Jump to content

Volunteer Gliding Squadron

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 221.243.91.229 (talk) at 06:02, 5 April 2011 (→‎Schools to squadrons: replace 'acronym' with 'abbreviation' (VGS is not pronouced as a word, therefore not an acronym)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Template:RAF

Volunteer Gliding Squadrons (VGSs) are Royal Air Force Flying Training Units (FTUs), operating military Viking TX.1 (conventional) and Vigilant T.1 (motor) gliders to train Air Cadets from the Combined Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps.

The VGSs operating under No.1 Elementary Flying Training, within No.22 (Training) Group of the Royal Air Force Air Command. The 28 Units, along with the Royal Air Force Central Gliding School, are standardised annually by the Royal Air Force Central Flying School. Formerly under the Air Cadet Organisation preceding 2010, Headquarters Air Cadets presently still retains administrative and logistic support.

VGSs are made up of volunteer staff. Each is headed by a Commanding Officer and several executives, all of whom are commissioned into the Training Branch of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Instructors comprise a mixture of regular RAF/RN/Army personnel, Reservists, Civilian Gliding Instructors (CGIs) and Flight Staff Cadets (FSCs).

Brief history

Preface

Gliding was first introduced around 1939, but formally became part of the official training after 1943. Post 1946, 87 Gliding Schools (GSs) came under the Reserve Command.

Command

Initially the gliding schools were established under RAF Reserve Command (later to become RAF Home Command). In 1955, RAF Flying Training Command took over the responsibility and amalgamated them into 27 gliding schools under Headquarters Air Cadets. At the same time the gliding schools were renumbered with three-digit numbers, the first two digits being the parent Home Command Group (Nos. 61, 62, 63, 64, 66 or 67).[1] In 1968, RAF Training Command was established, incorporating Flying Training Command. This was later to become part of Personnel and Training Command and in turn subsumed into Air Command in March 2007, where the gliding schools rest today.

Under Air Command, the chain of command for these units are regulated through No.22 (Training) Group RAF. On behalf of AOC No.22 (Training) Group RAF, the Volunteer Gliding Squadrons and the Central Gliding School are the collective responsibility of the OC No.1 Elementary Flying Training.

Formation of the Central Gliding School (CGS)

Formulated in 1946, the Home Command Gliding Instructors School (HCGIS) was established in 1949 at RAF Detling to train Qualified Gliding Instructors for the gliding schools. With the disestablishment of Home Command, HCGIS was split into two Gliding Centres to accommodate the gliding schools in the north and south of the UK. A further reorganisation amalgamated the Gliding Centres into the Central Gliding School in 1972 at RAF Spitalgate, where it renamed the Air Cadet Central Gliding School (ACCGS) in 1974. In 2009, following the formal approval of the CGS unit badge, the Air Cadet Central Gliding School was renamed the Royal Air Force Central Gliding School and in 2010 restructured under No.1 Elementary Flying Training School.

The CGS is commanded by a Wing Commander RAF, who also acts as OC Flying for RAF Syerston. The Chief Instructor is a Squadron Leader RAF. The examiners of the CGS, are Flight Lieutenant RAFR and Squadron Leader RAFR officers, however all future appointments shall be RAFVR(T) commissions.

From wood to GRP

The RAF chose to re-equip the ageing fleet with the first of the modern GRP gliders. In order to achieve this, in 1983 the RAF acquired an initial batch of 10 Schleicher ASK 21 named Vanguard TX.1. The first examples were delivered to the ACCGS at Syerston in time for the new Instructors' courses to take place. The first VGS to equip with these was 618 VGS at RAF West Malling. Instructors from this unit were converted to the new training syllabus and flying the type during July and August of that year. The first Vanguard TX.1s were delivered to West Malling in July 1983 and training for Cadets began in August.

After the initial 10 were delivered Alexander Schleicher was unwilling to open a production line for the MoD, as they did not want to sideline their civilian market. A tender was issued and Grob Aerospace was awarded the contract to supply 100 Grob G 103 Twin II Acro Gliders. The Royal Air Force named the military variant as the Viking TX.1 in Air Cadet service. A single specimen was delivered to Slingsby Aviation in the UK for fatigue life testing.

  • Royal Air Force Grob G103A Viking T1 conventional glider takes off at RM Condor, Scotland
    Royal Air Force Grob G103A Viking T1 conventional glider takes off at RM Condor, Scotland
  • Royal Air Force Grob G109B Vigilant T1 motor glider lands at RIAT 2008, England
    Royal Air Force Grob G109B Vigilant T1 motor glider lands at RIAT 2008, England
  • Grob Vigilant T1 cockpit
    Grob Vigilant T1 cockpit
  • Grob G 109B Vigilant T.1 of the RAF (registration ZH890/SE) at the 2010 Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire
    Grob G 109B Vigilant T.1 of the RAF (registration ZH890/SE) at the 2010 Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire
  • Royal Air Force Grob G 109 ZH 247 at Farnborough Airfield during the 2008 Farnborough Airshow
    Royal Air Force Grob G 109 ZH 247 at Farnborough Airfield during the 2008 Farnborough Airshow

Introduction of motor gliders

The Venture T.1 was trialed at the ACCGS at RAF Spitalgate in 1971/73. 10 GSs were first issued with the T.1 variant in 1977, but were quickly upgraded with the TX.2. With the development of many sites and closures of many RAF aerodromes put strain on many conventional VGS. Further GSs were allocated with the TX.2s. In 1991 the Venture TX.2 was replaced with the Vigilant T.1. Originally designated the Vigilant TX.1, the glider designation 'X' was dropped due to its change of role. The number of VGSs now operating Viking TX.1 to Vigilant T.1 are 12:16.

Disbandment of the Competition Fleet

In 2000, ACO-COS Group Captain Mike Cross announced the sale of the Valiant TX.1 and Kestrel TX.1 fleets. This concluded the RAF's many successful years competing in National Gliding Competitions and setting World Records.

Schools to squadrons

Initially established as Gliding Schools, the GSs were re-designated Volunteer Gliding Schools (VGSs) in 1978. In 2005, following a decision by the Royal Air Force Board, the VGSs were renamed Volunteer Gliding Squadrons, keeping their VGS abbreviation.

Air Cadets to Royal Air Force

Following the restructure in 2005, a further reorganisation was initiated in 2010 by AOC 22 Group RAF. On the 1st April 2010, Command and Control together with the responsibility for supervision and regulation of the Central Gliding School and 27 Volunteer Gliding Squadrons was moved from the Air Cadet Organisation to the Directorate of Flying Training under No 1 Elementary Flying School (No 1 EFTS).

Units

Present Conventional Glider VGSs

Present Motor Glider VGSs

Volunteer Gliding Squadron structure

Personnel

Staff on VGS consist of squadron appointed personnel, supernumerary personnel, and Flight Staff Cadets.

Appointed personnel

VGS personnel consist of RAF Volunteer Reserve (Training) (RAFVR(T)) Officers, Civilian Gliding Instructors, and Flight Staff Cadets. Personnel holding Commissioned rank, do so to fulfill executive positions mandated to operate a Squadron. Civilian's start under probation as Under Training Instructors. Their probation ends on attaining a C Category Qualified Gliding Instructor (QGI) status. Personnel must attain a B-Category QGI rating before accepting a Commission for an intended executive appointment.

Commissioned posts on VGS include:

Other executive roles include:

  • Unit Navigation Officer (UNavO)
  • Mechanical Transport Officer (MTO)
  • Flight Safety Officer (FSO)
  • Training Officer (TrgO)

Supernumerary personnel

Supernumerary personnel are part time staff whose primary appointment is elsewhere and their VGS appointment is their secondary duty. Personnel vary from various Commissioned and Non-Commissioned branches of the Regular, Reserve and Cadet Forces.

Flight Staff Cadets

Air Cadets from either the Combined Cadet Force or Air Training Corps can be appointed as Flight Staff Cadets (FSCs) on a VGS. On appointment, they retain their association with their Cadet Unit for Cadet Forces membership, but transfer their primary appointment to the VGS. FSCs are selected after completing a Gliding Scholarship, and usually act as supporting staff while actively training towards an Instructor category. FSCs can only attain the maximum of a restricted B-Category (minus the supervisory privileges).

Flying training

  • Gliding Induction Courses (GICs) - these are 20 - 30 minute sorties designed to give a basic appreciation of aircraft handling.
  • Gliding Scholarship (GS) - is an 8 hour course to flying either aircraft types solo. An additional 2 hours can be awarded to achieve the course aim. Trainees should attain the aircrew training standard GS. Two sets of Wings can be awarded to Air Cadets; Blue for completing the GS Syllubus to the required ATS, and Silver for flying a solo circuit.
  • Advanced Gliding Training (AGT) - a short 5 hour course to provide a greater appreciation of advanced handling and five additional solo circuits. Trainees should attain the aircrew training standard AGT. Air Cadets completing this course are awarded Gold Wings.

Flying qualificiations

The following Pilot qualifications can be obtained on VGSs:

  • Pilot Grade 2 (G2) - Qualified Solo on aircraft type.
  • Pilot Grade 1 (G1) - Qualified on aircraft type, allowing with passengers to be flown. G1s are additionally authorised to teach GIC exercises, to provide handling experience required for an Instructor category.

Instructor qualifications can be attained following the completion of a course at the Royal Air Force Central Gliding School:

  • C-Category Instructor - An Flying Instructor under probation.
  • B-Category Instructor - A competent Flying Instructor.
  • A2-Category Instructor - An above average Flying Instructor.
  • A1-Category Instructor - An exceptional Flying Instructor

Additional ratings:

  • Flying Supervisor (FS or *) for the roles of OC, CFI and DCFI
  • Navigation Instructor Qualification (NIQ) for teaching instructors to award TQs and BNQs.
  • Transit Qualification (TQ) for ferry flying
  • Basic Navigation Qualification (BNQ) for teaching navigation.

Aircraft

Conventional gliders

In service

No longer in service

Non-GRP construction
Single-seat
Dual-seat
GRP construction
Single-seat
Dual-seat

Motor gliders

In service

No longer in service

  • Slingsby Venture TX.1 (One entered service, mainly used at ACCGS)
  • Slingsby Venture TX.2 (15 entered service, followed by a further 25)

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Air Force.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aircraft of the air force of the United Kingdom.

References

  1. ^ 661, 662, 663 and 664 VGS - History

Volunteer Gliding Squadrons

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volunteer_Gliding_Squadron&oldid=422459842"