Air Cadet Gliding pix in the 80s (pre glass)
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The thing that astonished me back in the mid 1950s whilst learning to fly gliders is being able to hear people on the ground conversing normally. The sound floated upward very clearly from the mushroom pickers at RNAS Culdrose 800 feet or more below us. Hearing lurid details of someone's love life was not conducive to the task of flying accurately! 
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This is good, although it may have been posted before:
AIR TRAINING CORPS GLIDING SCHOOL - British Pathé
AIR TRAINING CORPS GLIDING SCHOOL - British Pathé
being able to hear people on the ground conversing normally
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Thanks GliFly: we did indeed see it recently at post 952, but it's good to see it again, especially as it features my "own" XA282 ("own" as in "I flew it at Hawkinge"!)
Laurence
Laurence
Last edited by l.garey; 5th Nov 2013 at 10:01.
As a kid being brought up in the leafy north western suburbs of London we often went out into the country for picnics. Dunstable Downs was a favourite, as we could sit there, watch the gliders and hear the instructors patter in the T21s overhead - another draw towards my interest in a flying career
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There are also stories of comments being shouted from open cockpit gliders to "courting" couples who thought they were hidden in the undergrowth at various ridge soaring sites!
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Reading all this has taken me has taken me back to what a wonderful organisation the ATC was and still is. It boosted my self confidence, gave me a great deal of fun and the experience has been with with me and helped me all my life. I feel very privileged to have been involved. I can't thank my C.O., instructors and the organisation enough.
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Haven't been on here for some time...and I'm absolutely amazed this thread is still running!
Keep the stories coming...
Keep the stories coming...
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ATC gliding
I'm so glad I stumbled across this thread. I was fortunate enough to be introduced to the ATC by a school friend, we were underage (I think you had to be 14? we were 13 but a couple of tall kids) We joined 1175 Squadron in Prenton Park Birkenhead.
One wonderful day we were sent out for Air Experience Flying to Burtonwood. I had never even been up close to a real airoplane before. It seemed like light years away from home. It must have been January or February as the misty memories have snow on the ground? That would have been 1963. I was magically lifted into the air and vividly remember looking down at the tiny houses, hangers and cars. I remember a hut with red cans filled with sand and "Butt Can" stencilled on them. A leftover from the USAF maybe?
Hooked for life! Later, in 1966 I was chosen for gliding training at Sealand. I walked out onto the airfield and a familiar figure strolled up. "Do I know you?" asked Jim Chapman my High School art teacher. "Yes sir you teach me art at Park High". "Well then I'll teach you to fly too" and off we set on a wonderful and sometimes wild adventure.
I remember him buzzing the train that ran down one side of the airfield. People have talked about doing stall/spin approach training but Jim had me fly full stalls and full spin and recovery.
One famous day as I was very near my solo a TA Austin Champ showed up on the airfield and set up a Parascending rig. Jim was on that like a dog on a bone but the TA guys weren't having any of it. "Only people trained in parachute use allowed" they told him. He launched into a great rant about "Parachute trained? I was a Fleet Air Arm pilot and was shot down twice by the Japanese" that belittle them into letting him have a go.
First time up and he broke his ankle on the descent! They sent an ambulance out for him and you could hear him cursing the bumps in the grass all the way out of sight! On monday I had a great story to tell at school.
I finished my course the next weekend I solo'd within a couple of days of my 16th birthday. This instilled a love of gliders in me although I've never held anything but that first A&B licence. I did fly a paraglider for a couple of years though and loved ridge soaring at Torrey Pines and thermalling over the California hills. I mainly built and flew Radio Control gliders which although not quite the same is certainly satisfying.
Jim's been gone for some time now but I'll bet he's giving some poor angel hell, up there where the sun shines and the lift never ends!
Thanks for keeping this great thread going.
Oh yes before I sign off. I suffered a stress induced breakdown several years ago, as part of the stress management techniques I had to think of the best time in my life and think about all the details, sounds, smells and colors. I use this to push away stress and anxiety when it threatens to overtake me, kind of my mantra. It starts with CISTRS!!
Thanks for listening
Brian
One wonderful day we were sent out for Air Experience Flying to Burtonwood. I had never even been up close to a real airoplane before. It seemed like light years away from home. It must have been January or February as the misty memories have snow on the ground? That would have been 1963. I was magically lifted into the air and vividly remember looking down at the tiny houses, hangers and cars. I remember a hut with red cans filled with sand and "Butt Can" stencilled on them. A leftover from the USAF maybe?
Hooked for life! Later, in 1966 I was chosen for gliding training at Sealand. I walked out onto the airfield and a familiar figure strolled up. "Do I know you?" asked Jim Chapman my High School art teacher. "Yes sir you teach me art at Park High". "Well then I'll teach you to fly too" and off we set on a wonderful and sometimes wild adventure.
I remember him buzzing the train that ran down one side of the airfield. People have talked about doing stall/spin approach training but Jim had me fly full stalls and full spin and recovery.
One famous day as I was very near my solo a TA Austin Champ showed up on the airfield and set up a Parascending rig. Jim was on that like a dog on a bone but the TA guys weren't having any of it. "Only people trained in parachute use allowed" they told him. He launched into a great rant about "Parachute trained? I was a Fleet Air Arm pilot and was shot down twice by the Japanese" that belittle them into letting him have a go.
First time up and he broke his ankle on the descent! They sent an ambulance out for him and you could hear him cursing the bumps in the grass all the way out of sight! On monday I had a great story to tell at school.
I finished my course the next weekend I solo'd within a couple of days of my 16th birthday. This instilled a love of gliders in me although I've never held anything but that first A&B licence. I did fly a paraglider for a couple of years though and loved ridge soaring at Torrey Pines and thermalling over the California hills. I mainly built and flew Radio Control gliders which although not quite the same is certainly satisfying.
Jim's been gone for some time now but I'll bet he's giving some poor angel hell, up there where the sun shines and the lift never ends!
Thanks for keeping this great thread going.
Oh yes before I sign off. I suffered a stress induced breakdown several years ago, as part of the stress management techniques I had to think of the best time in my life and think about all the details, sounds, smells and colors. I use this to push away stress and anxiety when it threatens to overtake me, kind of my mantra. It starts with CISTRS!!
Thanks for listening
Brian
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Brian, me too, happy memories, but you had to be 13yrs 9 months to be enrolled, you could attend from around 13 (from distant memory) and to take part in activities such as AEF's and shooting, summers camps et al, you had to be enrolled.
I spent a lot of happy times, did some great summer camps, including Malta one year, and did my A&B at Linton On Ouse. Our AEF flights in Chipmunks were from Finningley (now Robin Hood Airport) Linton, Church Fenton, and Leconfield, 3 of which are now defunct, only Linton remains as a flying station.
Great times, great friends, and a good grounding in discipline and citizenship.
I spent a lot of happy times, did some great summer camps, including Malta one year, and did my A&B at Linton On Ouse. Our AEF flights in Chipmunks were from Finningley (now Robin Hood Airport) Linton, Church Fenton, and Leconfield, 3 of which are now defunct, only Linton remains as a flying station.
Great times, great friends, and a good grounding in discipline and citizenship.
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Yes, I too owe a lot to the ATC.
As a 17-year old apprentice in the aircraft industry and a member of 220 St. Albans Squadron, it was suggested to me that I find out whether I would be acceptable as aircrew in the RAF. So 3 weeks after my 17th birthday off I went to RAF Hornchurch, RAF Aircrew Selection Centre. Several days of tests & medicals resulted in a final interview at which I was told that I was acceptable, but the advice was to complete my engineering training first. Then followed the almost off-the-cuff remark "But I see you are in the ATC. Would you like a Flying Scholarship to be going on with"? Wow, is the Pope a Catholic?
So Summer 1958 and I turn up at Luton Flying Club to fly Tigers and get my PPL at 17 years and 8 months.
From there it was gliding with 616 at Henlow with the great Peter Bullivant as my C.O. (he also worked at the same place as me - de Havilland Aircraft), a staff cadet-ship, advanced course at Halesland and a Civilian Instructor position at Henlow.
That made me a more self-confident and capable person in everything else in life.
The ATC was and probably still is a great organisation.
As a 17-year old apprentice in the aircraft industry and a member of 220 St. Albans Squadron, it was suggested to me that I find out whether I would be acceptable as aircrew in the RAF. So 3 weeks after my 17th birthday off I went to RAF Hornchurch, RAF Aircrew Selection Centre. Several days of tests & medicals resulted in a final interview at which I was told that I was acceptable, but the advice was to complete my engineering training first. Then followed the almost off-the-cuff remark "But I see you are in the ATC. Would you like a Flying Scholarship to be going on with"? Wow, is the Pope a Catholic?
So Summer 1958 and I turn up at Luton Flying Club to fly Tigers and get my PPL at 17 years and 8 months.
From there it was gliding with 616 at Henlow with the great Peter Bullivant as my C.O. (he also worked at the same place as me - de Havilland Aircraft), a staff cadet-ship, advanced course at Halesland and a Civilian Instructor position at Henlow.
That made me a more self-confident and capable person in everything else in life.
The ATC was and probably still is a great organisation.
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FOGIES (Former Old Gliding Instructors Extension Society)
It has been sometime now since the Former Old Gliding Instructors Extension Society (known as FOGIES), was mentioned.
The response from all corners of the world has been amazing, hence this reminder what FOGIES is all about.
Members enjoy bi annually dinners held in the Officers Mess RAF Linton on Ouse. Allowing renewal of old acquaintances and chewing the fat (as our American colleagues say), with friends old and new. Additionally members receive bi annually via email the FOGIE News.
Membership is open to Ex Civilian and Commissioned Instructors and past staff cadets alike for both wood or glass and all for the princely sum of £7 paid annually by standing order.
Please note however membership is not automatic and is subject to the scrutiny and approval of the FOGIE committee.
The email address for FOGIES is [email protected]
The response from all corners of the world has been amazing, hence this reminder what FOGIES is all about.
Members enjoy bi annually dinners held in the Officers Mess RAF Linton on Ouse. Allowing renewal of old acquaintances and chewing the fat (as our American colleagues say), with friends old and new. Additionally members receive bi annually via email the FOGIE News.
Membership is open to Ex Civilian and Commissioned Instructors and past staff cadets alike for both wood or glass and all for the princely sum of £7 paid annually by standing order.
Please note however membership is not automatic and is subject to the scrutiny and approval of the FOGIE committee.
The email address for FOGIES is [email protected]
Last edited by Burtonwood Aviator; 10th Mar 2014 at 09:53. Reason: Correction
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Some great photos of the 621 VGS Historic Flt in action:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/621-V...32970056815072
https://www.facebook.com/pages/621-V...32970056815072
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Airborne in XA310 again!
Just a quick note to say thanks so much to Al and the chaps at the Historical Flight who managed to get me aloft in XA310 today, first time since 1975 when I did my A + B at Locking. I'm sure the glider had shrunk since I last clambered aboard, so went in the rear seat, as I didn't seem to fit in the front anymore. I'm sure this was entirely due to the armour and padding in my leather motorcycle trousers of course...
The forum needs a 'Lump in Throat' emoticon!
Thanks again, you made my day!
Tim
The forum needs a 'Lump in Throat' emoticon!
Thanks again, you made my day!
Tim
I'm sure the glider had shrunk since I last clambered aboard
The Vampire's owner refers to it as a '250 kt wooden motorglider'.
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Does anybody have any photos of Venture ZA656 whilst it was in use with the ATC which they could post or email me please? I believe it flew with 612, 613 and 624 Gliding Schools and perhaps others.
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Gosh, this has brought back a few memories. I did my AIr Cadet A&B at the CGS Detachment, Swanton Morley, in the early-mid 70s - a dull (weather-wise) October week, but most of our course soloed before the rain came in on the last day. Soloed on XN236 at the end of the Wednesday with the light fading, then had to wait until the next day and another couple of check rides before I could do the other two.
Instructors? Mine was Flt Lt Alan Pond, CFI at the time, we also had Flt Lts Ian Ladley and Stan Easton.
My ATC squadron also went to Debden for famil gliding, where I found out from the passenger/trainee seat that you could loop a Sedbergh.
Happy days ...
Instructors? Mine was Flt Lt Alan Pond, CFI at the time, we also had Flt Lts Ian Ladley and Stan Easton.
My ATC squadron also went to Debden for famil gliding, where I found out from the passenger/trainee seat that you could loop a Sedbergh.
Happy days ...
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Faces from the past......I've been away for a year or so and the thread is still going strong.
Great pics of DN and DB cleaning boots, and just figured out who farns744 must be (KF?). Those from Kenley will of course remember Barbara, DB's wife, and the familiar briefing that DB was often heard giving prior to a student lesson...."when you get to the top of the launch, turn left. Right?"
And how could I forget the old AC, before and after the paint job. (I seem to recall learning how to siphon fuel at around that time, not that the two were in any way connected).
Also a great movie shot at Hawkinge, and I think maybe that's where Alex started, or was it Detling? Not sure which came first though.
Sad to read about Brian Lamb's passing, and yes he was a great character. Many familiar names from the distant past popping up like Ian Ladley, Soapy King, Pete Bullivant, Alan Pond, Stan Easton, John Wynch and Brian(?) Johnstone, et all from Swanton Morley/Spitlegate/Halesland who I all had the pleasure (in most cases) of flying with, or being checked by at some time or another.
I did my silver distance from SM in 71 in the swallow and shortly after setting course got hopelessly lost. I decided to keep going as far as possible and upon reaching the coast I landed (downwind) in a field. I popped off the canopy and placed it alongside the fuselage, then having jumped out, and while changing wings, I heard a rather loud sound of said perspex canopy cracking! To add insult to injury I then called the retrieve team and gave them the wrong map coordinates, sending them on a wild goose chase in completely the wrong direction....(before mobile phones of course).
Regarding CISTRS are you sure it was changed that far back? Memory fades of course but I was sure it was much later, maybe mid 70's or even early 80's. (When the Grobs were introduced I do remember it was CBSITCB, but later, after someone took off with a tail dolly still attached, that item was added to the list - although probably by that time the use of printed checklists became the norm.
I keep promising to do it, but I will dig out some of Alex's old KY snaps when I next visit Doff (and for those who know her I'm very pleased to report that she is still going strong, and in great health) and somewhere I know I have a picture of Pobjoy taken down by the winch, standing next to Ian Harry, and I think also Phip Loose. Perhaps the latter are also lurking on the thread?
Best regards to Pobjoy, Frelon, Keith C and, KF.
Clive
Great pics of DN and DB cleaning boots, and just figured out who farns744 must be (KF?). Those from Kenley will of course remember Barbara, DB's wife, and the familiar briefing that DB was often heard giving prior to a student lesson...."when you get to the top of the launch, turn left. Right?"
And how could I forget the old AC, before and after the paint job. (I seem to recall learning how to siphon fuel at around that time, not that the two were in any way connected).
Also a great movie shot at Hawkinge, and I think maybe that's where Alex started, or was it Detling? Not sure which came first though.
Sad to read about Brian Lamb's passing, and yes he was a great character. Many familiar names from the distant past popping up like Ian Ladley, Soapy King, Pete Bullivant, Alan Pond, Stan Easton, John Wynch and Brian(?) Johnstone, et all from Swanton Morley/Spitlegate/Halesland who I all had the pleasure (in most cases) of flying with, or being checked by at some time or another.
I did my silver distance from SM in 71 in the swallow and shortly after setting course got hopelessly lost. I decided to keep going as far as possible and upon reaching the coast I landed (downwind) in a field. I popped off the canopy and placed it alongside the fuselage, then having jumped out, and while changing wings, I heard a rather loud sound of said perspex canopy cracking! To add insult to injury I then called the retrieve team and gave them the wrong map coordinates, sending them on a wild goose chase in completely the wrong direction....(before mobile phones of course).
Regarding CISTRS are you sure it was changed that far back? Memory fades of course but I was sure it was much later, maybe mid 70's or even early 80's. (When the Grobs were introduced I do remember it was CBSITCB, but later, after someone took off with a tail dolly still attached, that item was added to the list - although probably by that time the use of printed checklists became the norm.
I keep promising to do it, but I will dig out some of Alex's old KY snaps when I next visit Doff (and for those who know her I'm very pleased to report that she is still going strong, and in great health) and somewhere I know I have a picture of Pobjoy taken down by the winch, standing next to Ian Harry, and I think also Phip Loose. Perhaps the latter are also lurking on the thread?
Best regards to Pobjoy, Frelon, Keith C and, KF.
Clive
Last edited by clivewatson; 12th Jun 2014 at 01:28.
