Cambridgeshire air cadets on a training camp at RAF Wittering enjoy a visit from the Duchess of Cambridge

Duchess of Cambridge visits RAF Wittering PHOTO: RAF Wittering (Image: Archant)

The cadets were delighted to be visited by Her Royal Highness during their week long training camp.

The Duchess is the Honorary Air Commodore of the Air Cadets and this is the third occasion she has visited the cadets since taking over from the Duke of Edinburgh who held the position for 63 years.

Arriving at RAF Wittering, the Duchess was driven directly to see the aircraft the cadets use to put into practice the theory of flying they learn during their training.

Cadet Sergeant Jordan Bertalaso, 17, a qualified aerospace instructor, sat alongside the Duchess in the cockpit of the aircraft and explained the controls and other aspects of the aircraft.

Jordan said: “Flying is my favourite air cadet activity and it was an honour to show the Duchess the layout of the aircraft.

“It is incredible having such a high profile Royal as our Patron, especially as she has strong links to the Royal Air force with her husband being a former pilot”.

An RAF Wittering spokesman said: “After watching a training session on the flying simulator, the Duchess was invited to “have a go” and proved to be rather capable.

“Leaving the classroom, she joined cadets once again to take part in team building and initiative exercises under the direction of the Royal Air Force Motivational Outreach Team.

“Her next port of call in this short but full programme was to watch cadets being trained to qualify in the safe use of a rifle on a supervised rifle range and how to strip and clean the rifles they have used.

“The Duchess then progressed to witness the cadets in action on the simulated rifle range and, under close supervision, sampled the action.

“All the cadets and the volunteer staff who run the camp and the activities were joined by the Duchess in a group photograph before she departed.”