Air Cadet Gliding pix in the 80s (pre glass)
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Meanwhile, Kirby Cadet Mk III XN246 has been derigged by Southampton Air Museum and appears to be languishing in a shed with one face open to the elements, judging by a 2019 photo on t'internet. She looks to be in a sorry state. Sad. Did my first solo in her at Manston in 1977. If Solent Sky have no plans for her, it would be nice to find her another home. A shame that she's now so unloved by an organisation that was supposed to be looking after her and preserving her memory. And as for winching, my club (Welland) still has a Tost winch mounted on a Bedford RL truck !
Having just skimmed through all these pages I can see very little reference to 611 VGS at Swanton Morely.
I know it's in deep dark Norfolk, but surely there must be somebody apart from me who did their A & B certs here?
I know it's in deep dark Norfolk, but surely there must be somebody apart from me who did their A & B certs here?
I did my C cat instructor's rating there, or at least most of it. Their winch broke so we had to resort to ATs and couldn't cover cable breaks. F/O Pond had to come to Old Sarum to finish it off.
Swanton got a brief reprieve a couple of years ago when they started Vigilant ops but within a week, ops were teminated again.
Strangely a lot of VGS sites are lying empty eg Halton, Henlow etc whereas at Little Rissington there are 2 VGS on the one site!
Presumably 611 GS had a similar relationship to No 1 Gliding Centre as 644 GS did to No 2 Gliding Centre (Spitalgate) as was.
I did my initial (weekend) gliding course at 644 Spitalgate ,644 did the weekend training and No2 GC did the weekday courses.
So presumably 611 GS did the weekend courses/AEG at Swanton with No1 GC doing the weekday courses.
Confusingly, No 613 Sqdn RAF was once based at Swanton flying Mosquitos!
And of course before Spitalgate, No 2 GC was at Kirton in Lindsey from the mid '60s until 1972 operating alongside 643 GS.with No's 1 and 2 GC moving to Syerston in 1975 to become CGS along with 643 and 644..
And of course before Spitalgate, No 2 GC was at Kirton in Lindsey from the mid '60s until 1972 operating alongside 643 GS.with No's 1 and 2 GC moving to Syerston in 1975 to become CGS along with 643 and 644..
Last edited by chevvron; 28th Oct 2021 at 09:55.
Best value for money airframe any Airforce had anywhere in the World. and has no equal in a fist solo operation. Youngsters nowadays would jump at a chance to sample its ability to get them airborne and then 'go it alone'. A 'wheel ' that did not need reinventing and (on a continuous course) zero to solo in just over an hours actual flight for some. An operation for Cadets run by Cadets 'unbeatable'. This one in a proper 'training command ' livery, because that is what the system did, TRAIN !!
Best value for money airframe any Airforce had anywhere in the World. and has no equal in a fist solo operation. Youngsters nowadays would jump at a chance to sample its ability to get them airborne and then 'go it alone'. A 'wheel ' that did not need reinventing and (on a continuous course) zero to solo in just over an hours actual flight for some. An operation for Cadets run by Cadets 'unbeatable'. This one in a proper 'training command ' livery, because that is what the system did, TRAIN !!
Seeing the picture of the Mk 3 in Solent Sky reminds me of something.
When my daughter was very small, we visited the IWM at Duxford. In one hangar was a Mk 3.
@I used to fly one of those' says a proud Dad.
'Yes, and now it's in a museum' says an unimpressed daughter.
As she was six at the time, I thought that was a rather adult put down.......
Sic Transit Gloria ?
When my daughter was very small, we visited the IWM at Duxford. In one hangar was a Mk 3.
@I used to fly one of those' says a proud Dad.
'Yes, and now it's in a museum' says an unimpressed daughter.
As she was six at the time, I thought that was a rather adult put down.......
Sic Transit Gloria ?
Best value for money airframe any Airforce had anywhere in the World. and has no equal in a fist solo operation. Youngsters nowadays would jump at a chance to sample its ability to get them airborne and then 'go it alone'. A 'wheel ' that did not need reinventing and (on a continuous course) zero to solo in just over an hours actual flight for some. An operation for Cadets run by Cadets 'unbeatable'. This one in a proper 'training command ' livery, because that is what the system did, TRAIN !!
The Best Basic World Class Training System EVER
Keeping it simple
I know that the system used very basic machines, however it achieved an amazing level of training considering the main operations for 'schools' was on a w-end only basis.
When you add the weather and travel factor plus Cadets had no 'ability streaming' or real pre flight classroom work, how did it all work. I think it worked because no one told us it could not be done that way. There must be lessons that can be learnt from those days that relate to how we approach tasks today. Of course it was very much a 'hands on' operation and I do not recall much in the way of paperwork or written tests. Yet despite this a 16 year old was allowed to do all this on his own after a very limited amount of actual flight time and with an excellent safety record. Could it have been an 'age related' factor that the magic 16 element happened to peak in a combination of confidence and learning ability that enabled total input into the task rather than the the requirement to memorise lots of information. There again was it the Bumble Bee syndrome, we fly because we can and no one told us otherwise. Thank you Air Cadet Gliding you did us proud.
When you add the weather and travel factor plus Cadets had no 'ability streaming' or real pre flight classroom work, how did it all work. I think it worked because no one told us it could not be done that way. There must be lessons that can be learnt from those days that relate to how we approach tasks today. Of course it was very much a 'hands on' operation and I do not recall much in the way of paperwork or written tests. Yet despite this a 16 year old was allowed to do all this on his own after a very limited amount of actual flight time and with an excellent safety record. Could it have been an 'age related' factor that the magic 16 element happened to peak in a combination of confidence and learning ability that enabled total input into the task rather than the the requirement to memorise lots of information. There again was it the Bumble Bee syndrome, we fly because we can and no one told us otherwise. Thank you Air Cadet Gliding you did us proud.
Aircraft Photo of BGA4033 / XE786 | Slingsby T.31B Cadet TX.3 | UK - Air Force | AirHistory.net #56939
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Can't see any Cadets or Sedberghs on the G-reg - are vintage gliders still permitted to fly on the BGA register? ("Slingsby" reveals T-67s, Ventures, Vegas, Darts, Kestrels, etc...)
I know that the system used very basic machines, however it achieved an amazing level of training considering the main operations for 'schools' was on a w-end only basis.
When you add the weather and travel factor plus Cadets had no 'ability streaming' or real pre flight classroom work, how did it all work. I think it worked because no one told us it could not be done that way. There must be lessons that can be learnt from those days that relate to how we approach tasks today. Of course it was very much a 'hands on' operation and I do not recall much in the way of paperwork or written tests. Yet despite this a 16 year old was allowed to do all this on his own after a very limited amount of actual flight time and with an excellent safety record. Could it have been an 'age related' factor that the magic 16 element happened to peak in a combination of confidence and learning ability that enabled total input into the task rather than the the requirement to memorise lots of information. There again was it the Bumble Bee syndrome, we fly because we can and no one told us otherwise. Thank you Air Cadet Gliding you did us proud.
When you add the weather and travel factor plus Cadets had no 'ability streaming' or real pre flight classroom work, how did it all work. I think it worked because no one told us it could not be done that way. There must be lessons that can be learnt from those days that relate to how we approach tasks today. Of course it was very much a 'hands on' operation and I do not recall much in the way of paperwork or written tests. Yet despite this a 16 year old was allowed to do all this on his own after a very limited amount of actual flight time and with an excellent safety record. Could it have been an 'age related' factor that the magic 16 element happened to peak in a combination of confidence and learning ability that enabled total input into the task rather than the the requirement to memorise lots of information. There again was it the Bumble Bee syndrome, we fly because we can and no one told us otherwise. Thank you Air Cadet Gliding you did us proud.
This cadet is one I am proud of, he memorized the checks and he went solo and if his later life was restricted by his level of literacy at least he could say he had flown an aircraft on his own.
I know that the system used very basic machines, however it achieved an amazing level of training considering the main operations for 'schools' was on a w-end only basis.
When you add the weather and travel factor plus Cadets had no 'ability streaming' or real pre flight classroom work, how did it all work. I think it worked because no one told us it could not be done that way. There must be lessons that can be learnt from those days that relate to how we approach tasks today. Of course it was very much a 'hands on' operation and I do not recall much in the way of paperwork or written tests. Yet despite this a 16 year old was allowed to do all this on his own after a very limited amount of actual flight time and with an excellent safety record. Could it have been an 'age related' factor that the magic 16 element happened to peak in a combination of confidence and learning ability that enabled total input into the task rather than the the requirement to memorise lots of information. There again was it the Bumble Bee syndrome, we fly because we can and no one told us otherwise. Thank you Air Cadet Gliding you did us proud.
When you add the weather and travel factor plus Cadets had no 'ability streaming' or real pre flight classroom work, how did it all work. I think it worked because no one told us it could not be done that way. There must be lessons that can be learnt from those days that relate to how we approach tasks today. Of course it was very much a 'hands on' operation and I do not recall much in the way of paperwork or written tests. Yet despite this a 16 year old was allowed to do all this on his own after a very limited amount of actual flight time and with an excellent safety record. Could it have been an 'age related' factor that the magic 16 element happened to peak in a combination of confidence and learning ability that enabled total input into the task rather than the the requirement to memorise lots of information. There again was it the Bumble Bee syndrome, we fly because we can and no one told us otherwise. Thank you Air Cadet Gliding you did us proud.