As has widely been reported, since 2017, the Guild has developed a very close relationship with RAF Cosford, home to the RAF’s No.1 School of Technical Training, and latterly, the newly reformed No.2 SoTT.

Eleven Guild members from both the Midland and West Regions attended on Tuesday 14th May where we were given a very warm welcome by the School.

Training at the School on airframes is undertaken in Hangar 109, where at the time of our visit, were located 6 x Mk1 Apache, 5 x Gazelle and 4 x Mk 8 Lynx.

It’s not often that one is given the chance of getting up close and personal with an Apache and it was a wonderful opportunity to do so. Even though the Mk 1 is now retired from front-line service, the helicopter is a fearsome beast and quite intimidating in its very dark green colour scheme.

Following our usual format, all present spent most of the day sketching (many featuring Apaches) and at 3.00pm we convened an informal Crit session on the hangar floor which members of the School sat in to observe.

As Lyneham is located very much in the Guild’s West Region, whilst I was the lead Guild point of contact for getting this new relationship off the ground, I now look forward to Rob Hames developing closer ties with SAAE going forward, and which hopefully will feature many more visits to Hangar 109 as time goes by.

Phil Hadley GAvA Midland Region Organiser