Ring any bells with anyone?
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Funny this. Yes for us at Spitalgate they were 'the Brick' (T31) and 'the Barge' (T21).
I also recall the circuit planning advice:
1) Do not fly downwind of the boundary fence, and
2) On your solo flights, irrespective of the progress of your launch, pull off at 900'. I suppose this was to ensure that you flew a square circuit and landing where you were supposed to.
Rather like the German officer learning to fly in 'Those Magnificent Men..', you may recall:
"But how do I fly it?"
"The same way a German officer does everything - by the Book!"
"No1, sit down!"
etc.
On my first solo I forgot part two of this briefing and by the time I remembered to pull the little yellow knob, I found I was at the dizzy height of 1,100' .
Consequently I landed further down the field as I had no awareness of the concept of circuit planning. This was treated as a major infringement and a personal insult to my instructor. In stony silence, I was sent to fly my next two solo circuits 'by the book', and it was five years until I flew solo again (in a K13).
I also recall the circuit planning advice:
1) Do not fly downwind of the boundary fence, and
2) On your solo flights, irrespective of the progress of your launch, pull off at 900'. I suppose this was to ensure that you flew a square circuit and landing where you were supposed to.
Rather like the German officer learning to fly in 'Those Magnificent Men..', you may recall:
"But how do I fly it?"
"The same way a German officer does everything - by the Book!"
"No1, sit down!"
etc.
On my first solo I forgot part two of this briefing and by the time I remembered to pull the little yellow knob, I found I was at the dizzy height of 1,100' .
Consequently I landed further down the field as I had no awareness of the concept of circuit planning. This was treated as a major infringement and a personal insult to my instructor. In stony silence, I was sent to fly my next two solo circuits 'by the book', and it was five years until I flew solo again (in a K13).
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I can't lay my hands on the lil blue book, but I have great memories from AEF's in the chippy at Cambridge and my my glider course in the Vigilent at Syerston in '92.
for the ATC!!!!
for the ATC!!!!
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God
I must be really old then because according to my 3822 since 1979 I have flown solo in:
WT series MKIII
XN series MKIII
XA series MKIII
XE series MKIII
XN series T21/Sedbergh
WB series T21/Sedbergh
XZ series T61/Venture
ZA series T61/Venture
ZA series ASK21 Vanguard
ZA series AW19 Valiant
ZE series Vigilant
ZE series Viking
plus multiple other RAF types as passenger in ATC (Herc, VC10, Gazelle, Chinook, Bulldog, Chipmunk, Hawk etc..............)
What a great organisation the ATC is/was. Pity the bureaucratic rubbish of today and repeated defence cuts makes it so difficult to operate because it was the gateway to aviation for me and many others I'm sure.
Arc
I must be really old then because according to my 3822 since 1979 I have flown solo in:
WT series MKIII
XN series MKIII
XA series MKIII
XE series MKIII
XN series T21/Sedbergh
WB series T21/Sedbergh
XZ series T61/Venture
ZA series T61/Venture
ZA series ASK21 Vanguard
ZA series AW19 Valiant
ZE series Vigilant
ZE series Viking
plus multiple other RAF types as passenger in ATC (Herc, VC10, Gazelle, Chinook, Bulldog, Chipmunk, Hawk etc..............)
What a great organisation the ATC is/was. Pity the bureaucratic rubbish of today and repeated defence cuts makes it so difficult to operate because it was the gateway to aviation for me and many others I'm sure.
Arc
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I'd be interested to know if anybody flew my T31m when it was a glider in the ATC. Its serial was WT873 but I haven't a clue where it was based.
SS
SS
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My first flight in anything was a T31 at Swansea with the ATC back in 1971. When I showed my kids a T31 being rebuilt and told them it was the first thing I ever flew in they looked at me as if I was one of the Wright brothers!
Just a numbered other
Great little thread, which led me to dig out the little blue 3822. Enrolement 23rd May 1965.
41 launches from Kenley in the Mk3 3 of them on me own, and 12 in the Sedburgh.
The serials also lack the first two letters. Mk 3s 196,301,300, and Sedburgh 940
Seem to remember 196 crashing in the trees on the undershoot about 1969, and having the film recording the recovery of bits from the wood being removed from my camera by a surly NCO and exposed as he muttered something about the Russians needing info like that to assess our strength!
Instructors by the names of Nunn, Bellis Townsend Coomber White and Tarrant (civvies) and Vince, Crowley, Kemp (VRT)
Oh dear, just discovered Discharge Cert not complete. Better dig crab blue surge uniform out of Dad's loft and give it back!!
Just found at http://www.ukserials.com/ 300 and 301 were XA. 300 destroyed in the Kenley hangar fire in 1978 and 301 written off in 1974. Can't find 196 anywhere
41 launches from Kenley in the Mk3 3 of them on me own, and 12 in the Sedburgh.
The serials also lack the first two letters. Mk 3s 196,301,300, and Sedburgh 940
Seem to remember 196 crashing in the trees on the undershoot about 1969, and having the film recording the recovery of bits from the wood being removed from my camera by a surly NCO and exposed as he muttered something about the Russians needing info like that to assess our strength!
Instructors by the names of Nunn, Bellis Townsend Coomber White and Tarrant (civvies) and Vince, Crowley, Kemp (VRT)
Oh dear, just discovered Discharge Cert not complete. Better dig crab blue surge uniform out of Dad's loft and give it back!!
Just found at http://www.ukserials.com/ 300 and 301 were XA. 300 destroyed in the Kenley hangar fire in 1978 and 301 written off in 1974. Can't find 196 anywhere
Last edited by Arkroyal; 23rd Oct 2006 at 09:25. Reason: more info
Gliding
What a nostalgic thread. My ATC gliding was at RAF Burtonwood, now known as part of the M62, back in 1969. I flew Cadet MkIIIs and Sedberghs but have long since lost the RAF log book. What was astonishing to me is that I flew solo before I was old enough to have a car license so my Dad used to drive me to the airfield on a Satuday morning.
Anybody know what the registrations were of those little beauties or what happened to them ? I've just remembered that because it was so cold, I had huge ATC boots and two pairs of socks so had trouble feeling the rudder pedals and it was a piece of red cotton on the pitot tube ahead of the windshield (sic) that was used to keep straight, and the volume of the wind noise to keep level.
The following year, by which time I could drive my Mum's mini, I spent a fantastic 2 weeks on the Long Mynd with the Midland Gliding Club doing bungee launches off the hillside in Schleicher K13s and soaring up and down in the ridge lift for as long as a half hour on one occasion. Only came down coz it was somebody else's turn. Do they still use elastic bands to launch gliders ?
Only flown in a glider once since then, at Dunstable about 4 years ago. Scared the life out of me not having an engine - how d'you do a go-around in a glider ? like flying the space shuttle.
Anybody know what the registrations were of those little beauties or what happened to them ? I've just remembered that because it was so cold, I had huge ATC boots and two pairs of socks so had trouble feeling the rudder pedals and it was a piece of red cotton on the pitot tube ahead of the windshield (sic) that was used to keep straight, and the volume of the wind noise to keep level.
The following year, by which time I could drive my Mum's mini, I spent a fantastic 2 weeks on the Long Mynd with the Midland Gliding Club doing bungee launches off the hillside in Schleicher K13s and soaring up and down in the ridge lift for as long as a half hour on one occasion. Only came down coz it was somebody else's turn. Do they still use elastic bands to launch gliders ?
Only flown in a glider once since then, at Dunstable about 4 years ago. Scared the life out of me not having an engine - how d'you do a go-around in a glider ? like flying the space shuttle.
Last edited by Dave Gittins; 23rd Oct 2006 at 12:33. Reason: To Add the bit about the red cotton
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If you gents want to know where your T21's and T31's are now, try www.rcawsey.fsnet.co.uk/slingsby.htm
All may be revealed!
I often fly T21 WJ306 which is at Oxford Gliding club these days - still in the ATC warpaint. Still 'kin cold at over 4000 feet.
WJ306 was at 626 VGS Predannack from 1969 - 76 and 621 VGS at Halesland until disposed-of in 1985.
All may be revealed!
I often fly T21 WJ306 which is at Oxford Gliding club these days - still in the ATC warpaint. Still 'kin cold at over 4000 feet.
WJ306 was at 626 VGS Predannack from 1969 - 76 and 621 VGS at Halesland until disposed-of in 1985.
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Memories
Hi I started as an Air cadet in 1973 did a gliding course on T31's in 1977 then did the advanced course on T31 Cadet Mk3 and T21 Sedburghs. I was then asked to stay on asa staff cadet running the winch and retrieving cables and gliders and getting between 1 and 3 flights at the end of the day. We were the first school (644 VGS at Syerston) to convert to the Venture Motor Glider in 1978. We operated the Venture until 1990 when again we were the first school to convert to the Grob Vigilant. In total I flew nearly 1000 hours in Air Cadet gliders and motor gliders.
Some of the characters I knew and flew with included Bruce Tapson (he retired in 2005 from ACCGS but still flies principally from Saltby and is a senior examiner with the BGA). Although I never met Peter Bullivant, I did teach and fly with his son Richard who went on to be CO of 644VGS. Albert Johnson I think retired in the late 90's, but continued with Four Counties RAFGSA club.
I have lots of very happy memories of times spent in the Air Cadets and would still reccomend joining to any youths of today.
Some of the characters I knew and flew with included Bruce Tapson (he retired in 2005 from ACCGS but still flies principally from Saltby and is a senior examiner with the BGA). Although I never met Peter Bullivant, I did teach and fly with his son Richard who went on to be CO of 644VGS. Albert Johnson I think retired in the late 90's, but continued with Four Counties RAFGSA club.
I have lots of very happy memories of times spent in the Air Cadets and would still reccomend joining to any youths of today.
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637 GS Gaydon
I was priviledged to be a Staff Cadet (later CI and "B" Cat) at 637 GS Gaydon 1968-72 and then 622 Old Sarum '73-76. 2000+ launches T21, T31, Prefect, and Swallow.
Les Stockdale, Bill Walker, Bill Jones, Jim Morrow, Tony Dring, Dave Bellis, Pete Fanshaw, Ted Smith, Dave Austin, Paul Whitehead, Paul Whitters, Woodbridge(!!) - where are you all now??
Hitch hiking in my ATC uniform from school in Solihull after rugger on a Sat mornings, driving the winch all afternoon, nightstopping on the floor in the office with the rest of the guys (no bunkhouse, Gaydon was on "care and maintenance" by then) maybe a couple of 3 min launches late on Sunday. Doing my weekend prep in the back of Ted's car on the way home Sunday evening, back again next weekend for the same all over again.................
Happy Happy memories and such a good upbringing for a tearaway 17 year old!
Jez Cooke.
Les Stockdale, Bill Walker, Bill Jones, Jim Morrow, Tony Dring, Dave Bellis, Pete Fanshaw, Ted Smith, Dave Austin, Paul Whitehead, Paul Whitters, Woodbridge(!!) - where are you all now??
Hitch hiking in my ATC uniform from school in Solihull after rugger on a Sat mornings, driving the winch all afternoon, nightstopping on the floor in the office with the rest of the guys (no bunkhouse, Gaydon was on "care and maintenance" by then) maybe a couple of 3 min launches late on Sunday. Doing my weekend prep in the back of Ted's car on the way home Sunday evening, back again next weekend for the same all over again.................
Happy Happy memories and such a good upbringing for a tearaway 17 year old!
Jez Cooke.
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Plenty more memories/ registrations and photos here............................still running on the Mil forum
http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...pre-glass.html
http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...pre-glass.html
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I was lucky enough to do a Gliding Proficiency course with 644 VGS at Syerston in 1983. Despite one of my instructors being a gentleman by the name of Keith Chesher (who along with Paul Blackmore) taught me what flying was really all about. I went on to be an instructor spending 18 happy years there
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Where is that lamp !!
126 Derby squadron 1950's - those were the days.
Did the gliding A & B at Spittalgate. Travel warrants to get there
The winch had big Ford V8 engine. Starting them in winter was an epic. Usually a rag dipped in the fuel tank and then pushed in the air intake ! Elf & Safety
Like Footless was told to let go at 900 ft on first solo. Also kept it going to 1,000 ft
Summer camps Hullavington - Provost
and Hemswell - Lincoln
!
126 Derby squadron 1950's - those were the days.
Did the gliding A & B at Spittalgate. Travel warrants to get there
The winch had big Ford V8 engine. Starting them in winter was an epic. Usually a rag dipped in the fuel tank and then pushed in the air intake ! Elf & Safety
Like Footless was told to let go at 900 ft on first solo. Also kept it going to 1,000 ft
Summer camps Hullavington - Provost
and Hemswell - Lincoln
!
