The Cadet Residential Training Centre (CRTC) at RAF Little Rissington has officially levelled up its adventure training portfolio with the opening of a brand-new MIAS (Mountain Bike Instructors Award Scheme) Level 1 track.
Air Commodore Al Lewis, Commandant RAF Air Cadets, and Group Captain Dale, Commandant 2 Flying Training School opened the track on 1 April 2026. It marks a significant investment in the cadet experience nationally, providing young people with the opportunity to develop technical bike-handling skills in a controlled yet challenging environment.
Cadets from 136 (Chipping Norton) Squadron and 341 (Preston) Squadron earned the distinction of being the first to put tyres to dirt on the new course, with high energy and progression. Led by Warrant Officer Mark Baines of 341 Squadron, the cadets learnt new skills and by the end of the day, were tackling the course with newfound confidence.
Air Commodore Lewis said “I love my cycling, whether it be road, mountain or gravel and I think its a great way to explore the countryside, beneficial for your fitness, and good to work on your resilience both in terms of physical and mentally and it's a great thing to get stuck into. The RAF does Adventurous training for resilience, teamwork and pushing your boundaries and it's exactly the same in cadets.
For many people its often the first time people have done certain activities or understood their own boundaries, and adventure training is brilliant for that, whether cycling, walking or paddling - everyone has a limit and it's about how closely you want to explore it.”
The successful completion is the culmination of months of meticulous planning and effort. Thank you to Gary Dixon, his dedicated team and 341 (Preston) Squadron; their vision and support has created a course that balances safety with genuine skill development, while their hard work has built a professional-grade MIAS facility.
The new track at RAF Little Rissington is part of a broader commitment to providing world-class facilities for the Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force (RAF). It joins the network of National Cadet Training Centres, including Wittering, Windermere and Inskip, to provide cadets and volunteers with access to a greater variety of equipment, instruction, and opportunities.