Leyland) Squadron Air Cadets
Cumbria and Lancashire Wing
Royal Air Force Air Cadets