PILOTS of the future are getting the chance to hone their flying skills while their feet remain firmly on the ground.

Cadets at Blackburn Air Training Corps are benefiting from a new flight simulator that cost almost £1,000 to build and allows them the opportunity to sit in the cockpit of a host of different planes.

For cadets who attend the club at Witton Stocks, Preston Old Road, every Tuesday and Friday, the new equipment is proving popular.

Designed and built by training officer Phil Jenkins - with the help of cadets Philip Thomas, 16, and Gareth Taylor, 17 - the simulator plunges would-be pilots in to a makeshift cockpit with joysticks to control the flight software and even equipment to control the throttle and rudder.

Made out of plywood, the simulator has two computer screens, one showing the cockpit panels, the other giving a glimpse of the world view surrounding the plane.

Built between September and Christmas last year, Mr Jenkins said it was an important system for the 50-or-so cadets to be able to use.

He said: "It's an educational tool for the cadets and teaches then about flight controls.

"They experience flying in gliders at Samlesbury BAE Systems and RAF Woodvale, near Southport, but that is only every few months yet we can use this every night."

The PC software used on the simulator allows cadets to fly different aircraft including fighter jets such as the Tornado and Typhoon.

For the two cadets who helped build the simulator it was a source of immense pride to have been able to work on the project.

Philip, of Cherry Tree, Blackburn, said he hopes to become an RAF engineer within two years and Gareth, from Pleasington, has similar aspirations.

Gareth added: "We came down here on Saturdays and spent two or three hours building it. It's good because we know we have built it."

Much of the money for the project came out of air cadet funds and a charity event at Dugdale Bowling club, Blackburn, also contributed £256 to the cash pot.

Squadron leader Scott Coxey said: "We want more things like this within the air cadet system because it assists with flight training and they can use it when they want."

The cadets are already planning phase two of the project with the computer screen showing the outside view set to be replaced by a projector screening, thus making the experience even more atmospheric.