What is the ATC?
The Air Training Corps (ATC) is part of the Air Cadet Organization (ACO) which also includes Royal Air Force (RAF) sections of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). The ATC is a voluntary youth organisation supported by the RAF.
With approximatley 53,000 members aged from 13 to 20 years and over 1,000 Squadrons, the ATC is one of the country's highly established youth organisations. It is by far the world's largest youth air training organisation. The cadets are supported by volunteer staff of nearly 10,000 with an additional 5,000 Civilian Committee members.
The Air Training Corps is the largest operator of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and perhaps its not surprising when you learn that HRH Prince Philip is the ATC's Commodore-in-Chief. HRH Prince Philip takes a keen interest in the organisation and all of its members.
'Air Cadets' get the opportunity of flying in RAF and commercial aircraft - many progressing to achieve Flying Scholarships and their Private Pilots Licence (PPL). The Corps has charitable status and is not a recruiting organisation for the RAF although many members do go on to have careers within the RAF, other Services or civilian life. At time of this print, approximately 50% of all aircrew (pilots, navigators and NCO aircrew) and 40% of Officers are ex-cadets.
VISION
To ensure the ACO continues to flourish and to remain true to the ideals laid down in its charter, especially the provision of adequate and other challenging activities.
MISSION
In a constantly changing society, the mission of the ATC is to uphold a vibrant and worthwhile ACO supported by trained and committed staff.
AIMS
The aims of the ACO are clear, demonstrating the ideals of producing enthusiastic and thoughtful young men and women who will strive to achieve in whatever walk of life they choose.
The three fundamental aims are:
To promote and encourage among young people a practical interest in aviation and the RAF.
To provide training which will be useful in both the services and civilian life
To foster the spirit of adventure and to help develop the qualities of leadership and citizenship
History of the ATC
The Air Training Corps (ATC) was founded on the 5th February 1941 with King Gorge VI as its Air Commodore in Chief. He was also issuing a Royal Warrant setting out the Corps' aims.
In August 1941 the Corp was given its motto VENTURE ADVENTURE, which was devised by Air Commodore Chamier, who is known as the Father of the ATC. This motto was incorporated into the ATC badge along with the Corp Ensign which was approved by King George VI.
As well as sporting events like boxing, swimming, football and cricket, Squadrons would also visit RAF and Fleet Air Arm stations as part of their training to get them flying. The Corp did not receive their own aircraft until 1943 when the government set up a special flight of 10 aircraft Oxfords and Dominies for the purpose of giving cadets flying experience and within a few years these aircraft were replaced with 14 Avro Anson aircraft located at various airfields around the country.
In 1945 with the end of the war the ATC formally became a part of the RAF by joining the RAF Reserved Command. This meant that it could now have serving RAF officers at its head as well as forming even closer links to the RAF.
As well as the powered flying fleet the ATC also had a glider fleet and by 1946 the Corps had 350 Kirby gliders with a further 165 still to come into service. These planes were spread between 84 gliding schools at various RAF stations. Here cadets would learn the basics of gliding but the Kirby was only a single seated glider so in 1948 it was decided that a new two seated glider would be purchased enabling cadets to receive instruction while flying, and not from the briefing and through a radio set as before. So in 1950 the first two seated glider, the Slingsby T21b, came into service.
Despite a much improved access to gliding the Corps still lacked sufficient means to take cadets powered flying so in a bid to improve this a flying scholarship scheme was introduced to take up to 250 cadets a year and train them to the level in order
to obtain their Private Pilots License. Another scheme was also introduced to get local flying clubs to take cadets flying but this was abandoned after 5 years as it was not popular. So in 1957 it was decided that the corps would have it own fleet of powered aircraft in the form of the Chipmunk. 50 of these aircraft where purchased and located at 13 Squadrons around the country.
By 1970 a decision was made to introduce a self launching glider. This glider had an engine and propeller in order for it to taxi and takeoff on it's own without the use of a winch. But once attaining the correct height the engine was turned off and the prop was feathered. The plane decided to take the ATC into this new era was the Scheibe Falke 25B, The Venture Mk 2.
By 1982 it was decided that the corps had been missing something. That there was an area of the population that had been untapped and it was then that females were introduced. They were issued the same uniform and received the same training as their counter parts but were restricted on camps, only being allowed to go if suitable facilities were available to accommodate them.
Over 50 years on since the formation of the Air Training Corps. It still lives up to the goals and values set down by its founder Air Commodore Chamier. Cadets still enjoy the activities that cadets did when the ATC was formed but these activates have expanded and cadets now do more a year in the various activities than the cadets 50 years ago could ever imagine.