Cadet Daniel Whittam “cuts it fine” to pull ‘3G’ with The Blades

Thirteen year old Cadet Daniel Whittam knows his RAF abbreviations and because of that won himself a fantastic opportunity to fly with The Blades, the unique four-aircraft aerobatics team, during the Press Day for the RAF Waddington International Airshow.

Daniel, a member of 1005 (Radcliffe) Squadron, East Lancs Wing, saw the competition on the ACO’s website where entrants had to say what the abbreviation ISTAR stood for.

He completed his answer and “ran to the Post Office on the last possible date to enter”. Daniel broke the winning news on Facebook after other competitors started asking who won!

Daniel has only been a member of 1005 Squadron for about 10 months but has already been gliding and completed a first aid course. He has a fascination with display teams having visited the Red Arrows and completed a school project on ‘The Reds’ too.

After his 15 minute flight with “Blade 4”, Mark Cutmore (all Blades pilots are former members of the Red Arrows), Daniel said it was “really good to see the other aircraft so close when we were in formation and up close with them” and although slightly disappointed that some of the more extreme manoeuvres were off-limits as he had a cold (they still pulled 3g!), it was still a “great day”.

As well as the flight Daniel also got a full set of pilot autographs and a goodie bag from the RAF Waddington Airshow organisers. After his flight, Daniels and his family were able to stay in the Press enclosure and watch practice displays including a rare UK display by the US Air Force's Thunderbirds display team.

Oh yes, and ISTAR stands for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance." And you will find the “Blades” at www.theblades.biz