Volunteer Gliding Squadron

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Volunteer Gliding Squadrons (VGSs) are Royal Air Force flying training units, 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 operate under the administration of the Air Cadet Organisation's Flying Branch, but come under No.22 (Training) Group, formerly the Royal Air Force Training Defence Agency, of the Royal Air Force Air Command. The 28 Units, along with the Air Cadet Central Gliding School, are standardised annually by the Royal Air Force Central Flying School.

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).


Contents

[edit] Brief History

[edit] 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.

[edit] Command

Initially the Gliding Schools were established under the Reserve Command (later to become Headquarters Air Cadets) and Home Command. In 1955, Flying Training Command took over the responsibility and amalgamated them into 27 Gliding Schools. In 1968, Training Command was established incorporating the Flying Training Command. Later the Gliding Schools become part of the Personnel and Training Command, which became the Air Command in March 2007, where they 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 VGSs and ACCGS are the collective responsibility of the Air Cadets Chief-of-Staff, who is appointed as Commander Gliding.

[edit] 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 dis-establishment of Home Command, HCGIS was spit 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 into its present title of the Air Cadet Central Gliding School (ACCGS) in 1974.

The ACCGS 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 ACCGS, are Flight Lieutenant RAFR and Squadron Leader RAFR Officers.

[edit] From Wood to GRP

The RAF chose to re-equip the ageing fleet with the first of the modern GRP gliders. In a bid to achieve this, the RAF acquired the Vanguard TX.1 and the Viking TX.1 to determine the benefits of both types for adoption across the Gliding Schools. The Viking TX.1 was chosen above the Vanguard TX.1, as Alexander Schleicher would not open a production line for the MoD as they did not want to sideline their Civilian Market. Grob Aerospace was therefore given the contract through Slingsby Aviation UK.

[edit] Introduction of Motor Gliders

The Venture TX.1 was trialed at the ACCGS. 10 GSs were first issued with the TX.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 X denoting a glider was revoked during the mid 1990s due to the aircraft's performance and role. The number of VGSs now operating Viking TX.1 to Vigilant T.1 are 12:16.

[edit] Disbandment of the Competition Fleet

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

[edit] 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 placed into the Elementary Flying Training Unit register, and consequently were renamed Volunteer Gliding Squadrons keeping their VGS acronym.

[edit] Units

[edit] Present Conventional Glider VGSs

  • 611 VGS (STANTA Airfield), formerly 102 GS
  • 614 VGS (MDP Wethersfield), formerly 142 GS, 146 GS and 147 GS
  • 615 VGS (RAF Kenley), formerly 141 GS and 168 GS
  • 617 VGS Currently Homeless (formerly at RAF Manston)
  • 621 VGS (Hullavington), formerly 87 GS and formerly at Locking Airfield W-S-M
  • 622 VGS (Trenchard Lines), formerly 89 GS
  • 625 VGS (Hullavington), formerly 83 GS
  • 626 VGS (Predannack), formerly 82 GS
  • 643 VGS (RAF Syerston), formerly 107 EGS
  • 661 VGS (RAF Kirknewton), formerly 1 EGS
  • 662 VGS (RMB Condor), formerly 2 GS and 5 GS

[edit] Present Motor Glider VGSs


[edit] Aircraft

[edit] Conventional Gliders

[edit] NON-GRP - No longer in Service

  • Single Seats
    • Primary TX.1 (31 entered service)
    • Grasshopper TX.1 (115 entered service)
    • Kirby Cadet TX.1 (362 entered service)
    • Kirby Cadet TX.2
    • Swallow TX.1
    • Prefect TX.1
  • Dual Seats
    • Kirby Cadet TX.3 (171 entered service)
    • Sedbergh TX.1 (69 entered service)
  • Various Misc
    • Gull TX.1
    • Kite TX.1
    • King Kite TX.1
    • Falcon TX.3 (7 entered service)
    • BAC TX.1
    • Viking TX.1

[edit] GRP - No longer in Service

[edit] In Service

  • Viking TX.1 (100 entered service, later reduced to around 77)

[edit] Motor Gliders

[edit] No longer in service

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

[edit] In Service

  • Vigilant T.1 (53 entered service, later increased to 63)

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


[edit] External links

[edit] Volunteer Gliding Squadrons


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