Engines
As always, your posts are full of useful and insightful information and you are spot on.
I think it's fair to say that in the past the RAF saw the ATC as a very useful recruiting tool and that about 60% of it's ground staff came via that route and about 75% of aircrew. However nowadays the RAF has not really got a need for the numbers of recruits that the ATC produces (produced). On that basis it's not such an important place to start.
The ATC is however the public face of the RAF with many people more likely to see an ATC Cadet than a full blown serviceman so as a
PR tool it's great and good value.
During my last stint with the ATC there was a lot of talk about the Cadet Forces being classed as 'Fabric of Society' rather than 'Military' and on that basis, the MoD/RAF was trying to get funding supplied by the Home Office rather than from the Defence Budget. I believe that ultimately this 'angle' fizzled out before any money changed hands.
On the other point people are raising, the old wood/fabric gliders were maintained in a different maintenance regime that that currently operated. The aircraft were maintained by RAF Tradesmen, using proven documentation, audit trail and management practices. That is why it was successful for a long time. When the GRP gliders arrived the RAF was the first to hold up it's hands and admit it had no specialist skills in that area. Rather than train tradesmen, they chose (with some political pressure no doubt) to outsource the work and skills. They thought that by doing this they would achieve 3 things:
1. Not have to introduce what they saw (wrongly IMHO) a niche airframe skill (GRP Composites) or Trade Group
2. Reduce the cost by not having to maintain a repair organization themselves
3. Abstract themselves away from any risk associated with maintaining the GRP airframes by passing it to a third party (classic strategy)
Where they failed was in
not making themselves an 'educated customer' and in
not having a robust audit programme that was overseen by the 'educated customer'. The impact of that is what we see today.
Big Pistons Forever.......
I also agree with what you are saying in the thread above, Cadets don't care about what they fly in. The old T31 and T21 were ideal for what was being taught. The Cadet enjoys the learning process, they have time with like minded people in a managed and disciplined way and they make new friends. At the end they come away with a new skill and feeling of a achievement................... what not to like ??
Lastly, I will always be grateful for the start that the ATC gave me to my life - and I think it continues with me in my day-to-day activities and attitudes I am sure............
Best regards as ever to all those with resin and flock on their hands
Arc