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1094 Ely Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets, The Cadet Centre, Heaton Drive, Ely (2026)

09/10/2026

✈️ CADET WEEK | ONE RAF FAMILY, GENERATIONS APART – CONNECTED FOR LIFE 💙

What does it mean to be part of the RAF Family? For Wing Commander Mike, it is a connection that began when he was an Air Cadet a generation ago – and one that continues today as he watches his own son, Air Cadet Will, thrive in the organisation that helped shape his own future.

Mike began his cadet journey with 342 (Ealing and Brentford) Squadron Air Training Corps, before continuing with the RAF Section of RGS High Wycombe Combined Cadet Force.

Looking back, he remembers the opportunities, friendships and experiences that set him apart from his schoolmates – and the confidence, leadership and teamwork that would go on to underpin his RAF career.

Mike reflects:

“Being an Air Cadet gave me self-confidence. It taught me early lessons in leadership, but most importantly it introduced me to teamwork and the delight of working with motivated, dedicated people.

“These were skills that built a firm foundation for my subsequent RAF career, and which I could not have got otherwise. Being an Air Cadet really was the start of everything for me, and I look back on my time very fondly.”

But the RAF Family is about more than shared uniforms, service or a career in the military. It is about the people, relationships and values that connect generations – and the opportunities that help young people discover what they can achieve.

📸 The first photograph captures that connection beautifully. It shows Mike with his family and colleague, Squadron Leader Adam Collins, during Adam's time as Red 11 and Officer Commanding Red Arrows.

Adam, like Mike, began his journey as an Air Cadet, serving with Solihull School Combined Cadet Force RAF Section. In the photograph, Will is much younger, meeting Adam during those earlier years.

Fast-forward to yesterday, and Will was back in the aviation environment, flying with No. 7 Air Experience Flight at RAF Cranwell – where he had the opportunity to meet Adam again.

From a family photograph with the Red Arrows to flying with an Air Experience Flight, it is a wonderful illustration of how the Air Cadets can open doors to experiences that young people might otherwise never have imagined.

And that is what Cadet Week is all about.

The Royal Air Force Air Cadets is very much part of the wider RAF Family, but its value reaches far beyond preparing young people for a possible future in uniform. It helps them develop confidence, resilience, leadership, communication, teamwork and a sense of service. It encourages them to challenge themselves, support others, embrace opportunities and aim high.

Some cadets will go on to serve in the RAF. Others will pursue careers in aviation, engineering, science, business, public service or countless other fields. Whatever path they choose, the skills, friendships and experiences they gain can help build bright futures.

For Mike, seeing Will thrive as an Air Cadet brings his own journey full circle. The organisation that helped lay the foundations for his future is now giving his son opportunities to discover his own.

One RAF Family. Different generations. A lifetime of possibilities.

This Cadet Week, we celebrate our cadets, the volunteers who give their time to support them, and the serving personnel and veterans who help make this wider family so special.

Because being an Air Cadet is not just about what you do today. It is about the person you become – and the doors that may open tomorrow.

💙✈️ Happy Cadet Week from the Royal Air Force Air Cadets!

Commandant Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Central & East Region Air Cadets
Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing ATC
East Anglia Rfca

05/10/2026

As part of National Cadet Week here is one story relating to one cadet and how being part of the Air Cadet family can be life changing and sometimes life saving

MY DAUGHTER MY HERO

Ely Air Cadet Kaylah Haselum puts RAF Air Cadets first-aid training into practice when her three-week-old brother became seriously unwell

A 15-year-old Ely Air Cadet has been described as a “hero” by her mother after putting the skills she learned through her RAF Air Cadets Bronze First Aid training into practice during a frightening family emergency.

Senior Cadet Kaylah Haselum, of 1094 (Ely) Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets, was at home when her three-week-old baby brother became seriously unwell.

While her mother was understandably panicking and trying to process what was happening, Kaylah remained calm enough to assess her brother, including checking his breathing. She quickly recognised that the situation was an emergency and that professional medical assistance was needed.

Kaylah contacted the emergency services and followed the instructions she was given while continuing to support her family.

The family was subsequently taken to the emergency department, where Kaylah continued to help care for her baby brother, including helping to keep him cool with ice packs. She also calmly explained what had happened to medical staff and helped communicate the situation to key personnel caring for him.

Her mother, Dana Haselum, believes that Kaylah's ability to remain calm, recognise that something was seriously wrong and take appropriate action made a significant difference during those critical moments.

“I do not pretend that a First Aid course can replace professional medical care. It cannot,” said Dana.

“But what RAFAC gave my daughter was something incredibly valuable: the knowledge and confidence to recognise an emergency, respond appropriately, follow instructions, and remain calm enough to act when those around her were frightened.

“That training mattered.”

Dana said that although Kaylah's Bronze First Aid qualification gave her the foundations, what she witnessed was much more than simply remembering what she had been taught.

“Kaylah's Bronze First Aid training gave her a foundation, but what I witnessed was also her maturity, courage, quick responsiveness, compassion and willingness to take responsibility when it mattered most.

“She did not freeze. She did not wait for someone else to take charge. She assessed what she could, acted within her capabilities, sought professional help, followed instructions and stayed with her family.

“To me, she is a hero.”

For Dana, the experience demonstrated why the skills young people learn as Air Cadets can be so important beyond the Squadron environment.

“The skills you teach your cadets do not necessarily stay on parade, in the classroom, or during exercises. They can follow them home. They can become part of who they are.”

She added that she hoped one day to tell Kaylah's younger brother the story of what happened when he was just three weeks old.

“I hope I can tell him that when he was a tiny three-week-old baby and things became frightening, his big sister was there. She kept calm, she acted, and she helped get him the emergency care he needed.

“He may never remember those moments. But I will.

“And I will always remember that his sister was his hero.”

More than First Aid

At 1094 (Ely) Squadron, First Aid is just one of the many practical life skills that cadets are given the opportunity to develop.

Through training, camps, expeditions, flying, gliding, Duke of Edinburgh's Award activities, leadership opportunities, ceremonial training, STEM and a wide range of other activities, cadets are encouraged to become capable, confident and responsible young people.

The Squadron places particular emphasis on creating an environment where cadets develop through Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence – the RAFAC RISE values.

For Flight Lieutenant J Donoghue RAFAC, Officer Commanding 1094 (Ely) Squadron, Kaylah's experience demonstrates why that approach matters.

“First Aid training is an incredibly important life skill, but the value of what our cadets learn goes far beyond knowing what to do in an emergency.

“We want our cadets to develop the confidence to think clearly, take responsibility, recognise when someone needs help and have the courage to step forward.

“Kaylah's experience is a powerful example of that. She did not suddenly become calm, compassionate and responsible because she was wearing her uniform. Those are qualities that we work to develop in our young people over time.

“RAFAC gives young people opportunities to challenge themselves, to learn from their experiences, to support others and to discover what they are capable of.

“Kaylah put her training into practice when her family needed her. She stayed within the limits of what she had been taught, sought professional help and followed instructions. We could not be prouder of the way she responded.”

Dana has also thanked the RAF Air Cadets and the instructors who delivered Kaylah's Bronze First Aid training.

“You may never know when those lessons will be called upon, but in our family, they have already had a profound impact.”

Kaylah is now keen to continue developing her skills and hopes to undertake her Silver and eventually Gold First Aid training.

For her mother, the experience has reinforced her belief in the value of the opportunities offered to young people through the RAF Air Cadets.

“Thank you for giving young people like my daughter the knowledge, confidence and courage to help others when it matters most.

“And thank you for helping my daughter become the kind of young person who steps forward when someone needs her.”

Commandant Air Cadets

Royal Air Force Air Cadets

Central & East Region Air Cadets

Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing ATC

East Anglia Rfca

Photo Credit Dana Haselum.

04/10/2026

A letter has arrived at the Squadron from His Majesty King Charles to launch National Cadet Week -5th to 11th October- highlighting the value of Cadet Service to the United Kingdom and local communities.

26/09/2026

Peak Performance Air Cadet Conquers Highland Skies

Cadet Corporal Ariyaana Khanom completes nine days of advanced flying training in Perth on her Second Air League Flying Scholarship.

A young Ely Air Cadet has taken another major step towards her ambition of becoming an airline pilot after completing her second Air League 12-Hour Flying Scholarship, spending nine days undertaking intensive flying training on the ground in the classroom and in the air with ACS Flight Training at Perth Airport in Scotland.

Cadet Corporal Ariyaana Khanom of 1094 (Ely) Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets completed the scholarship between 17th and 25th September, describing the experience as one of the most exciting chapters yet in her aviation journey.

The Air League and their scholarships provides young people with the opportunity to develop their flying skills and gain valuable experience towards a future career in aviation. This year's scholarship was sponsored by the Air Cadet Charity, working alongside the Air League to provide Ariyaana with the opportunity to return to Scotland for further flight training.

Ariyaana said:
“I could not be more grateful to the Air League for providing these opportunities for young people, and to the Air Cadet Charity for sponsoring my scholarship this year.”

Her time at ACS Flight Training began with meeting her instructor, an experienced member of the flight school's team who immediately put her at ease.

Her first lesson took her straight into advanced handling, including spin and stall recovery. For Ariyaana, it was an opportunity to experience something she had never previously encountered in an aircraft.

“For my first lesson, I did spin and stall recovery, which was very exciting because we were actually allowed to go into a spin. I had never done that before flying with the Air Cadets. I was also able to take off and land on all of my flights from the very first day.”

Her subsequent training included recovering from a stall while distracted, simulating situations in which a pilot might inadvertently allow an aircraft to enter a stall while looking elsewhere, together with learning to recognise the warning signs of an incipient spin and recover before a full spin develops.

As her confidence and flying skills developed, Ariyaana was given the opportunity to take the aircraft on a series of longer flights and navigation exercises around Scotland, combining advanced flight training with the chance to see some of the country's spectacular scenery from the air.

One of her first long cross-country flights took her towards the Forth Bridges, the three famous bridges spanning the Firth of Forth linking Edinburgh and Fife.

Her training then progressed to steep turns, involving a 45-degree angle of bank, as well as an introduction to VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range), a radio navigation system used in aviation.

Further training included steep glide turns, which can form part of a pilot's response to situations such as a forced landing or the need to avoid an unexpected obstacle, as well as learning how to recover from spiral dives.

But for Ariyaana, one particular flight stood out above the rest when she planned to fly over Ben Nevis the highest peak in the United Kingdom, sadly cloud prevented her from seeing its summit but provided her the rare privilege of seeing the Neivs Range, Glen Coe and Loch Etive from above.

Other flights took her towards Callander and Doune, where she was able to see the famous Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle from the air.

Her final flight of the scholarship took her towards Glamis Castle, famously associated with Shakespeare's Macbeth, before continuing towards the Airlie Monument and Airlie Castle.

Ariyaana said

“Airlie Castle isn't open to the public, but with clearance from Air Traffic Control I enjoyed a spectacular aerial tour of a magnificent Scottish Estate from a respectful altitude so as not to disturb the residents or wildlife"

The Air League scholarship has provided Ariyaana with considerably more than additional hours training in a light aircraft. It has allowed her to develop her confidence, handling skills, navigation and understanding of aviation while experiencing the responsibilities and challenges associated with progressing as a pilot.

For 1094 (Ely) Squadron, her achievement also reflects the opportunities available to young people through the RAF Air Cadets and the importance of encouraging cadets to pursue their interests and raise their aspirations.

Ariyaana concluded:
“Thank you so much to the Air League for providing amazing pathways into the aviation industry and thank you to the Air Cadet Charity for sponsoring my scholarship this year. I would also like to thank our Squadron's Officer Commanding for always providing his support. I cannot wait to see where I end up next in my aviation journey!”

This is Ariyaana's second Air League scholarship that she has been selected for and awarded despite fierce competion of an extremely high calibre frim hundreds of suitable candidates. We have to point out that to be awarded one Air League Flying Scholarship is a tremendous achievement but two scholarships is remarkable.

However Ariyaana isn't finished there as she has also been successful in her selection for a RAF Air Cadets Pilot Scheme Scholarship where she will receive further training but this time in the Tutor T Mk1 the Royal Air Force's elementary flying training aircraft.

Ely's RAF Air Cadet's Squadron Commanding Officer Flight Lieutenant John Donoghue RAFAC said:

" When Ariyaana joined us she made it clear that her ambition was to become a pilot and fly for a living. I made a commitment to her that I would do everything I could to help her make her dream come true but that Ariyaana would have to put in the hard yards to make those dreams a reality "

" In the Air Cadets we provide young people with the right environment, training, experiences, opportunities, mentoring and guidance that leads to self belief, self confidence, teamwork and, leadership. What happens next is down to the individual cadet, but the resilience, personal responsibility and confidence that comes from commitment and dedication in the Air Cadets can be extraordinary and life changing"

If you are over the age of 12 and under the age of 17 you can join your local Air Cadet Unit by searching for "Air Cadets Squadron Finder " and filling in your details with a parent or guardian.

Commandant Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Central & East Region Air Cadets
Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing ATC
East Anglia Rfca

13/09/2026

✈️ 1094 Ely Cadet attends the Air Charter Expo at Biggin Hill Airport ✈️

A report from Cadet Corporal Ariyaana Khanom of 1094 (Ely) Squadron Air Cadets:

Last week I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Air Charter Expo at Biggin Hill Airport, along with three other cadets from Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing.

We arrived at the hangar at 8am and started the day by helping out with the event, including handing out tote bags to visitors as they arrived.

After lunch, we were able to explore the exhibition for ourselves, which was an amazing experience. Outside the hangar there were lots of charter aircraft on display, and despite the very rainy weather, we were able to go inside many of them, speak to the companies that operate them and even sit in the cockpits!

I also had the opportunity to meet several charter pilots and flight attendants, who were incredibly friendly and gave us some really interesting and insightful information about working in the aviation industry and how to accees careers in the Air Charter industry.

Inside the hangar there were lots of businesses and organisations from across the wide breadth of aviation industries. I spoke to representatives from the Air Charter Association, who told me about the internship opportunities they offer. It sounds like an amazing opportunity and definitely something I will be looking into.

Overall, it was an incredible day. Being able to help with the event, explore the exhibition, see different aircraft, meet people working in the industry and learn about the many different career opportunities available was really inspiring.

I would definitely recommend attending the Air Charter Expo to any cadet interested in aviation next year, whatever area of aviation you are interested in. There really was something for everyone!

A huge thank you to Acting Pilot Officer Venn, the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing Aviation Officer, for arranging this fantastic opportunity for myself and the three other Wing cadets who attended.

Thank you also to the Royal Air Force Air Cadets and all the staff involved in continuing to provide opportunities like this for cadets to learn, develop and gain an insight into the aviation industry.

✈️ Another fantastic opportunity made possible through the Air Cadets!

Are you interested in joining the Royal Air Force Air Cadets as an adult or cadet ? Simply click on this link for further information, advice and guidance

Find your local squadron | Royal Air Force Air Cadets

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Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
Central & East Region Air Cadets
Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing ATC

12/09/2026

🇬🇧 1094 Ely Squadron and 2417 Newmarket Squadron RAF Air Cadets join The Grenadier Guards for their Freedom of the Town of Newmarket ceremony 🇬🇧

Here is a report from Cadet Sergeant Declan Craig

Today, Cadet Turnham, Cadet Haselum and I joined cadets and staff from Newmarket Squadron to welcome the Grenadier Guards to Newmarket as they were awarded the Freedom of the Town.

Our day began by taking up positions in uninform along Newmarket High Street, where we handed out Union Jack flags to members of the public who had come along to support this special occasion. It was a great opportunity to represent the Royal Air Force Air Cadets at such a significant event.

We then watched the Grenadier Guards march past in their perfectly synchronised formation. Once they had passed, we were privileged to march behind them. It was a huge honour to be able to march alongside such a famous and historic regiment of the British Army.

The next part of the proceedings saw the Grenadier Guards formally awarded the Freedom of the Town of Newmarket, recognising the longstanding connection between the regiment and the town.

Following the ceremony, a selection of the Grenadier Guards performed a concert at Tattersalls, which we were extremely fortunate to be able to attend. Their performance included a fantastic range of music, including:

🎶 Mamma Mia – ABBA
🎶 Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! – ABBA
🎶 Our House – Madness

It was brilliant to see the Guards demonstrating not only their military precision but also their musical talent!

I would like to say a huge thank you to the staff at Newmarket Squadron for giving us the opportunity to take part in this fantastic event and enabling us to attend. It was an experience that I will never forget.

Cadet Sergeant Declan Craig
1094 (Ely) Squadron
Royal Air Force Air Cadets

✈️ 1094 — To the fore!

Are you interested in joining the Royal Air Force Air Cadets as an adult or cadet ? Simply click on this link for further information, advice and guidance

Find your local squadron | Royal Air Force Air Cadets
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30/08/2026

40 years separate these two photographs.

The colour image is of 1094 (Ely) Squadron's Summer Camp in Thetford Forest August 2026.

The black and white photo is of 444 (Shoreditch) Squadron's Summer Camp at RAF Honington, August 1986.

Just a few miles separate the two images but 40 years in the difference.

In both photos you can see our Squadron's Commanding Commanding Officer and our Squadron Warrant Officer (Wing DofE Officer and Sector Warrant Officer).

In colour you can see our Squadron Padre (Wing Padre and Army Officer), an RAF fast jet pilot (Microbiologist and Accountant), an RAF Senior Techician, a foster parent, a police forensic scientist and a retired Police Officer.

In black and white you can see young people who went on to be nurses, police officers, the Wing Commander Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing, and the first holder of the Dacre Brooch awarded to the top female cadet nationally and the BBC Correspondent to the United Nations, captured in their youth.

What you cant see is the more than three century's of service, RAF, Army, Police, NHS, as servants of the crown or as Civilians but always in service of their Country and their Community and what you can't see is the thousands upon thousands of lives affected positively by individuals who chose service to others over self.

If you would like to find out more about joining the RAF Air Cadets as a Cadet Forces Adult Volunteer then click on this link below no matter where you live in the UK and your local Squadron will contact you to discuss how YOU can contribute to shaping the next generation.

https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/find-a-squadron/

Commandant Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets

Your local Squadron is recruiting NOW for cadets to join in September. Register your child's interest by clicking on the same link.

1094 Ely Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets

09/10/2026

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