That would’ve been a helluva thrill. I was in the ATC too, eventually got my glider & PPL licences but can’t claim to have flown a jet at all & certainly not at 14. Nice one!
I did get to go in a glider , twice in one day , it was very old , it was open top , I was sat alongside the pilot , they used a giant catapult to take off , didn't get my license though , the air cadets was a great experience , I joined with a couple of mates , we learnt to shoot , went to air shows , I even enjoyed the drill and the parades , wasn't so keen on the itchy trousers .
I was lucky I was third choice to go , the 2nd choice was one of the twins from our squadron , but he went awol so I got his place .
Those trousers were a killer. Rough, stiff, unbelievably heavy & hairy. Had to wear PJs underneath just to make them wearable. Great times though, got to fly in a Chipmunk, a Hercules & Wessex helicopter. Part paid for my glider licence & got me work experience cleaning & eventually taxiing Cessnas at Coventry airport. I think the PlayStation generation loses out in ways they can’t imagine nowadays
