Onetoone ISSUE 4 2017
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THE RAF CONINGSBY JOURNAL onetoone ISSUE 4 2017 4 CONTENTS ISSUE 4 2017 onetoone 5 FEATURES YOUTH ACPv 08 no 17 (Coningsby) sqn Air Cadets 33 STN CDR’S FOREWORD Coningsby Aviation heritage Centre 10 rAFA Branch visit 11 CHarity Group Captain Michael Baulkwill Lincoln City FC visit rAF Coningsby 12 A year in Pictures 22 scribbly 100 34 wittering to waterloo 35 survival of the Fitters 36 SQuadroN News rAFA Brew for a Few 36 3(F) sqn 14 Xi(F) sqn 16 RAF RESERVES 29(r) sqn 18 reserves Mobilisation 38 41(r) sqn 20 BASE support WING Ex JOINT CATERER 25 Padre’s Pause 26 ENGINEERING & logistics WING Boston slog 28 Ex CAPiToL PatrioT 28 OperatioNS WING BBMF 30 Sport inter-stations Badminton Comp 32 As wE CoME To ThE EnD oF AnoThEr yEAr hErE at royAL Air ForCE ConinGsBy, wE can ALL reflect back on what A ProDuctivE AnD iMPrEssivE yEAr iT hAs BEEn Editorial & Distribution Team Editor’s Foreword • Flight Lieutenant Colette McGinn ISSUE 4 2017 For ThE whoLE STATION. My FinAL EDiTion As been amazing to work with and EDitoR OF onetoone introduced me to the world of AnD MorE deparTurEs publishing, and of course all of you who have submitted articles, We have all done so much; challenging period and my LooM in My LiFE. given it our all and can thoughts are with you over onetoone without you all, we would not safely say it has been one the festive period, the team I am leaving the RAF after a have produced a magazine that of the busiest years we here at Coningsby are here to Editor Publishers fantastic 22 years and my family I’ve been very proud to be part have seen in a very long help so please don’t hesitate Flt Lt Colette McGinn Lance Publishing Ltd, are departing our beautiful of. Finally, my thanks to you the time. Suffice to say our to contact us if you need 1st Floor, Tailby House, Bath Road, homeland for hotter climates. readers; I am pleased to say we support to Operations around assistance. Looking forward Deputy Editor Kettering NN16 8NL. Many changes, but one thing the have surpassed last year’s online the world and at home has to next year, the Royal Air Flt Lt Daisy Tidbury Tel: 01536 512624 RAF has taught me is to embrace readership with nearly 1.5 million been exemplary and I have Force will be celebrating Fax: 01536 515481 change and how to adapt to hits this year already. been deeply impressed with its 100th Anniversary, Distribution Email: [email protected] whatever life throws at us; plus This winter edition’s theme everyone’s commitment, there will be many events Lead: SAC Jason Knight www.lancepublishing.co.uk we have contingency plans B is ‘Giving & Receiving’, apt, with hard work and ability. All of around the Country, suffice Dep: SAC Paul Braley and C in place in case it all goes Christmas soon upon us, but it you, be you Civil Servant, to say Coningsby will be Team: SAC Dean Bruce View onetoone online at horribly wrong! is also something we do all year Contractor, Reserve or at the forefront of those SAC Lewis Wilson www.onetooneonline.co.uk Squadron Leader Ben round in our lives as part of RAF Fulltime Service-Person, can celebrations, providing Design Smy, takes over in the hot seat. Coningsby. You get back what be deeply proud of what personnel, flypasts and Printed By Amanda Robinson I’m sure his enthusiasm and you put in, is something I firmly you have done and that you displays around the United Lance Print Ltd humour will continue to see believe in and our community have delivered exceptional Kingdom, it all promises to be Tel: 01733 390564 Advertising onetoone flourish. would not be a special one if Air Power around the Globe, a wonderful year. Jo Marchant I have many thanks people didn’t make the effort thank you so much. As Lance Publishing Ltd, to give to those who have they do in going that extra mile we approach Christmas, I 1st Floor, Tailby House, Bath Road, assisted me during my tenure. for others to benefit. Please know that many of you will Finally may I wish you all Kettering NN16 8NL The wonderful Dep Ed, our enjoy this edition and have a very have loved ones away from a very Merry Christmas Tel: (01536) 526674 talented photographers, the Merry Christmas. the family, it is always a and a Happy New Year. Email: [email protected] excellent distribution team, Lance Publishers who have Ta’ra for now, Ed. 6 ISSUE 4 2017 7 88 FEATURES ISSUE 4 2017 onetoone 9 AIR COMBAT POWER VISIT ROYAL AIR FOrcE PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT AND AIrcraft GatHERED at RAF CONINGSBY FOR THE ANNUAL AIR COMBat POWER VISIT (ACPV) IN OctOBER. CPV forms part of the ISTAR HQ said, “We have the following Hurricane Irma, how year-long Advanced potential leaders of our Armed we got out there, how quickly A Command and Staff Forces here, it’s important we were able to operate, and Course, (ACSC) undertaken by that they understand what the ability to get access to UK Armed Forces personnel will be available to them as places where other platforms when they are preparing to future commanders. We are can’t go”. move into senior officer posts. genuinely at the cutting edge One of the few assets Each of the forces has an event of technology, indeed some working in a real-time capacity at which they explain their people are surprised by the at ACPV was No 3 Mobile role, and demonstrate the capabilities we have, and there Catering Squadron. ACPV is an One of the supporting assets from the ISTAR display. equipment available to the is more coming” he continued operational deployment for Joint Commander; ACPV is the “The Reserve event was also the Wittering based caterers. personal experience, “Every RAF’s opportunity to showcase incredibly important, we are The secret to successfully day we receive thanks from its assets and capabilities. recruiting reservists and they converting a piece of grass the people eating here, people A secondary aim of are front and centre in the to a catering facility capable will spontaneously approach ACPV is that of defence ISTAR world”. The landscape of of feeding 600 people at us and tell us how much they engagement, explaining ACPV was naturally dominated lunchtime is, like many aspects have enjoyed their food. The to a wide community of by aircraft including the of cooking, in the preparation. feedback you get from people stakeholders how the RAF future Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Sergeant Liu said, “The first is one of the reasons why this delivers its objectives across the P8A Poseidon, and challenge is to plan the is a popular unit to work on”. the whole spectrum of Wing Commander operational activity whether Jardine, the ACPV Lead said, NEED TO that is in space, in the air, on “ACPV presents a unique the ground, on the sea and opportunity to provide below the sea, and in the personnel from both in- and cyber arena. outside the RAF of Air Power The four-day event began capabilities. Force Elements on the Sunday with a Reserves are represented from across TALK? and Cadets day. Among the the Service and also include Air Cadet Squadrons attending joint enablers in addition to SSAFA Personal Support and Social Work Service on Sunday were 1260 from those in blue suits. Newark and District. Jacob, The engagement provides emotional and practical support one of the cadets said, “It’s achieved throughout the to Regulars, Reserves and their families. been a really inspirational day, event is fundamental to us Royal Navy and Army personnel with the Jupiter helicopter. I’ve learned a lot of new things developing awareness across and I would love to do it again the A400M Atlas transport location, where does the tent the Whole Force at all levels Contact our confidential, independent service on: next year” William said, “I’ve aircraft as the largest and go, is the ground suitable? of seniority, experience and been inside multiple aircraft also featured fighters, ground How will the people flow influence. I commend the and really enjoyed my day ”. attack, training aircraft, and through the facility? Where event to anyone able to make Call 03000 111 723 On Monday the event helicopters, not least will we prepare and cook the the time to attend such that Available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year was visited by VIPs and also of which was the new food?” Nothing demonstrates we can develop ourselves and featured a Force Development Jupiter helicopter. a capability better than the Service for the future”. Email [email protected] aspect. Tuesday and Squadron Leader Matt Our offices are also open Monday-Friday 08.30-17.00 Wednesday were taken up Gower of 230 Squadron said, by the ACSC students. ACPV “We have brought one of our is divided into a number Mk 2 Pumas to ACPV. There of themes Combat Air, Air has been a lot of interest from Mobility, Build the Force, our Navy and Army colleagues. Deploy and Sustain, and ISTAR People are familiar with the (Intelligence, Surveillance, Puma 1, at this event we have Target Acquisition and the opportunity to bring Reconnaissance). people up to speed with the Each of these themes new aircraft; effectively we are had equipment available, but now able to fly twice as far more importantly personnel to with twice as much.