2235 (Deal) Squadron - Royal Air Force Air Cadets

People have been asking if we have any before and after photographs of our Mobile Flight Simulator project. For those that have been following the build on this page you will know that 90% of those taken have been uploaded to here. We have also been asked if we are using it yet.... So to answer all the questions we have uploaded a video from start to our first public outing.
Video now uploaded with previously unseen test flight footage and cinematic Royalty Free sound track. The Flight Simulator has been a year in the making and this video captures the complete build to flight training with cadets.

Yesterday’s Deal Classic Motor Show was a great outing for our Mobile Flight Simulator. We flew young and older 😊 from 09:30 to 16:30. A couple of minor hiccups that delayed a couple of flights nearer the end of the day, but that’s what “Shakedowns” are for👍🏻😃. Back to the Squadron to tweak a couple of computer related issues, and I’m confident we could fly to Australia and back (simulated)🤣.
The cadets and staff enjoyed meeting the public and followers of our FB page. Many ...potential new recruits and a couple of potential new members of staff as well.
Civilian Committee members work alongside the staff and cadets engaging with the public and selling raffle tickets and their help on the day was invaluable. We are still recruiting both Staff and Cadets if you would like to get involved. You could also join our Civilian Committee and work on fund raising ideas where you would be welcomed by the team.
See More

Over 12 months in the making and the Mobile Flight Simulator is ready for display to the public tomorrow at the Deal Classic Car Show. Final tests were completed yesterday and work on its own trailer completed also. We have 15 minute time slots available, which can be booked throughout the day, but if you are planning a flight, I would suggest booking your slot early as interest in flights has been huge. If you wish to book a longer flight you can purchase two or more slots. 👍🏻😃

Mobile Flight Simulator with training wheels removed, all grown up now sporting its new pneumatic aircraft wheels. Climb in now, not fall in 👍🏻😂. Less than a week to go until the Classic Car Show. We’ll be running some endurance/reliability tests this week to make sure the flight sim performs well on the day.
We are also looking now at other local events that the Flight Sim can be flown at...... Keep watch for further details.

Today some of the squadron attended a memorial in St Margaret’s to honour the crew of a badly damaged WW2 American bomber that crash landed. The pilot’s family attended from America and after the service they spent a little time thanking the cadets. Some pictures below

Just 10 Days to go until the Deal Classic Car Show. We have our pitch details and you will find us close to the Lifeboat Station. You shouldn’t miss us as we have the massive Air Cadet Gazebo to protect us against the sun or rain, and a huge teardrop flag. We are currently running reliability checks on the mobile flight simulator.... We don’t want any computer crashes on the day 😃👍🏻. The flight sim itself will be sporting some rather chunky new aircraft wheels and tires by... next week 😃. All part of improvements to the design. We also plan to have a wireless camera mounted so that spectators can watch the concentration as (you the pilot) approach the runway threshold..... don’t worry, we have a well designed ventilation system for those sweaty brows 🤣😂🤣. I should point out that we have imposed an age limit of 12yrs and above due to reaching the controls and the complexity of the flight. ☹️
The Staff, Cadets and Civilian Committee will be looking forward to chatting with visitors and potential new recruits about the opportunities available to new cadets and adult volunteers. CivCom are running a Raffle to win a wheelbarrow full of booze (over 18s only) So if you fancy a flight sim experience (small fee) or a chance of winning a tipple or two, pop along to Deal seafront on 25th May.
See More

The Squadron welcomes our two new uniformed members of staff: Flight Sergeant Stuart Archie-Gemmell & Sergeant Jack Gilbey.
Stuart served with the Royal Engineers including tours in Afghanistan. He’s no stranger to the squadron having been a member of our Civilian Committee. Stuart has a wealth of military experience to bring to the squadron including fieldcraft and military engineering. Stuart has also been an Air Cadet in his youth, so no stranger to wearing a blue Bere...t.
Jack has been part of the Air Cadets since he was 14, serving in two squadrons 1242 (Faversham) and the last five years at 2235 (Deal) most recently as a Civilian Instructor. Jack has been instrumental in the construction of our Mobile Flight Simulator and is the Squadron’s Aviation Officer, delivering flight training on the squadron’s flight simulators and aviation studies.
See More

Only a few weeks to go before our Mobile Flight Simulator is on show to the public at the Classic Car Show on the seafront in Deal/Walmer. We will be offering flights with an instructor throughout the day, so a chance to fly over Deal & Dover Castles at the controls of our fantastic flight simulator.
There will also be plenty of opportunity to talk with the Staff and cadets about joining the RAF Air Cadets and all of the exciting activities available to you as a member of 2235 Squadron.
Please note: if you are planning to visit us at the show, we have an age restriction of 12yrs and over to fly the Flight Simulator, this is due to the technical nature of the equipment and the simulator, it is not a theme park ride.

Last night the Squadron had a visit from Deal Rotary Club where Dave Lister presented a cheque for £250.00. A very generous donation to our Mobile Flight Simulator Project. The cheque was received by Civilian Instructor Ken Gilbey (flight simulator project lead). We would like to publicly thank the Rotary Club Deal for their valued support of this project and of 2235 Squadron RAF Air Cadets.

2235 (Deal) Recruiting Now!

Mobile Flight Simulator Update: 11 months after buying the Reliant Robin shell we can finally say we have completed the project. There are a couple of snags to tidy up but on the whole we have completed the build and install. You might notice in one of the interior shots a small piece of red speaker cable. These are yet to be wired into the main switches but once wired will be the new LED interior lighting. The engine compartment needs cable ties and routing and the addit...ion of a UPS for continued electrical supply when running off a generator. Software updates have been installed to X Plane 11 giving photo realistic scenery down to zero feet without pixelation. Castles, harbours and piers and other landmarks are all perfectly redrawn exactly as they are in real life. Watch for future screen shots.
Phase two will be the purchase of a printed Gazebo, pop ups & flags along with a 4kva Generator. Once all the sponsors have been found to complete phase two, a vinyl graphic will be made for the rear bulkhead advertising and thanking our sponsors for their support with this project. Don’t forget, we are appearing a the Custom Car Show in Deal May 25th.
See More

Mobile Flight Sim Update: I’ll keep this short as I’m sure these posts are a bit repetitive but it’s a good way to keep a record of progress. More vinyl wrapping, decals, and the latest update applied to Xplane 11 today.

Cadet flight training has begun on our mobile flight Simulator. Two cadets every parade night get an hour’s flying lesson with experienced instructors. They are issued with their own Pilots Log Book and their flight recorded. Just external vinyl wrap and decals to finish this project. We have also secured our first outing which unless another earlier opportunity arises will be the Deal Classic Car Show in May.

Mobile Flight Simulator Update: Today our Project was picked up by the Metro Newspaper and has been distributed across London’s rail network including London Underground. Hundreds of thousands of people across London and The Home Counties are finding out today what we at 2235 already know........”we’re simply the best”

A couple of screen shot photos during one of the latest test flights of our fully mobile flight simulator. We are looking forward to getting it out to the public during 2019👍🏻😃
As a foot note: If there are any adults with an interest in aviation either civilian or ex military, living in or around Deal and would like to become an instructor at 2235 Squadron we are in desperate need of more adult volunteers, especially those willing to go into uniform. Pay us a visit any Tuesday or Thursday evening and meet the current team for a chat. Who knows, you could be taking this bad boy for a spin this year. 😃👍🏻

Mobile Flight Simulator Update: Finally the interior is finished (apart from a good vacuum & dusting). Left and right window monitors installed and working, right hand leather door card fitted. Wiring harness through door pillars sleeved and holes fitted with rubber grommets for electrical safety and compliance. Updated South of England scenery add on to X plane 11 and the detail is outstanding! Vinyl wrap taking longer than planned but the finished results will be worth the effort.

Mobile Flight Simulator Update: Vinyl wrap is not as easy to do as it looks in YouTube videos, that said, amazing progress today, a few tiny errors but nothing that will spoil the finish. Only a third through the wrapping process but visually the flight sim is beginning to look close to finishing. The whole squadron is looking forward to training on the Sim but also looking forward to showing it off in public.😃👍🏻