Ely Air Cadet Flight Sergeant Davis Russellcook was awarded his Gold Advanced Gliding Wings on the runway at RAF Honington.
His wings were handed over by the officer commanding 611 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, Squadron Leader Daniel Vincent-Parker RAFAC.
RAF Honington and its runway was once home to RAF Fast Jets and low level nuclear strike aircraft such as the Bucaneer and Tornado but is now home to the RAF Regiment and 611 VGS who operate the RAF's Viking gliders for Air Cadet training.
FS Russelcook first flew a glider solo and gained his Silver Gliding Wings at 644 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF Syerston and was successful in his application to become a Flight Staff Cadet at 611 Squadron.
Flight staff cadets remain as members of their Air Cadet units but are an integral part of operations at RAF Air Cadet Volunteer Gliding Squadrons all over the country.
Recommended Reading: Council proposes cuts to SEND funding
The VGS volunteer RAFAC Staff receive expert instruction themselves from the staff at the RAF Central Gliding School at RAF Syerston.
Air cadets up and down the country attend Gliding Induction Flights at their nearest RAFAC Gliding School and through the Air Cadet progressive training syllabus cadets can be selected to attend courses that can lead to them flying solo without an instructor for the first time and achieving their Silver glider pilots wings.
To attain their Gold Wings, cadets have a further advanced course of training to pass and a further five solo flights to complete.
FS Russellcook is also a qualified winch driver at 611, also helps to prepare cadets for their flights, using powerful winches to launch the gliders thousands of feet into the air.
Flight Sergeant Russellcook said: "I am so grateful for all the encouragement and expert instruction I have received from all my gliding instructors.
"Being a flight staff cadet is the pinnacle of my cadet career, being part of the amazing team at 611 is the most satisfying thing anyone with a love of aviation could experience.
"Every weekend we get to see those "first flight smiles" and the impact even just one or two flights can have on a cadet's confidence and self-esteem.
"My ambition is to become one of those instructors delivering those first flights to other cadets here at 611."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here