A very sad day. It started very early as we need to pack and tidy up but we then went for our final spectacular full English Breakfast. We then returned to the accommodation and loaded our luggage onto the minibus and began our long trip home. However we were thoroughly entertained by jokes that had been developing throughout the course of the weekend.
The trip home was full of life and laughing and the two comedians even gave a detailed "Red arrows" style description of the aircraft landing.
The hardest part was saying goodbye. Many of the females were crying as we had evolved into one big family and therefore became inseparable. However we hope to remain in contact for a long time too come and hopefully we will meet up again at some stage.
Saturday, 2 April 2011
Day 4 - Thursday 31st March
Thursday started the same as every other day with a lovely breakfast at the Snug.
We then travelled to Episkopi Garrison and went on the DCCT range were we fired a variety of adapted weapons such as the SA 80, GPMG and the HMG which didn't half give a kick back. We also got the chance to have a photo at the guard room and a group photo on the field behind the range.
For the rest of the day we had a look around so more roman ruins and spent time on the beach sun bathing.
On the evening we travelled of the base to go to the recommended "Chris's Kebabs" where we had a 6 course meal with all the Pitta Bread that you can eat. It was a fantastic meal with a fantastic group of people eating it.
We then travelled to Episkopi Garrison and went on the DCCT range were we fired a variety of adapted weapons such as the SA 80, GPMG and the HMG which didn't half give a kick back. We also got the chance to have a photo at the guard room and a group photo on the field behind the range.
For the rest of the day we had a look around so more roman ruins and spent time on the beach sun bathing.
On the evening we travelled of the base to go to the recommended "Chris's Kebabs" where we had a 6 course meal with all the Pitta Bread that you can eat. It was a fantastic meal with a fantastic group of people eating it.
Day 3 - Wednesday 30th March
Wednesday started with another gorgeous full English Breakfast with both a fried and poached egg this time.
After having that exotic breakfast we made our way to the Dog Section where we were given a tour of all the dogs that they had and what roles the played on the base. This included dogs that belonged to people on the base and dogs that are there to be re homed after service in the RAF. We were also given a demonstration of how the police dogs were trained to bring down criminals using highly padded jackets.
After having an amazing time at the Dog Section, we then travelled to the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Display Team, The Red Arrows. Firstly, we got a tour of the aircraft and got the opportunity to look into the cockpit and were told how the systems work and how the smoke is produced. We then went to meet the pilots and got to sit in on the opening brief where they went through the display verbally and were informed of various flying figures i.e. altitudes. We were then taken to the lighthouse cliff of the airbase where Red 10 talked us through our very own eye level display in which everything was at our level. After the display had ended we returned to the briefing room where we sat through some of the debrief and listened to the talking through what happened up in the air.
On the night we went bowling on the bowling alley at the base where we got 3 games for 3 teams to play so it was a fun and exciting competition. After this we returned to the accommodation where it was up too our discretion about what we did.
After having that exotic breakfast we made our way to the Dog Section where we were given a tour of all the dogs that they had and what roles the played on the base. This included dogs that belonged to people on the base and dogs that are there to be re homed after service in the RAF. We were also given a demonstration of how the police dogs were trained to bring down criminals using highly padded jackets.
After having an amazing time at the Dog Section, we then travelled to the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Display Team, The Red Arrows. Firstly, we got a tour of the aircraft and got the opportunity to look into the cockpit and were told how the systems work and how the smoke is produced. We then went to meet the pilots and got to sit in on the opening brief where they went through the display verbally and were informed of various flying figures i.e. altitudes. We were then taken to the lighthouse cliff of the airbase where Red 10 talked us through our very own eye level display in which everything was at our level. After the display had ended we returned to the briefing room where we sat through some of the debrief and listened to the talking through what happened up in the air.
On the night we went bowling on the bowling alley at the base where we got 3 games for 3 teams to play so it was a fun and exciting competition. After this we returned to the accommodation where it was up too our discretion about what we did.
Day 2 - Tuesday 29th March
Well after a late finish, we still had too be up rather early. We set off for the Snug restraunt at 7.30 where we sat a lovely full english breakfast. We then went to the Lightning FMk 6 to get a group photograph with the Station Commander who said that he hoped that we had a good time.
After finishing the 20 minute photography session we drove to the entrance of the USAF pan (hangers and tarmac area) where we watched the U2 aircraft taxi and take off. 7 of the group were lucky enough to have a ride in the chase cars during this take off and got to listen to the pilots guiding the actual pilot along the runway (this is because the pilot struggles to see anything out of the cockpit due to the design of the aircraft and the suit the pilot wears). After watching this take off we split into two groups and went to see both the Aircraft in the hanger and the suit that the pilots wear including the food that they eat. We then swapped after 30 minutes.
After we had left the U2 we travelled back to the accomadation and got changed into something more beachy ready for the beach itself. We all met up and travelled the 30 minutes to a lovely beach just outside of the base. The people who wanted a tan remained on the beach, the historians amongst us went to the Roman ruins which surrounded the beach and the nutters that were there mainly me and the other comedian that was there. After about 2 hours on the beach, we all travelled to other roman ruin locations and had a brief look around before returning to the base to get changed for dinner.
After dinner we visited Number 1 (Overseas) Squadron and attended one of their parade nights. We then went to the Snug Café and played pool. We returned to the accomadation block and we had free time.
After finishing the 20 minute photography session we drove to the entrance of the USAF pan (hangers and tarmac area) where we watched the U2 aircraft taxi and take off. 7 of the group were lucky enough to have a ride in the chase cars during this take off and got to listen to the pilots guiding the actual pilot along the runway (this is because the pilot struggles to see anything out of the cockpit due to the design of the aircraft and the suit the pilot wears). After watching this take off we split into two groups and went to see both the Aircraft in the hanger and the suit that the pilots wear including the food that they eat. We then swapped after 30 minutes.
After we had left the U2 we travelled back to the accomadation and got changed into something more beachy ready for the beach itself. We all met up and travelled the 30 minutes to a lovely beach just outside of the base. The people who wanted a tan remained on the beach, the historians amongst us went to the Roman ruins which surrounded the beach and the nutters that were there mainly me and the other comedian that was there. After about 2 hours on the beach, we all travelled to other roman ruin locations and had a brief look around before returning to the base to get changed for dinner.
After dinner we visited Number 1 (Overseas) Squadron and attended one of their parade nights. We then went to the Snug Café and played pool. We returned to the accomadation block and we had free time.
Day 1 - Monday 28th March
This was a very long and I suppose tense day. We were all told to meet at Terminal one of Manchester Airport at 14.30pm where we all introduced ourselves. As you can imagine, this was a very quiet part of such an amazing week. However, as we passed through security and made our way into duty free we all started to open up a bit more and start to acquaint ourselves whilst looking at the extortionately priced items that could be purchased from the various stores inside the Duty Free area.
Enough moaning about Duty Free ... Once we had boarded the Aeroplane it became a chatty environment with everyone starting to get too know each other. Even the cameras were out at this point (from this point they were never put away).
After a 5 hour flight and a long sleep for some, we arrived at Larnac Airport where we were greeted by a minibus supplied by Akrotiri. It was another hour on the Minibus before we arrived at Akrotiri but everyone was entertained by my super quiz that i had prepared and my amazing jokes which everyone joined in on.
We arrived at RAF Akrotiri early on Tuesday morning where we were informed of our sleeping accommodation and issued with a bed and pillow. We were then informed of the wake up time for the morning and went to bed.
Thursday, 24 March 2011
3 Days to Go
Well... there are only three days to go before I travel to RAF Akrotiri. I am really looking forward to the experience and the change to meet some amazing things. I have been informed that we are going to spend a day with the infamous Red Arrows Display Team along with getting to see the US U2 spy plane. The trip sounds great, all I had too do to prepare was get some euros together as spending money and pack to go. I think this experience will also improve my career prospects as it shows my enthusiasm to try new things and show my sense of adventure, whilst also improving my confidence by making brand new friends that I will meet on the trip! Finding out about the Trip was easy too!!! All the information was on the Air Cadet Bader system which my Wing operates so I was almost immediately informed of this fantastic opportunity. To apply I just sent an application form along with a résumé of my Air Cadet career to my Wing Headquarters who then submitted it too the Regional commandant who then picked me to go.
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