The Air Cadet Organisation has been presented with the new Aircadet Community Engagement (ACE) Platform thanks to the very generous support of the Royal Air Force Charitable trust. The platform, brainchild of North Region Commandant, Group Captain John Middleton OBE, is effectively a mobile Regional Activity Centre with all the state of the art computers and soft ware, but can be taken into the community and have a host of other uses.

 

 

The ACE platform concept is of a towable trailer with its own power supply fully fitted out with a comprehensive IT suite, satellite broadband and an onboard server, capable of delivering a host of information and activities. The unit is also equipped with radio facilities and has provision for a flight simulator, similar to those in the Regional Activity Centres. When used as a mobile activity centre, it is the ideal method of delivering high tech training at a squadron or headquarters.

 

 

The platform can be used as the main Air Cadet Organisation display at priority one air shows and town shows, but can also be used at a host of other events such as recruiting, annual camps and activity days. The big advantage of a mobile unit is that it can also be used as an outreach facility, showcase the ACO to influential people by taking the information to them and aid the RAF Charitable Trust in its work in increasing air-mindedness amongst young people.

 

The handover ceremony took place on Sunday 19th July 2009 on the second day of the Royal International Air Tattoo 2009 at RAF Fairford in the presence of HRH The Duke of Kent and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Glenn Torpy.

 

 

 

Presenting the platform to Commandant Air Cadets at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2009 held at RAF Fiarford, Chairman of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, Air Chief Marshal Sir John Cheshire said, “The RAFCT is delighted to have made such a large contribution towards the ACE Platform. Even though this is an expensive project, by any standards, it does tick all the boxes for us”

 

 

“It is an ideal vehicle for promoting air-mindedness amongst the youth of today; it can be deployed to the heart of deprived areas and give underprivileged youngsters a chance to see and experience high tech aviation close to their own backyards; it is equipped with the very latest technology which certainly has a 'wow factor' but, more importantly, demonstrates so well the world in which the contemporary RAF and its Air Cadets now routinely operate.”

 

 

“Every year, we rely heavily on around 700 Air Cadets who volunteer to come and help run the Air Tattoo at Fairford. RIAT 2009 is therefore the perfect time and place to hand over a facility of this sort to the Air Cadets at large.”

 

Accepting the platform on behalf of the Air Cadet Organisation, Commandant, Air Commodore Ian Stewart added, “The idea of an interactive Air Cadet Engagement Platform is exciting and innovative. I am delighted that our concept has been generously sponsored by the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. The Air Cadet Organisation offers more activities to young people than any other youth organisation in the United Kingdom and this ACE platform adds another dimension to the Air Cadet Organisation.”

 

“On behalf of the 44,000 Air Cadets, I offer my gratitude to the Charitable Trust for supporting us and helping us remain the best youth organisation in the world. I am proud to receive the first of our ACE Platforms from the Trustees at this year's successful Royal International Air Tattoo.”

 

 

After ACM Sir John Cheshire unveiled a commemorative plaque the platform was officially opened by ACM Sir Glenn Torpy with the ceremonial cutting of a ribbon at the main entrance door. The VIP Guests were then shown round the facility by Group Captain Middleton and the North Region QAIC Graduate Cadets who were on hand to demonstrate the equipment. HRH The Duke of Kent was particularly keen to learn about what was available and took the opportunity to try out the flight simulator, expertly landing a Red Arrows Hawk at RAF Valley. Before leaving the Duke also took the time to shake hands with and speak to every “Team RIAT 2009“ cadet who had formed part of the welcoming group outside and showed a keen interest in what they had been doing as members of the ACO.

 

The ACE Platform is capable of taking up to 18 Students at its 6 Computer Terminals, (Which can be supplemented with another 4 lap tops computers) delivering presentations via an Active Board, provide opportunities to experience flight on the Flight Simulator, train students on both the Radio Suite and the Air Traffic Control simulator.

 

Secondary uses of the platform could include using as a Classroom, Press Office, Emergency Response Centre, Hospitality Suite or even as a Business Continuity Platform.

 

 

 

North Region Commandant and project manager Group Captain John Middleton added, “This is the first ACE platform we have to give thanks to the very generous support of the RAF Charitable Trust. Our intent is to have another two units, allowing us to combine more than one if required, or visit three locations with a long term aspiration to have six and base one in each Region. A huge amount of work and planning has gone into bringing us to this point. A great many people have worked tremendously hard to get us here today for which I thank them. The way forward for the Air Cadet Organisation is to be innovative and exploit technology for the benefit of future generations.”

 

The ACE Platform is mobile and can attend a host of venues where it can be used to its greatest advantage. The set up is that it is delivered on site and then collected by MT and it is a massive investment in the organisation.

 

 

Helping to demonstrate the platform during the Tattoo Instructor were a team of Qualified Aerospace Instructors course graduates from North Region.

 

Cadet Warrant Officer Tom Keable of 36 (Hetton-le-Hole) Squadron said, “I think the platform is a fantastic tool for cadet engagement and will be instrumental in sharing the Air Cadet experience with the public and young people in particular.”

 

 

Instructor Cadet Warrant Officer Chelsey Palmer-Williams of 2517 (Buxton) Squadron added, “It’s been great to meet the people who funded and helped this platform happen and RIAT is the best place to introduce it to the public and cadet community.”

 

Comparing the mobile unit to the Regional Activity Centres, Cadet Flight Sergeant Liam Gardner of 174 (Manchester) Squadron said, “The mobile units take all that is best about the fixed Regional Activity Centres and makes it available to the entire Air Cadet Community. This means that everyone will be able to reap the benefits of an activity centre because it can now come to them.”

 

 

Instructor Cadet Warrant Officer Chris Clarke of 1507 (Chester-le-Street) Squadron said, “The mobile unit gives the public fantastic hands on access to what the air cadets have to offer. The platform can also double up as a Public Relations tool for VIP’s and the general public.”

 

Instructor Cadet Flight Sergeant Ryan Hughes of 292 (Eccles) Squadron added, “The Ace Platform along with the Regional Activity Centres gives cadets a new way of learning which can benefit all learning styles instead of more traditional methods. It’s a great way to keep up with modern technology and innovative ways of teaching.”

 

 

During the course of the weekend the platform has had some very high profile visitors including Chief of the Air Staff (Designate), Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton and Lady Anne Dalton, Air Member for Personnel, Air Marshal Simon Bryant, many members of the Board of Trustees of the RAF Charitable Trust and of course, hundreds of members of the public of al ages and many of the thousands of Air Cadets who either attended or worked at the Air Show. The platform was the centrepiece of a large ACO display this year which included Vigilant and Viking gliders and one of the new ACO climbing walls.