Volunteer Gliding Squadrons (VGSs) are
Royal Air Force (UK) Flying Training units, operating military
Viking T1 conventional gliders to train cadets from the
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
The Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) is a volunteer-military youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Air Force that manages both the Air Training Corps and RAF Sections of the Combined Cadet Force. The organisation is headed by a former ser ...
.
Since 2014, the squadrons operate under
No. 2 Flying Training School
No.2 Flying Training School is a Flying Training School (FTS) of the Royal Air Force, Royal Air Force (RAF). It is part of No. 22 Group RAF, No. 22 (Training) Group that delivers glider flying training to the Royal Air Force Air Cadets. Its head ...
, which was newly reformed for this purpose at
RAF Syerston
Royal Air Force Station Syerston, commonly known as merely RAF Syerston , is a Royal Air Force station in the parish of Flintham, near Newark, Nottinghamshire. Opened in 1940, it was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a bomber base during t ...
, Nottinghamshire, within
No.22 (Training) Group of the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
. The 10 Units, along with the Royal Air Force
Central Gliding School
The Central Gliding School (CGS) is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of gliding instructors for the instruction of Royal Air Force and Air Cadet personnel. It is administered under No. 2 Flying Training School and is ...
, are standardised annually by the
Royal Air Force Central Flying School. Formerly under the
Air Cadet Organisation
The Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) is a volunteer-military youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Air Force that manages both the Air Training Corps and RAF Sections of the Combined Cadet Force. The organisation is headed by a former serv ...
prior to 2010, Headquarters Air Cadets presently still retains administrative support.
VGSs are made up of volunteer staff. Each is headed by a
Commanding Officer
The commanding officer (CO) or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitu ...
and several executives, who are appointed by a Cadet Forces Commission in the
RAF Air Cadets. Instructors are a mixture of regular RAF/RN/Army personnel, reservists, RAFAC personnel, Civilian Gliding Instructors (CGIs) and Flight Staff Cadets (FSCs).
History
Gliding was first introduced for the
Air Defence Cadet Corps
The Air Defence Cadet Corps was a volunteer youth organisation in the United Kingdom, preparing young people for military aviation. Founded in 1938, it was replaced in 1941 by the Air Training Corps.
Establishment
In 1938, Air Commodore Chami ...
in 1939, but formally became part of official training with the Air Training Corps in 1942. From 1946, 87 Gliding Schools (GSs) came under the Reserve Command.
Command
Initially the gliding schools were established under
RAF Reserve Command
RAF Home Command was the Royal Air Force command that was responsible for the maintenance and training of reserve organisationsJohn D. Rawlings, 'The History of the Royal Air Force,' Temple Press Aerospace, Feltham, Middlesex, 1984, p.180 from fo ...
(later to become
RAF Home Command
RAF Home Command was the Royal Air Force command that was responsible for the maintenance and training of reserve organisationsJohn D. Rawlings, 'The History of the Royal Air Force,' Temple Press Aerospace, Feltham, Middlesex, 1984, p.180 from fo ...
). In 1955,
RAF Flying Training Command
Flying Training Command was an organization of the Royal Air Force; it controlled flight training units. The command's headquarters were at Shinfield Park, Reading in Berkshire.
History
Flying Training Command was formed from the elements of ...
took over the responsibility and amalgamated them into 27 gliding schools under Headquarters Air Cadets. At the same time the gliding schools were renumbered with three-digit numbers, the first two digits being the parent Home Command Group (Nos. 61, 62, 63, 64, 66 or 67). In 1968,
RAF Training Command
Training Command was the Royal Air Force's command responsible for flying and ground training from 1936 to 1940 and again from 1968 to 1977. Training Command was formed from RAF Inland Area on 1 May 1936 and absorbed into RAF Support Command on 13 ...
was established, incorporating Flying Training Command. In 1977, Training Command was absorbed into
RAF Support Command
Support Command was a command of the Royal Air Force between 1973 and 1994. The headquarters was located at RAF Brampton in Cambridgeshire.
History
It was formed on 31 August 1973 by the renaming of RAF Maintenance Command, , and then moved into
Personnel and Training Command
Personnel and Training Command (PTC) was one of two commands of the Royal Air Force (the other being Strike Command) that were merged to form Air Command on 1 April 2007.
History
Formation
PTC was formed in 1994 bringing together the r ...
on its establishment in 1994 before being subsumed into
Air Command in March 2007, where the gliding schools rest today.
Under Air Command, the chain of command for these units is through
No.22 (Training) Group. On behalf of
Air Officer Commanding No.22 (Training) Group, the Volunteer Gliding Squadrons and the Central Gliding School are the responsibility of the
Officer commanding
The officer commanding (OC), also known as the officer in command or officer in charge (OiC), is the commander of a sub-unit or minor unit (smaller than battalion size), principally used in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. In other countries, ...
No. 2 Flying Training School
No.2 Flying Training School is a Flying Training School (FTS) of the Royal Air Force, Royal Air Force (RAF). It is part of No. 22 Group RAF, No. 22 (Training) Group that delivers glider flying training to the Royal Air Force Air Cadets. Its head ...
.
Formation of the Central Gliding School (CGS)
Formulated in 1946, the Home Command Gliding Instructors School (HCGIS) was established in 1949 at
RAF Detling
Royal Air Force Detling or more simply RAF Detling is a former Royal Air Force station situated above sea level, located near Detling, a village about miles north-east of Maidstone, Kent.
It was a station of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS ...
to train Qualified Gliding Instructors for the gliding schools. With the disestablishment of Home Command, HCGIS was split into two Gliding Centres to accommodate the gliding schools in the north and south of the UK. A further reorganisation amalgamated the Gliding Centres into the Central Gliding School in 1972 at
RAF Spitalgate
Royal Air Force Spitalgate or more simply RAF Spitalgate formerly known as RFC Grantham and RAF Grantham was a Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force station, located south east of the centre of Grantham, Lincolnshire, England fronting onto th ...
, where it was renamed the Air Cadet Central Gliding School (ACCGS) in 1974. In 2009, following the formal approval of the CGS unit badge, the Air Cadet Central Gliding School was renamed the Royal Air Force Central Gliding School and in 2010 restructured under No.1 Elementary Flying Training School.
The CGS is commanded by a Wing Commander RAF, who also acts as OC Flying for
RAF Syerston
Royal Air Force Station Syerston, commonly known as merely RAF Syerston , is a Royal Air Force station in the parish of Flintham, near Newark, Nottinghamshire. Opened in 1940, it was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a bomber base during t ...
. The Chief Instructor is a Squadron Leader RAF. The examiners of the CGS are Flight Lieutenant RAFR and Squadron Leader RAFR officers, however all future appointments shall be RAFVR(T) commissions.
From wood to GRP
The RAF chose to re-equip the ageing fleet with the first of the modern
GRP gliders, and in 1983 acquired an initial batch of 10
Schleicher ASK 21
The ASK 21 is a glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) two-seat glider aircraft with a T-tail. The ASK 21 is designed primarily for beginner instruction, but is also suitable for cross-country flying and aerobatics, aerobatic instruction.
Design and de ...
named Vanguard TX.1. The first examples were delivered to the ACCGS at Syerston in time for the new Instructors' courses to take place. The first VGS to equip with these was 618 VGS at
RAF West Malling
Royal Air Force West Malling or RAF West Malling is a former Royal Air Force station located south of West Malling, Kent and west of Maidstone, Kent, England.
Originally used as a landing area during the First World War,[Grob Aerospace
Grob Aircraft, formerly Grob Aerospace, is a German aircraft manufacturer, specialising in gliders and general aviation.
Since its foundation in 1971, Grob Aircraft produced a range of aircraft. Initially focusing on gliders, it soon grew ...]
was awarded the contract to supply 100
Grob G 103
The Grob G 103 Twin Astir is a glass-reinforced plastic two-seat sailplane that was developed in Germany in the 1970s by Grob Aircraft AG as a counterpart to the single-seat G 102 Astir then in production. Construction throughout is similar, ...
Twin II Acro Gliders. The RAF named the military variant as the Viking T1 in Air Cadet service. A single specimen was delivered to
Slingsby Aviation
Slingsby Aviation was a British aircraft manufacturer based in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, England. The company was founded to design and build gliders and sailplanes. From the early 1930s to around 1970 it built over 50% of all British ...
in the UK for fatigue life testing.
File:Glider Launch.jpg, Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
Viking T1 takes off at RM Condor, Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
File:Grob g109b zh268 motorglider arp.jpg, Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
Vigilant T1 lands at RIAT
The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is the world's largest military air show, held annually in July, usually at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England in support of The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. The show typically attracts a to ...
2008, England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
File:Grob Vigilant T1 cockpit SM.jpg, Vigilant T1 Cockpit
File:Grob g109b vigilant t1 of raf at riat 2010 arp.jpg, Vigilant T1 at the 2010 Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford
Royal Air Force Fairford or more simply RAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force (RAF) station in Gloucestershire, England which is currently a standby airfield and therefore not in everyday use. Its most prominent use in recent years has been as an ...
, Gloucestershire
File:Grob G 109 ZH 247 FA AB.JPG, Vigilant T1 at Farnborough Airfield during the 2008 Farnborough Airshow
Introduction of motor gliders
The Venture T.1 was trialled at the ACCGS at RAF Spitalgate in 1971/73. 10 GSs were first issued with the T.1 variant in 1977, but were quickly upgraded with the TX.2. The development of many sites and closures of many RAF aerodromes put strain on many conventional VGS. Further GSs were allocated with the TX.2s. In 1991 the Venture TX.2 was replaced with the
Vigilant T.1. Originally designated the Vigilant TX.1, the glider designation 'X' was dropped due to its change of role.
Disbandment of the competition fleet
In 2000, ACO-COS Group Captain Mike Cross announced the sale of the Valiant TX.1 and Kestrel TX.1 fleets. This concluded the RAF's many successful years competing in national gliding competitions and setting world records.
Schools to squadrons
Initially established as Gliding Schools, the GSs were re-designated Volunteer Gliding Schools (VGSs) in 1978. In 2005, following a decision by the Royal Air Force Board, the VGSs were renamed Volunteer Gliding ''Squadrons'', keeping their VGS abbreviation.
Air Cadets to Royal Air Force
Following the restructure in 2005, a further reorganisation was initiated in 2010 by AOC 22 Group RAF. On 1 April 2010, Command and Control together with the responsibility for supervision and regulation of the Central Gliding School and 27 Volunteer Gliding Squadrons, was moved from the Air Cadet Organisation to the Directorate of Flying Training under No. 1 Elementary Flying School (No.1 EFTS). A further restructure in December 2011 saw No.1 EFTS absorbed into
No.3 Flying Training School, together with a Gliding branch of the School developed from No.1 EFTS.
Extended pause and reinvention
With the introduction of the Grob Prefect T.1 into Elementary Flying Training, the RAF's Grob Tutor T.1 fleet faced a reduction against the Vigilant T.1 due to competing roles for cadet powered flying. 22 Group decided the Vigilant T.1 had to be withdrawn to protect the Air Experience Flights operated by retired senior officers, despite the Vigilant T.1's more capable role with sending cadets solo. In April 2014, all Air Cadet Organisation gliding was abruptly halted under the auspices of "airworthiness concerns". Maintenance records managed by
Serco
Serco Group plc is a British company with headquarters based in Hook, Hampshire, England. Serco primarily derives income as a contractor for the provision of government services, most prominently in the sectors of health, transport, justice, i ...
were found to be in disarray. Flying resumed to a limited extent in 2016.
In March 2016, a major restructuring of Air Cadet Gliding and Flying was announced, resulting in the disbanding of 14 VGSs, significant reduction of the Vigilant, a regional focus of remaining Viking squadrons, and an increase in Tutor AEF flying. With the Vigilant due to be withdrawn from service in 2019, its retirement was brought forward to May 2018.
Two new
AEF squadrons will be formed.
A review of the Defence Estate, published in November 2016, confirmed the disbandments announced in March and gave estimated dates for disposal of several sites.
Despite the Vigilant T.1 fleet being declared unairworthy and uneconomical to return to the air, all 63 grounded Vigilant T.1 were sold to Hampshire-based charity Aerobility, which works with people with disabilities and injured ex-military personnel. A number would be modified and refurbished for use by the charity, while the majority would be sold to support the charity.
Current units
Conventional glider VGSs (
Viking
Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden),
who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...
)
* 611 VGS (
RAF Honington
Royal Air Force Honington or more simply RAF Honington is a Royal Air Force station located south of Thetford near Ixworth in Suffolk, England. Although used as a bomber station during the Second World War, RAF Honington is now the RAF Regim ...
)
*
614 VGS (
MDP Wethersfield
MDP Wethersfield is a Ministry of Defence facility in Essex, England, located north of the village of Wethersfield, about north-west of the town of Braintree. Originally an RAF station, the original accommodation areas have now been convert ...
)
* 615 VGS (
RAF Kenley
The former Royal Air Force Station Kenley, more commonly known as RAF Kenley was an airfield station of the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War and the RAF in the Second World War. It played a significant role during the Battle of Britain ...
)
*
621 VGS (
RAF Little Rissington
RAF Little Rissington is an RAF aerodrome and RAF station in Gloucestershire, England. It was once home to the Central Flying School, the Vintage Pair and the Red Arrows.
Built during the 1930s, the station was opened in 1938 and closed in ...
)
* 622 VGS (
Trenchard Lines
Royal Air Force Upavon or RAF Upavon is a former RAF station in Wiltshire, England. It was a grass airfield, military flight training school, and administrative headquarters of the Royal Air Force. The station opened in 1912 and closed in 1993, ...
)
* 626 VGS (
Predannack)
* 631 VGS (
RAF Woodvale), formerly 186 GS
* 632 VGS (
RAF Ternhill
Royal Air Force Tern Hill or RAF Tern Hill was a Royal Air Force station at Ternhill in Shropshire, England, near the towns of Newport and Market Drayton.
The station closed in 1976, with the technical and administrative site transferring t ...
)
* 637 VGS (
RAF Little Rissington
RAF Little Rissington is an RAF aerodrome and RAF station in Gloucestershire, England. It was once home to the Central Flying School, the Vintage Pair and the Red Arrows.
Built during the 1930s, the station was opened in 1938 and closed in ...
)
* 644 VGS (
RAF Syerston
Royal Air Force Station Syerston, commonly known as merely RAF Syerston , is a Royal Air Force station in the parish of Flintham, near Newark, Nottinghamshire. Opened in 1940, it was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a bomber base during t ...
)
* 645 VGS (
RAF Topcliffe
Royal Air Force Topcliffe or RAF Topcliffe is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, England.
It was established as a RAF Bomber Command station in 1940. The British Army took over a large part of the site in 1974 and the airfield beca ...
)
* 661 VGS (
RAF Kirknewton
Royal Air Force Kirknewton, otherwise known as RAF Kirknewton, is a Royal Air Force station at Whitemoss, a mile south east of Kirknewton, West Lothian, Scotland. It is retained by the Ministry of Defence, as Kirknewton Airfield and is home to 6 ...
)
Central Flying School
* HQ, No. 2 Flying Training School RAF (
RAF Syerston
Royal Air Force Station Syerston, commonly known as merely RAF Syerston , is a Royal Air Force station in the parish of Flintham, near Newark, Nottinghamshire. Opened in 1940, it was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a bomber base during t ...
)
*
Central Gliding School
The Central Gliding School (CGS) is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of gliding instructors for the instruction of Royal Air Force and Air Cadet personnel. It is administered under No. 2 Flying Training School and is ...
(
RAF Syerston
Royal Air Force Station Syerston, commonly known as merely RAF Syerston , is a Royal Air Force station in the parish of Flintham, near Newark, Nottinghamshire. Opened in 1940, it was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a bomber base during t ...
)
Disbanded units
Conventional glider VGSs
* 617 VGS (formerly at
RAF Manston
Royal Air Force Manston or more simply RAF Manston is a former Royal Air Force station located in the north-east of Kent, at on the Isle of Thanet from 1916 until 1996. The site was split between a commercial airport Kent International Airpor ...
before that at
RAF Bovingdon
Royal Air Force Bovingdon or more simply RAF Bovingdon is a former Royal Air Force station located near the village of Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, England, about south-west of Hemel Hempstead and south-east of Berkhamsted.
During the Second W ...
and originally at
RAF Hendon
Hendon is an urban area in the Borough of Barnet, North-West London northwest of Charing Cross. Hendon was an ancient manor and parish in the county of Middlesex and a former borough, the Municipal Borough of Hendon; it has been part of Great ...
)
* 623 VGS (
RAF Tangmere
RAF Tangmere was a Royal Air Force station located in Tangmere, England, famous for its role in the Battle of Britain, and one of several stations near Chichester, West Sussex. The famous Second World War aces Wing Commander Douglas Bader, a ...
)
* 625 VGS (
Hullavington
Hullavington is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, just to the north of the M4 motorway. The village lies about southwest of Malmesbury and north of Chippenham.
The Fosse Way, a Roman road, forms the western boundary of the par ...
), formerly 83 GS – amalgamated with 621 VGS, 1 August 2013
* 643 VGS (
RAF Syerston
Royal Air Force Station Syerston, commonly known as merely RAF Syerston , is a Royal Air Force station in the parish of Flintham, near Newark, Nottinghamshire. Opened in 1940, it was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a bomber base during t ...
), formerly 107 EGS – amalgamated with 644 VGS, 1 August 2013
* 662 VGS (
RM Condor
RM Condor is a large Royal Marines base located near Arbroath in East Angus, Scotland. The base also houses 7 (Sphinx) Battery Royal Artillery, part of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery.
History
The base was first constructed as a Fleet Ai ...
), formerly 2 GS and 5 GS – closure announced on 10 March 2016
Motor glider VGSs
* 611 VGS (
RAF Honington
Royal Air Force Honington or more simply RAF Honington is a Royal Air Force station located south of Thetford near Ixworth in Suffolk, England. Although used as a bomber station during the Second World War, RAF Honington is now the RAF Regim ...
), formerly 102 GS and formerly at
RAF Swanton Morley
The former Royal Air Force Swanton Morley, more commonly known as RAF Swanton Morley, was a Royal Air Force station in Norfolk, England, located near to the village of Swanton Morley. The site, now known as Robertson Barracks, is occupied by ...
, and after that at STANTA Airfield (
RAF Watton
Royal Air Force Watton or more simply RAF Watton is a former Royal Air Force station located southwest of East Dereham, Norfolk, England.
Opened in 1937 it was used by both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) ...
)
* 612 VGS (
Dalton Barracks), formerly 104 GS – ''disbanded 14 August 2016''
* 613 VGS (
RAF Halton
Royal Air Force Halton, or more simply RAF Halton, is one of the largest Royal Air Force stations in the United Kingdom. It is located near the village of Halton near Wendover, Buckinghamshire. The site has been in use since the First World W ...
), formerly C122 GS – ''closure announced on 10 March 2016''
* 616 VGS (
RAF Henlow
RAF Henlow is a Royal Air Force station in Bedfordshire, England, equidistant from Bedford, Luton and Stevenage. It houses the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine, the Joint Arms Control Implementation Group (JACIG), elements of Defence Equipment ...
), formerly 106 GS – ''closure announced on 10 March 2016''
* 618 VGS (
RAF Odiham
RAF Odiham is a Royal Air Force station situated a little to the south of the village of Odiham in Hampshire, England. It is the home of the Royal Air Force's heavy lift helicopter, the Chinook, and of the King’s Helicopter Flight (TKHF) . I ...
), (formerly at
RAF West Malling
Royal Air Force West Malling or RAF West Malling is a former Royal Air Force station located south of West Malling, Kent and west of Maidstone, Kent, England.
Originally used as a landing area during the First World War,[RMB Chivenor
Royal Marines Barracks Chivenor is a British military base used primarily by 3 Commando Brigade. It is situated on the northern shore of the River Taw estuary, adjacent to the South West Coast Path, on the north coast of Devon, England. The nea ...]
), formerly 84 GS – ''closure announced on 10 March 2016''
* 633 VGS (
RAF Cosford
Royal Air Force Cosford or RAF Cosford (formerly DCAE Cosford) is a Royal Air Force station in Cosford, Shropshire, Cosford, Shropshire, just to the northwest of Wolverhampton and next to Albrighton, Bridgnorth, Albrighton.
History
Origins
RA ...
) – ''closure announced on 10 March 2016''
* 634 VGS (
MOD St. Athan), formerly 68 GS – ''closure announced on 10 March 2016''
* 635 VGS (
RAF Topcliffe
Royal Air Force Topcliffe or RAF Topcliffe is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, England.
It was established as a RAF Bomber Command station in 1940. The British Army took over a large part of the site in 1974 and the airfield beca ...
) (formerly at
BAE Samlesbury
Samlesbury Aerodrome is a disused airfield at Balderstone, Lancashire, Balderstone near Samlesbury and Blackburn in Ribble Valley district of Lancashire. The aerodrome is owned by defence company BAE Systems which uses the site for the manufac ...
) – ''closure announced on 10 March 2016''
* 636 VGS (
Swansea Airport
Swansea Airport ( cy, Maes Awyr Abertawe) is located in the middle of Fairwood Common on the Gower Peninsula to the west of Swansea, Wales.
Operations ) – ''closure announced on 10 March 2016''
* 642 VGS (
RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Linton-on-Ouse was a Royal Air Force (RAF) station at Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire, England, north-west of York. It had satellite stations at RAF Topcliffe and Dishforth Airfield (British Army).
The station opened in 1937. With the ...
), formerly 23 GS – ''closure announced on 10 March 2016''
* 663 VGS (
RAF Kinloss
Royal Air Force Kinloss or RAF Kinloss is a former Royal Air Force (RAF) station located near the village of Kinloss, on the Moray Firth in the north east of Scotland.
The RAF station opened on 1 April 1939 and served as a training establishme ...
) – ''closure announced on 10 March 2016''
* 664 VGS (
Newtownards
Newtownards is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies at the most northern tip of Strangford Lough, 10 miles (16 km) east of Belfast, on the Ards Peninsula. It is in the Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish of Newtownard ...
) – ''closure announced on 10 March 2016''
Structure
Personnel
Staff of a Volunteer Gliding Squadron are part-time personnel (usually specifically appointed Reserve Officers and civilians), supernumerary personnel (who are either regular or reservist members of the Armed Forces or Cadet Force Volunteers), and Flight Staff Cadets.
Appointed personnel
Reserve Officers are appointed to fulfil management positions mandated to operate a Squadron. Civilians start under probation as Under Training Instructors; their probation ends on attaining B2 Category Qualified Gliding Instructor (QGI) status. Personnel must attain a B1 Category QGI rating before qualifying for a Reserve Commission for an intended appointment. Executive Officers (XOs) head the leadership of the Squadron as OC, CFI and DCFI.
Commissioned posts on VGS include:
*
Officer Commanding (OC) in the rank of
Squadron Leader
Squadron leader (Sqn Ldr in the RAF ; SQNLDR in the RAAF and RNZAF; formerly sometimes S/L in all services) is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also ...
* Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) in the rank of
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in air forces that use the Royal Air Force (RAF) system of ranks, especially in Commonwealth countries. It has a NATO rank code of OF-2. Flight lieutenant is abbreviated as Flt Lt in the India ...
* Technical Officer (TechO) in the rank of
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in air forces that use the Royal Air Force (RAF) system of ranks, especially in Commonwealth countries. It has a NATO rank code of OF-2. Flight lieutenant is abbreviated as Flt Lt in the India ...
*
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military appointment given to an officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of human resources in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed forces as a non-commission ...
in the rank of
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in air forces that use the Royal Air Force (RAF) system of ranks, especially in Commonwealth countries. It has a NATO rank code of OF-2. Flight lieutenant is abbreviated as Flt Lt in the India ...
* Equipment Officer
Other appointed roles include:
* Unit Navigation Officer (UNavO)
* Mechanical Transport Officer (MTO)
* Flight Safety Officer (FSO)
* Training Officer (TrgO)
Supernumerary personnel
Supernumerary personnel are part-time staff whose primary appointment is elsewhere, thus their VGS appointment is their secondary duty. They are from various Commissioned and Non-Commissioned branches of the Regular, Reserve and Cadet Forces.
Flight Staff Cadets
Air Cadets from either the Combined Cadet Force or RAF Air Cadets can be appointed as Flight Staff Cadets (FSCs) on a VGS. FSCs are selected, usually after completing Advanced Glider Training, from those who show potential to become Gliding Instructors. FSC’s do not act as a substitute for VGS adult personnel, primarily providing ground support to the Squadrons. However, they are able to progress to a B2 Category status (less the supervisory privileges).
Flying training
Flying Training is carried out to the syllabus of the RAF Central Flying School. Ab-initio training starts with three initial courses, followed with Basic Pilot Training to achieve flying Grades.
* Gliding Induction Courses (GICs) – 20–30 minute sorties designed to give a basic appreciation of aircraft handling.
* Gliding Scholarship (GS) – an eight-hour course to flying solo. An additional two hours can be awarded to achieve the course aim. Trainees attain the aircrew training standard GS. Two sets of Wings can be awarded to Air Cadets: blue for completing the GS syllabus to the required ATS, and silver for flying a solo circuit.
* Advanced Gliding Training (AGT) – a five-hour course to provide a greater appreciation of advanced handling, and five additional solo circuits. Trainees attain the aircrew training standard AGT. Air Cadets completing this course are awarded gold Wings.
Flying qualifications
The following Pilot qualifications can be obtained on VGSs:
* Pilot Grade 2 (G2) – qualified solo on aircraft type.
* Pilot Grade 1 (G1) – qualified on aircraft type, allowing flying with passengers. G1s are additionally authorised to teach GIC exercises, to provide handling experience required for an Instructor category.
Instructor qualifications can be attained following the completion of a course at the Royal Air Force Central Gliding School:
* B2 Category Instructor – a Qualified Gliding Instructor that requires close supervision.
* B1 Category Instructor – a competent Qualified Gliding Instructor.
Higher instructor qualifications can be attained following the completion of an examination by the Royal Air Force Central Flying School Gliding Examiners:
* A2 Category Instructor – an above average Qualified Gliding Instructor. This qualification is denoted by the symbol cfs(g) in the Air Force List for commissioned instructors.
* A1 Category Instructor – an exceptional Qualified Gliding Instructor. This qualification is denoted by the symbol cfs*(g) in the Air Force List for commissioned instructors.
Additional ratings:
* Flying Supervisor (FS) for the roles of OC, CFI and DCFI. This is notated by a * after the category, e.g. "A2*".
* Navigation Instructor Qualification (NIQ) for teaching instructors to award TQs and BNQs.
* Transit Qualification (TQ) for ferry flying.
* Basic Navigation Qualification (BNQ) for teaching navigation.
Aircraft
Conventional gliders
In service
* Grob Aerospace
Viking TX.1 (100 entered service, later reduced to around 77)
No longer in service
=Non-GRP construction
=
Single-seat
* BAC
BAC TX.1 (1 entered service)
* Slingsby
Cadet TX.1 (362 entered service)
* Slingsby
Cadet TX.2 (69 entered service)
* Slingsby
Grasshopper TX.1 (115 entered service)
* Slingsby
Gull TX.1 (one entered service)
* Slingsby
Kite TX.1 (one entered service)
* Slingsby
King Kite TX.1 (one entered service)
* Slingsby
Prefect TX.1 (15 entered service)
* Slingsby
Primary TX.1 (31 entered service)
* Slingsby
Swallow TX.1 (5 entered service)
Dual-seat
* Slingsby
Cadet TX.3 (126 entered service)
* Slingsby
Falcon TX.3 (7 entered service)
* Slingsby
Sedbergh TX.1 (95 entered service)
=GRP construction
=
Single-seat
* Schleicher
Valiant TX.1 (5 entered service)
Dual-seat
* Schleicher
Vanguard TX.1 (10 entered service)
* Schempp-Hirth
Kestrel TX.1 (2 entered service)
Motor gliders
No longer in service
*
Slingsby Venture TX.1 (one entered service, mainly used at ACCGS)
* Slingsby Venture TX.2 (15 entered service, followed by a further 25)
*
Grob Vigilant T.1 (53 entered service, later increased to 63. Retired from service on 6 May 2018)
See also
*
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
*
List of aircraft of the RAF
References
External links
Volunteer Gliding Squadrons
611 Volunteer Gliding Squadron612 Volunteer Gliding Squadron614 Volunteer Gliding Squadron615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron616 Volunteer Gliding Squadron618 Volunteer Gliding Squadron621 Volunteer Gliding Squadron622 Volunteer Gliding Squadron624 Volunteer Gliding Squadron626 Volunteer Gliding Squadron631 Volunteer Gliding Squadron633 Volunteer Gliding Squadron634 Volunteer Gliding Squadron635 Volunteer Gliding Squadron636 Volunteer Gliding Squadron637 Volunteer Gliding Squadron642 Volunteer Gliding Squadron644 Volunteer Gliding Squadron645 Volunteer Gliding Squadron661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron662 Volunteer Gliding Squadron663 Volunteer Gliding Squadron664 Volunteer Gliding Squadron
{{Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
Gliding in the United Kingdom