Ring any bells with anyone?
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: London
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).
for the ATC!!!!
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,052
Likes: 2
From: Norfolk
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
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,681
Likes: 10
From: Just South of the last ice sheet
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
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 2
From: Earth
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
Joined: Apr 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 57
From: Surrey, UK ;
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.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 164
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From: Witney
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.
Joined: May 2009
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From: Leicester
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.
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 482
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From: Banbury, United Kingdom
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.
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 441
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From: UK
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
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 88
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From: newark
To add my two penneth, I see from my ATC log book that my first ever flight was in a Sedburgh WG 997 on 6/7/69 at Hemswell. Several Chippie AEFs from Newton, a flight in a Herc at Thorney island in 1970 and one in a Varsity from Linton upon Ouse 1971. Flew Chippie WP843 with the Sherwood flying club, late seventies. Happy days. If ever I"m lucky enough to get them six numbers up I shall definately purchase a Chipmunk. Well, a bloke can dream cant he?
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 224
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From: Poland
Arkroyal, I was there at Kenley on that day in 1969 when 196 clipped the trees. I think it was XN196, but the pilot was certainly Martin Brook, and the guy not happy about photos being taken was Brian Kemp!
I had many fun packed years at Kenley as a staff cadet and instructor, first with the Mk lll's and T21's (Sedburgh), and later flying the Grobs.
I had many fun packed years at Kenley as a staff cadet and instructor, first with the Mk lll's and T21's (Sedburgh), and later flying the Grobs.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 9
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From: Oop northish
Cambioso
Last heard that 'Diddy' Dave was still flying at 637, Little Rissington.
Good times at Gaydon, especially when weather stopped flying!
Unfortunately I heard that Les died a few years ago. Was talking to Bill Walker the other day. Have no info the others.
Were you there when 'boomer' spun the barge into the ground?
Other names to conjure with - Dave Assinder, Dave Wilson, Bryan Richardson, John Peace.
PM me
Paul W
Last heard that 'Diddy' Dave was still flying at 637, Little Rissington.
Good times at Gaydon, especially when weather stopped flying!
Unfortunately I heard that Les died a few years ago. Was talking to Bill Walker the other day. Have no info the others.
Were you there when 'boomer' spun the barge into the ground?
Other names to conjure with - Dave Assinder, Dave Wilson, Bryan Richardson, John Peace.
PM me
Paul W
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: LOWTON
FOGIES (Former Old Gliding Instructors Extension Society)
It has been sometime now since the Former Old GlidingInstructors 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 twice yearly dinners held in the OfficersMess RAF Linton on Ouse. Allowing renewal of old acquaintances and chewing thefat (as our American colleagues say), with friends old and new. Additionallymembers receive twice annually via email the FOGIE News.
Membershipis open to Ex Instructors, staff cadets alike for both wood and glass and allfor the princely sum of £7 paid annually by direct debit.
Pleasenote however membership is not automatic and is subject to the scrutiny andapproval of the FOGIE committee.
The email address for FOGIES is [email protected]