Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC) students past and present were among a 24-strong squadron of Air Cadets at Warbirds Over Wānaka during Easter (April 29-31).  

The squadron was helping with ticketing, gate duty, security and other tasks at the international airshow, and as a treat the young air enthusiasts got to fly in one of the RNZAF’s most iconic aircraft: the C-130H(NZ) Hercules.

“They have so much enthusiasm they need a six-foot body to hold it all,” Cadet Unit Commander Squadron Leader Jill Checketts said.

The iconic C-130H(NZ) Hercules.

“Everybody is on duty and I’m so proud of them, they deserve this experience.”

The No.50 Squadron includes MAC students.

It was the first time Air Cadets from No.50 Squadron (Alexandra) had been on a Hercules and the youngsters were in awe, she said.

The current MAC student cadets were SGT Jack Wyeth, CPL Ryan Clark, LAC Tim Hirsh, LAC Hinato Watanabe, CDT Blake Cotton-Everitt, CDT Dewet Scholtz, CDT Jude Straker, CDT Mitchell Winterburn, CDT Neiko Pratt, CDT Zeppelin Farnell, and CDT Tyler Thomas. Cadets who left MAC at the end of last year were F/SGT Max Knight and SGT Oliver Cohen.

The unit is based in Clyde and 26 cadets travel from Hāwea, Wānaka, Queenstown, Cromwell and Alexandra to train in aviation, bushcraft, navigation, first aid and drill.

PHOTOS: Supplied