1409 Consett Squadron - RAF Air Cadets

11/10/2026

06/10/2026

𝐂𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 – 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 ☕✈️

Yesterday marked the beginning of the first-ever National Cadets Week, celebrating cadets and the thousands of adult volunteers who support them across the UK! 🎉

To mark the occasion, 1409 (Consett) Squadron will be opening our doors and inviting the local community to join us for a Coffee Morning at our Squadron HQ.

📅 Saturday 10th October
⏰ 10:00am – 1:00pm
📍 1409 (Consett) Squadron HQ (Parliament Street, Consett)

Come along, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a bite to eat, meet some of our cadets and volunteers, and find out a little more about what we get up to at 1409 Squadron. ☕🍰

National Cadets Week is an opportunity to celebrate the difference the Cadet Forces make to young people across the country—developing confidence, leadership, teamwork and resilience while providing experiences and opportunities that can last a lifetime.

Whether you're a parent, former cadet, supporter of the Squadron, interested in joining us, or simply fancy a cuppa, everyone is welcome! 💙

We'd love to see as many members of our local community as possible supporting the Squadron and helping us celebrate National Cadets Week 2026.

Please share this post and help us spread the word! ☕✈️



Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Durham Northumberland Wing Air Cadets
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Regional Commandant North - Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
North of England RFCA
Consett Magazine
Communities in Focus
Consett and surrounding areas

13/09/2026

02/09/2026

𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐈𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍! ✈️🎯

1409 (Consett) Squadron RAF Air Cadets is recruiting for 2026!

Are you looking for something different? Want to make new friends, learn new skills, take on new challenges and experience opportunities you simply won't find anywhere else?

Our next Recruitment Information Evening will take place on Wednesday 30th September 2026, giving prospective cadets and their parents or guardians the opportunity to come along, meet our team and find out what life as an RAF Air Cadet is all about.

As a cadet, opportunities can include:

✈️ Flying and aviation experiences
🎯 Shooting and marksmanship
🏕️ Camps and Adventure Training
🥾 Duke of Edinburgh's Award
🚣 Paddle sports and other outdoor activities
🏆 Sports and competitions
🩹 First Aid qualifications
🧭 Leadership and personal development
🔧 STEM and engineering activities
🎖️ Drill, ceremonial and community events
🌍 Visits to RAF stations and experiences across the UK

And that's only a small part of what's available!

2026 is already shaping up to be another huge year at 1409 Squadron, and we're looking for our next generation of cadets to join us and make the most of everything the RAF Air Cadets has to offer.

📅 Information Evening: Wednesday 30th September 2026 @ 19:00
📍 Joint Cadet Forces Centre, Parliament Street, Consett, DH8 5DH

Interested? Visit:

http://1409sqn.org/joinnow

And register your details, we will be in touch shortly!

No experience required—just bring your enthusiasm and be ready for a challenge! ✈️

Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Durham Northumberland Wing Air Cadets
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Regional Commandant North - Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
North of England RFCA
Consett Magazine
Communities in Focus
Consett and surrounding areas

19/06/2026

𝐏𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐋𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 🏄‍♂️🚣‍♀️🌊

Recently, cadets from 1409 (Consett) Squadron RAF Air Cadets joined forces with cadets from 1509 (Blaydon) Squadron for an unforgettable four-day paddle board expedition along the historic Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Over the course of the expedition, cadets travelled significant distances by paddle board, carrying their equipment and working together to navigate the canal network. The challenge required determination, teamwork, and resilience as cadets spent four days living and travelling as an expedition team.

Throughout the expedition, cadets developed:

✅ Paddle boarding and water confidence skills
✅ Teamwork and leadership
✅ Expedition planning and self-sufficiency
✅ Navigation and route management
✅ Resilience and determination over multiple days

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal provided a unique environment for adventure training, with cadets experiencing a variety of canal features, locks, and rural scenery whilst progressing along their route.

Adventure Training is a key part of the RAF Air Cadets experience, encouraging young people to step outside their comfort zones, build confidence, and develop skills that will benefit them both within and beyond the organisation.

A huge well done to all the cadets who took part, and thank you to the staff from both squadrons whose support made the expedition possible. It was fantastic to see cadets from 1409 (Consett) Squadron and 1509 (Blaydon) Squadron working together throughout the challenge. 👏💙

Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Durham Northumberland Wing Air Cadets
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Regional Commandant North - Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
North of England RFCA
Consett Magazine
Communities in Focus
Consett and surrounding areas

17/06/2026

𝐀𝐈𝐑 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 ✈️🌤️

Recently, four cadets from 1409 had the opportunity to take to the skies as part of an Air Experience Flight (AEF) at RAF Leeming.

Flying in a Grob Tutor aircraft, cadets experienced first-hand what it is like to fly from an operational RAF station. Under the guidance of RAF-qualified pilots, they were able to observe the principles of flight in action and gain a greater understanding of aviation within the RAF Air Cadets.

During their flying experience, cadets had the opportunity to:

✅ Experience take-off and landing from RAF Leeming
✅ Observe airborne manoeuvres and aircraft handling
✅ Learn about the controls and instrumentation within the aircraft
✅ Gain an insight into navigation and communication procedures
✅ Enjoy incredible views from above North Yorkshire

For many cadets, an AEF sortie is one of the highlights of their time in the RAF Air Cadets, providing a unique opportunity to experience military aviation first-hand and inspiring future ambitions both within and beyond the organisation.

Well done to all four cadets who took part. We hope this memorable experience has sparked an even greater passion for aviation! 👏💙

Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Durham Northumberland Wing Air Cadets
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Regional Commandant North - Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
North of England RFCA
RAF Leeming
Consett Magazine
Communities in Focus
Consett and surrounding areas

15/06/2026

𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐔𝐀𝐋 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐋 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 🎖️✈️

Recently, cadets from 1409 (Consett) Squadron RAF Air Cadets took part in our Annual Formal Inspection (AFI), one of the most important events in the squadron calendar.

The AFI is a formal parade that assesses the standards of dress, drill, discipline, and turnout maintained by the squadron throughout the year. Cadets were inspected on parade before demonstrating their drill skills, which had been developed through weeks of preparation and practice.

The parade was marked by a qualified Drill Instructor and reviewed by a senior officer from Durham/Northumberland Wing, who had the opportunity to meet cadets and hear about the many activities and achievements completed over the past 12 months.

The inspection highlighted the dedication and professionalism of our cadets, as well as the pride they take in representing both the squadron and the RAF Air Cadets.

The AFI also provided an opportunity to reflect on another successful year of training, which has included:

✅ Flying and Aviation Activities
✅ Shooting and Marksmanship Training
✅ Duke of Edinburgh's Award Expeditions
✅ Adventure Training and Camps
✅ Community Engagement and Public Events
✅ Leadership and First Aid Qualifications

A huge well done to all cadets who took part in the parade. Your effort, commitment, and attention to detail were clear to see, and you represented 1409 Squadron exceptionally well. 👏💙

We would also like to thank our staff team, Civilian Committee, parents, and supporters for their continued support throughout the year.

Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Durham Northumberland Wing Air Cadets
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Regional Commandant North - Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
North of England RFCA
Consett Magazine
Communities in Focus
Consett and surrounding areas

12/06/2026

𝐀𝐓 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄 𝐀𝐓 𝐑𝐀𝐅 𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐀𝐌 🚵‍♂️🏹🥾

Recently, cadets from 1409 (Consett) Squadron RAF Air Cadets took part in the Adventure Training Challenge (AT Challenge) at RAF Spadeadam, a demanding event designed to test teamwork, determination, and physical fitness.

RAF Spadeadam is a unique training area used by the Royal Air Force for tactical training, electronic warfare exercises, and operational testing. The vast training estate provides an ideal environment for adventurous training and leadership development. ✈️

Throughout the challenge, cadets completed a series of activities including:

✅ Mountain Biking across challenging terrain
✅ Archery, testing accuracy and concentration
✅ An 18km timed walking expedition across the training area
✅ Team-building and leadership tasks throughout the event

The 18km expedition proved to be a real test of endurance, requiring cadets to maintain a steady pace whilst navigating varied terrain and supporting each other throughout the route. Meanwhile, the mountain biking and archery activities challenged cadets to develop new skills and push themselves outside their comfort zones.

The AT Challenge is designed to develop resilience, leadership, teamwork, and self-confidence, and our cadets rose to the challenge superbly throughout the event.
Well done to everyone who took part and represented 1409 Squadron with determination and enthusiasm. 👏💙

Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Durham Northumberland Wing Air Cadets
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Regional Commandant North - Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
North of England RFCA
Consett Magazine
Communities in Focus
Consett and surrounding areas