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613 Volunteer Gliding SchoolRAF Halton, Wendover, BucksDespite the use of the word 'Gliding' in the full name of 613 VGS, there is very little of it occurring in their operations since they use motor gliders. These can be heard operating every weekend and for a few weeks during each summer. Apart from that small proviso, the remainder of the title accurately describes the role of the School. The staff are all volunteers and the School executives are commissioned as Officers in the RAF VR(T), led by a Squadron Leader in the Volunteer Reserve (Training) Branch. The School is therefore the only RAF flying unit at the Airfield and as such, when active, occupies the position of primary user. The School has been based at Halton since 1948 and since 1980, 613 VGS has been operating motor gliders. Their task is to provide instruction to cadets of The Air Training Corps and RAF Sections of The Combined Cadet Force, flying some 800 cadets on familiarization training sorties and over 100 students scholarships per annum. To fulfill this, the school operates 5 Vigilant T.1 Aircraft, manufactured by Grob Burkfahrt GmBh in Germany. The aircraft is a blend of glider and light aircraft: the sleek lines and laminar flow airfoil of a glider combined with the power and versatility of a piston engine. This allows a greater level of continuity of training for their students than is offered by conventional gliders since sorties of an hour or longer are possible with an endurance of more than 5 hours. Concurrently the efficiency of the aircraft's gliding heritage allows an added safety margin that guarantees a return to Halton should a problem with the engine arise. The aircraft's performance combines cruise speeds of 90 knots and an ability to glide approximately 5 miles for every 1 thousand feet of height. Often a cadet's introduction to flying will be with 613VGS and the pilots bear a responsibility to present the new sensations and perspectives involved in an informative and considered manner. During their first flight the cadet will have the local sites of interest pointed out to them, for example Chequers, Waddesdon Manor or the Chalk Lion at Whipsnade Zoo. They will also have the opportunity to see how the aircraft is flown and many handle the controls themselves at some stage of the flight, thus providing hands on experience to complement the classroom knowledge they receive at their Squadrons. The importance of a good first impression is vital to the continuation of the cadet's interest in all things aviation and has been identified as a factor influencing future recruitment. 613 VGS caters for those who find that one flight a year is just not enough by providing scholarship training courses. Initially cadets are taught the effects of controls, gliding, climbing and level flight, turning and stalling. The course provides a basic understanding of flying and confers the ability to control the aircraft safely through the maneuvers that form the basis of any aircraft flight. This teaches the students them to take off, fly a circuit and land. This requires the student to be able not only to fly safely and accurately but to be able to plan ahead and operate the aircraft correctly and efficiently. They are also taught to recognize and deal with emergencies after take off. At the end of this course the cadets are awarded a Gliding Scholarship Wings. If the student has made satisfactory progress, the training continues for up to another 2 hours to enable the student to reach solo standard. If the solo standard is achieved the student is awarded the Solo Standard Wings. The Advanced Certificate introduces crosswind landings, basic navigation and builds solo time to a total of 30 minutes. Students are awarded the Gold Wings. For those that have really been bitten hard by the flying bug and have demonstrated the required ability and commitment, there are some opportunities to continue flying as Staff Cadets whose duties include assisting with the supervision and care of the cadets, aircraft and instructors - coffee and lots of it! The majority of the school's instructors started as Staff Cadets (back when life was a whole lot simpler and they had a fuller head of hair ) but there is also the occasional opportunity for a qualified pilot to join. Initially the staff are qualified to carry out the GIC flights and after obtaining the requisite experience become eligible to attend an instructor course. This lasts five days and is taught at RAF Syerston by the Air Cadets Central Gliding School. They also provide standardization and re-categorization of qualified instructors during annual visits to each and every VGS in the country. Overall standards are supervised by Central Flying School (Gliding Wing) who also visit annually. Senior Instructor courses are also run that on successful completion qualify the instructor to authorize solo flights and carry out staff training sorties as well as operating as the Duty Instructor . The highest qualification the A2 instructor is awarded by CFS itself and allows the holder to test and authorize first solos and when held by CO or CFI to test and validate Graded Pilots. The voluntary nature of the organization means that the staff come from a variety of backgrounds and occupations. These include a Chartered Surveyor, 6 Police Officers, 2 Airline Pilots, a Regular Warrant Officer, a couple of engineers and a few easy life students. Such a variety of people who are willing to give up their weekends to fly demonstrates either the number of people still eating beef or that the enjoyment of being part of a team that provides young people with their first experience of aviation is greater than the sacrifices involved in giving up one day in a weekend. |
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