A civilian organisation I used to work for were once tasked with shipping around 70 teenagers from the East Midlands to the Isle of Wight. We established that the cost of transporting by coach was higher than hiring Ryanair’s charter jet.
Unfortunately it didn’t happen, but that was due to some small disease that was around a few years ago…
During the run up to and during the event, I have seen it marketed as:
National Muster
National Cadet Muster
Regional Muster
RAFAC Muster
RAFAC Muster23
RAFAC Muster Parade
On the day, the lanyards etc. were calling it MP23 for Muster Parade23
So, it could be interpreted as either a National or Regional Event but by settling on Muster Parade 23 - it doesn’t make it Regional or National. 
But it does make it sound like it’s the only one that will happen this year.
West side use Woodvale/Altcar as we have Chinooks there at least once a year
Make it truly national. Thoughts for the future.
Fly a group of cadets out of Lossie in a P8, or send an A400M. Could also request a helicopter or transport aircraft sent to Leuchars Station
Some helicopters to Aldergrove, for the NI cadets.
Cadets in the south could easily be accommodated to fly out of Benson and Odiham. Why not even ask JHC of we could send a group to Yeovilton…
Wales? Small groups flying out of St Athan, Valley, Shawbury.
Send an A400 to Marham for the cadets who in East Anglia.
You could get lota of cadets airborne, across the UK at the same time. Mix a few highly awarded cadets into the mix, to fly in a Hawk/Texan…
Just trying to find some ideas for future.
The RAF doesn’t have the assets, manpower, or time to do these, I don’t know why we’re so fixated on them.
Let’s just be honest and say that kinetic flying isn’t for the air cadets any more.
There was another thread about “what makes us stand out as an organisation” that definitely would do! Hopefully the links established through senior reviewing officers on D&C camp and other high profile events should see us closer to an opportunity like this.
It’s not unachievable but would require the RAF to buy in at CAS level and say “you will do this”, also not having on the day of the Kings birthday celebration would probably help.
IIRC the first muster at Benson was driven by the Station Commander and was purely for the units that did AEF from Benson. Strangely enough when the Gruppen Fuhrer said to his resident units you will fly X number of Cadets in a day it happened.
I reckon we could get more cadets airborne, with better value for money, and day administered better if we just chartered some jets and flew out of Gatwick, Birmingham, and Prestwick…
And there’s the problem.
Too many people get fixated on RAF dropping everything to support us at every event.
Even if the RAF sign up to transport cadets around the country, do you think that would take priority if there was a greater priority/emergency forces upon them.
But value for money and getting more cadets airborne at the cost of completely missing the point of the organisation. Kids don’t join the RAFAC to fly civvy passenger aircraft . . .
If we want to be less reliant on the RAF for these sorts of events, we need to massively invest in our Viking and Tutor (and replacement) offering, and expand the number of locations we offer flying from.
We can all dream but resources only reduce in size and increase in cost
It is never going to get better - only going to get worse
Many thanks to those that do get what we have to work
Welcome to the Synthetic Cadets
I totally agree with you…
But it’s starting to look like the RAF can’t supply meaningful flying opportunities in quantities that will satisfy the demand.
The next best thing is civvy flying - or do we as an organization just shrug, and say that 900 Cadets out of 30,000 flew in a Chinook this year.
This was not the first Muster and as far as i can tell…previous lessons have not been learnt
I’m sure this is not the only example but RIAT comes to mind.
Although those at Wg Cdr and Sqn Ldr are “full time” HQAC they are still CFAVs…its just their “full time” = primary voluntary role
RIAT is run by volunteers as a week-2 week camp supported by full time HQAC staff abd the RAF
It can be done and done well at a large scale
As an FYI the RIAT team meets in September to start planning for the following year…the first hslf of that weekend planning session is capturing the debrief notes and lessons learnt (specifically what was new/different that year thst did/n’t work
But is that what the cadets join up for? To sit on an aircraft everyone else uses to go on holiday. Its not unique, its not special and isn’t muchbofban experience to shout about imo
Without trying to sound.overly sensible…change the demand by reducing expectations from 100% attendance at a Muster.
The flying isn’t the only thing that takes place at a muster but based on @mprentice1 comments suggesting much of whatnisbon the the ground is seen at airshows its the bit that stands out
If it stands out make surenit stands out for the right reasons not for failing to match unreasonable/unrealistic targets and expectations
You’re probably right.
But that would be the only way to guarantee getting a set amount of cadets airborne at once (without overstretching out parent service).
Did like some of the interviews of the cadets on Instagram…
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ctpjz3oP1nc/?igshid=NjZiM2M3MzIxNA==
I’ve reserved judgement until now, because wading into the people who have volunteered to put this together, when I didn’t even attend myself, would be unfair.
I debriefed one of my senior cadets (who volunteered to help on one of the displays) last night and a couple of his observations are worth mentioning.
"OK, your accommodation for the weekend is at RAF Halton. If you leave now, you might make the mess before it closes. And make sure you’re back here by 07:00 in the morning!"
Why couldn’t the ‘check in’ have been carried out at RAF Halton?
The additional 40 minute drive to Halton meant he didn’t make it in time for dinner, and, he had to leave in the morning before the mess opened for breakfast.
Saturday night the Halton group missed dinner again so went down the pub with some staff 
From Friday night to Sunday afternoon they were provided with ONE meal.
And the extra fuel costs as well.
What an absolute farce! No volunteer should be treated like that, let alone a cadet who’s volunteering!
Cadets going to the pub with the staff, with our new alcohol policy 
Naughty naughty… Clearly the other staff should have gone to the pub and let your cadet stave in their room 