CALDICOT air cadet Sophie Hallam took to the skies at the world’s biggest airshow in the RAF’s newest military transport aircraft, the A400M Atlas.

Sophie, 16, was one of twenty air cadets chosen to fly in the RAF’s next-generation air transport plane as a ‘thank you’ for the hard work they had put in helping to set up facilities at the airshow.

Following the flight over Bristol - where the A400M’s wings are produced –Sophie, who is a Cadet Flight Sergeant with 2012 (Caldicot) Squadron Air Training Corps, said: “The A400M is my favourite aircraft, so it has been amazing to be able to fly in one.”

The RAF Air Cadets is one of the UK’s largest youth organisations, providing more than 40,000 young people across the UK and overseas with training, adventure and opportunities to fly. Since joining the air cadets Sophie has attended camps all over the United Kingdom and said: “The air cadets has built up my confidence and I’ve made friends from all over the country and even Sweden.”

In May this year, during Wales and West Wing Air Cadets 75th anniversary celebrations in Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, Sophie was chosen to read the tale of David and Goliath in Welsh. Among the attendees was Air Officer for Wales, Air Commodore Adrian Williams and the Commandant of the Air Cadets Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty.

Sophie met RAF co-pilot of the A400M Flight Lieutenant Rebecca Lee from LXX Sqn based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, who said “It was nice to see and inspire the next generation, and the Air Cadets is where I started.”

With her feet back on the ground at Fairford, Sophie will now join more than 1,000 air cadets on duty at the Royal International Air Tattoo. The Air Tattoo is the biggest airshow in the world, and this year sees the UK debut of the Royal Navy and RAF’s advanced stealth fighter, the F-35B Lightning.

2016 marks Sophie’s second time working at the Air Tattoo. She said: “It’s been great fun meeting new people, especially the cadets from the International Air Cadet Exchange.”

Inspired? Find out more about adventure with 2012 (Caldicot) Squadron ATC by calling 01291 431038