Although I was a CCF Pongo (the school didn't have an RAF section), I soloed in the T21 with the RAFGSA, having also had some earlier time in the T-21, T-31, T-42 and T-49 of the Devon and Somerset Gliding Club.
The RAFGSA club with whom I trained was based at RAF Locking and came to Merryfield for an expedition week, which is where I soloed. But they also had a T-31, so I later flew that at Locking. Then a 'real' in a Slingsby Tutor, which managed to get me from 800ft to back on the ground in 2 minutes flat - it had a nigh-on perpendicular glide ratio and had even been fitted with spoilers, which it really didn't need.
Like many of us back then, I soloed a glider at 16 and got my PPL at 17 - both before I passed my driving test.
The Air Cadets organisation has lost a very great deal by abandoning traditional gliders for so long.... As for the PTT nonsense, that really is a crock from what ATC instructors have told us.
Last edited by BEagle; 15th Jan 2019 at 13:29.