Air defence college set to open in Lincoln

Image source, Lincoln College

Image caption, Students will work alongside the RAF and with specialist engineering firms

4 February 2016

A new college - backed by the Royal Air Force - is set to open in Lincoln.

The Air & Defence Career College will give students the chance to work on RAF bases and with associated engineering firms.

Students can specialise in engineering, computer sciences or catering, and will train with the RAF as part of the curriculum.

The courses will be run by Lincoln College from its site on Monks Road, starting in September.

Former RAF Wing Commander Gary Headland, Lincoln College Group CEO, said he was "hugely proud to be launching our Air and Defence Career College, supported by the RAF, in Lincolnshire, a county with such a rich Royal Air Force heritage.

"Our students will have unrivalled access to RAF and Air Defence industry expertise and environments."

RAF in Lincolnshire

Image source, MOD

RAF Cranwell is home to the Central Flying School - which came about after Robert Smith-Barry raised concerns over the lack of training for new pilots
The Dambusters flew from RAF Scampton on 16 May 1943, armed with experimental "bouncing" bombs
Lincolnshire - which is known as Bomber County - was home to thousands of men who flew bombing raids during the Second World War
The county is also home to the Red Arrows - the RAF's aerobatic display team
RAF Coningsby, along with Scotland's RAF Lossiemouth, are both home to the Eurofighter Typhoon
The Lincolnshire base is also home to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Reaper drones controlled by military staff are based at RAF Waddington