the long days retrieving, launching, splicing cables
... which is of course one of the big advantages of "real" gliders, without engines.
Even when there were Vigis to be had, there seemed to be little for the non-flying cadet to do, other than exercise his thumbs on the latest piece of technology.
For me it started at Hendon (617 IIRC??) followed by soloing at CGS at Swanton Morley about 3 weeks after my 16th birthday, and led on to 30-odd years as a regular RAF pilot........
