Air Cadet Gliding pix in the 80s (pre glass)
Halton acquired a total of 3 Vulcans (Mk 1) and 2 Comets (Mk2/3?) and one of the latter 'lost' its fin to repair the one at RAE Bedford which was struck by a Trident.
These had all long gone by the '90s when I was flying there with the Ridgerunners(3 axis microlights).
These had all long gone by the '90s when I was flying there with the Ridgerunners(3 axis microlights).
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FRELON.
Very few Gliding pics on this thread, but very interesting to many of us nevertheless. Permit us oldies a litlle thread creep now and again.
Very few Gliding pics on this thread, but very interesting to many of us nevertheless. Permit us oldies a litlle thread creep now and again.
Yes, sorry if it upset you! I too am an oldie but reading about ruts in airfields stretches the imagination too far 
I suppose it was my fault really, mentioning the fact that our double bogie T21 retrieve trolley tended to smooth them out! But, of course those at Halton would have defeated us
I suppose it was my fault really, mentioning the fact that our double bogie T21 retrieve trolley tended to smooth them out! But, of course those at Halton would have defeated us
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Some more fine photos via the links below.
www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1229549
www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1228298
www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1233228
www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1229549
www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1228298
www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1233228
At least three Argosys were flown into Halton (XP409, XP442 and XR140). I was scheduled to deliver one of them from Benson on a fine Monday morning. The flight engineer discovered that one of the invertors was u/s (we had no less than five of them underneath the floor).
This was hardly a problem especially since the total flight time was going to be about ten minutes VFR down the Chilterns ridge and the aircraft was never going to fly again.
Would you believe it, they wouldn't let me go for they had an instruction that the aircraft had to be fully serviceable on arrival at Halton!
I was more than a little annoyed at this wonderful piece of bureaucracy.
This was hardly a problem especially since the total flight time was going to be about ten minutes VFR down the Chilterns ridge and the aircraft was never going to fly again.
Would you believe it, they wouldn't let me go for they had an instruction that the aircraft had to be fully serviceable on arrival at Halton!
I was more than a little annoyed at this wonderful piece of bureaucracy.
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Halesland,
Fantastic ridge site and many happy memories of flying for Gliding Schools staff.
Had a great week flying there in June 1984 as a helper from 616VGS. Sedberghs WB963,WJ306,WB958 and WB942. Boss was 'Tappo ( met brief from the weather map of the Daily Telegraph). Schools were No.622 Upavon and No. 643 Scampton. Pilots Bamford,Tarrant,Scott,Moss,Bass and Bagshaw. The cows had to be herded off the flying field before flying can remember landing in the cow-pats
Best flight was 2hrs 37mins on the ridge one evening in WB942 with another Sedbergh(where is he ? did you see him !! ) 
We got an Aldis signal from Tappo to land it was getting dark. The others had left for Locking. In the clubhouse was a lovely big hot urn of curry as we were freezing. After a few pints in the pub at the bottom of Halesland we made it to Locking in our yellow perils (Land -Rovers) and nightlife of Weston Super Mare. Happy Days
Fantastic ridge site and many happy memories of flying for Gliding Schools staff.
Had a great week flying there in June 1984 as a helper from 616VGS. Sedberghs WB963,WJ306,WB958 and WB942. Boss was 'Tappo ( met brief from the weather map of the Daily Telegraph). Schools were No.622 Upavon and No. 643 Scampton. Pilots Bamford,Tarrant,Scott,Moss,Bass and Bagshaw. The cows had to be herded off the flying field before flying can remember landing in the cow-pats
Best flight was 2hrs 37mins on the ridge one evening in WB942 with another Sedbergh(where is he ? did you see him !! ) We got an Aldis signal from Tappo to land it was getting dark. The others had left for Locking. In the clubhouse was a lovely big hot urn of curry as we were freezing. After a few pints in the pub at the bottom of Halesland we made it to Locking in our yellow perils (Land -Rovers) and nightlife of Weston Super Mare. Happy Days
Last edited by T-21; 8th Jun 2010 at 08:27.
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WJ 306 still providing huge amounts of fun at Oxford Gliding Club, Weston in the Green
Oxford Gliding Club Home
and click on "club fleet" for piccie. Best I've done is 6500 feet. 'kin cold, even in midsummer.
Oxford Gliding Club Home
and click on "club fleet" for piccie. Best I've done is 6500 feet. 'kin cold, even in midsummer.
Last edited by astir 8; 8th Jun 2010 at 13:21.
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T21, Manston and stuff
I was a soloist at Manston in 1977, came back to gliding in 1993 and now fly glass. I remember how they used to close the public road across the airfield before first solo flights, just in case you overshot and embarrassed yourself. Also remember the glider retrieve system they used to keep the launch rate up, whereby the landing glider was probably still moving when a landrover/trailer combo screamed to a halt in front, 4 cadets would leap out of the back, and push the glider and still-strapped-in cadet up the ramp and secure the wingtips to the trailer with cables before driving back to the launch point and dropping the glider off for the next launch. The glider crew didn't have to lift a finger to help. Heady days. Oh, and XN246, as previously mentioned in this thread (Southampton museum) was my solo machine.
Had my first flight in an open cockpit glider in 33 years in Feb this year when I had a brief soaring flight in a T21 at Upwood. Never been so cold in my life.....
(So when are you going to drop in for a cuppa at Lyveden then, T21 ? Or do we have to come down to Odell and frogmarch you up there ?)
Had my first flight in an open cockpit glider in 33 years in Feb this year when I had a brief soaring flight in a T21 at Upwood. Never been so cold in my life.....
(So when are you going to drop in for a cuppa at Lyveden then, T21 ? Or do we have to come down to Odell and frogmarch you up there ?)
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Swanton Morley
Looking at your pictures brings back memories of Swanton Morley June 1972.
I had a week there training for the A & B certificate with 611 Glider School flying with Flt. Lt. Easton. A very large grass field as I remember but somebody still managed to over-shoot & ending up amongst the crops. I went solo at the end of the week after 87 mins. dual (25 flights), all in XN238 a T31 Mk3. I believe the forward fuselage still exists in a museum in Doncaster. Great memories, happy days.
I had a week there training for the A & B certificate with 611 Glider School flying with Flt. Lt. Easton. A very large grass field as I remember but somebody still managed to over-shoot & ending up amongst the crops. I went solo at the end of the week after 87 mins. dual (25 flights), all in XN238 a T31 Mk3. I believe the forward fuselage still exists in a museum in Doncaster. Great memories, happy days.
XN238 (and others). I did an A & B course at Swanton Morley in Autumn 1962, between leaving school and going to Sleaford Tech, and having done my PPL on a Flying Scholarship. I was rushed through A&B in a day and then pushed and pulled for the others, but got a dual "hangar" flight every night. I recall we heard of the Cuban missile crisi in a L/R on the airfield and hoped the "War" would not start before we had joined the RAF and were operational. How naiive can you get! 25 years later I used to go back to Swanton Morley to carry out the Command Accounts Inspection. Still brought back happy memories. Now, 49 years later, learning to glide in France. very friendly and great fun. Hopefully "first solo" later this week.
I did an Air Training Corps Gliding course at RAF Newton in about Feb 1959. The weather was `5 Seasons in a day` so at the end of the week everyone had been brought up to `solo` standard but the Staff decided,and the weather, that no-one would solo,to be fair all-round.
Lost my ATC log-book over the years,so I`ve no idea who the instructors were/a/c tail no. etc.
Nine years later did 2 trips in a `Barge` WB920 at Upavon,a 10 min solo in an Olympia,VV400,then 1hr 20 soaring in the same cab.also flew Sky XA876,but forgot to log the time.. Sum total of my gliding to date..
Anyone around who went/did Newton in those far-off days ?
Lost my ATC log-book over the years,so I`ve no idea who the instructors were/a/c tail no. etc.
Nine years later did 2 trips in a `Barge` WB920 at Upavon,a 10 min solo in an Olympia,VV400,then 1hr 20 soaring in the same cab.also flew Sky XA876,but forgot to log the time.. Sum total of my gliding to date..
Anyone around who went/did Newton in those far-off days ?
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XE799 Update
Thought I would share a couple of pictures of the progress on the return to flying state of XE799. Cockpit is now pretty complete.
Slingsby Cadet T31 - XE799 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Slingsby Cadet T31 - XE799 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Not sure if she will fly this year, it all takes so much longer than you expect.
Guy
Slingsby Cadet T31 - XE799 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Slingsby Cadet T31 - XE799 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Not sure if she will fly this year, it all takes so much longer than you expect.
Guy
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First flight of Chilton (later EoN) Olympia
Taken 10 August 1946 near Hungerford. Not cadets related but sorta related.
Last edited by PinkHarrier; 23rd Aug 2010 at 21:03.
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Some very interesting pictures of the cockpit of XE799 being restored.
When I saw the picture of the back panel of the front seat I was suddenly reminded of a very early lesson in the principals of flight and aerodynamics which was brought home to me time and again during my proficiency gliding course at Kinloss in 1984.
The lesson in aerodynamics was the wing having higher pressure below it with low pressure above thus producing lift.
While flying in the circuit at 35kts IIRC in the front seat (a veritable gale in an open cockpit like the MK3) my instructor would drop his guts in the rear cockpit and owing the increased pressure below the wing, the resultant guff was forced down into his foot-well and through hole in the back of my seat and then up my nostrils.
I recall it was always particularly pungent and rather unpleasant and the individual, who shall remain nameless, had the reputation of being able to clear an entire hangar with one of his trumps.
When I saw the picture of the back panel of the front seat I was suddenly reminded of a very early lesson in the principals of flight and aerodynamics which was brought home to me time and again during my proficiency gliding course at Kinloss in 1984.
The lesson in aerodynamics was the wing having higher pressure below it with low pressure above thus producing lift.
While flying in the circuit at 35kts IIRC in the front seat (a veritable gale in an open cockpit like the MK3) my instructor would drop his guts in the rear cockpit and owing the increased pressure below the wing, the resultant guff was forced down into his foot-well and through hole in the back of my seat and then up my nostrils.
I recall it was always particularly pungent and rather unpleasant and the individual, who shall remain nameless, had the reputation of being able to clear an entire hangar with one of his trumps.
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Trumps
Priceless!And I thought Methane was lighter than air!
I'm glad I didn't know that before I rubbed it down....
Here is a more sensible question. Did any of you (anoraks like me) record the Fuselage numbers against the serials.
Each Glider, had a Military serial, say XE799
A production number, in this case 911(not dispalyed on the glider)
and a fuselage number stencilled on the fuselage side, in this case SSK/FF 1551
We are trying to tie Production numbers against Fuselage numbers, and there are gaps and anomalies. Any that you might have recorded for T31's or T21's would be useful and gratefully received. Both to gap fill and check the extrapolated list.
Thanks
Guy
