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Volunteer Gliding Squadrons (VGSs) are Royal Air Force flying training units, operating military Viking T Mk1 (conventional) and Vigilant T Mk1 (motor) gliders to train Air Cadets from the Combined Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps. RAF redirects here. ...
The Vigilant T1 is a Grob 109B adapted by the Royal Air Force for use on Volunteer Gliding Squadrons. ...
Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...
The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. ...
This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
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. The Air Cadet Organisation (or ACO) is the collective name for the UK cadet forces sponsored by the Royal Air Force. ...
Number 22 Group is one of only three groups currently active in the Royal Air Force and the only group subordinate to Personnel and Training Command. ...
Training Group (TG) of the Royal Air Force was the group that controlled the stations of Personnel and Training Command. ...
CF-18 off Hawaii CH-124 Sea King CC-115 Buffalo Canadian Forces Air Command (AIRCOM) is the air force element of the Canadian Forces. ...
The Central Flying School is the Royal Air Forces primary institution for the training of flying instructors. ...
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). The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ...
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 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. Training Group (TG) of the Royal Air Force was the group that controlled the stations of Personnel and Training Command. ...
Training Group (TG) of the Royal Air Force was the group that controlled the stations of Personnel and Training Command. ...
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 in 1974. RAF Spitalgate, located close to Grantham, was an OCTU in the 1950s. ...
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 T MK1 and the Viking T Mk1 to determine the benefits of both types for adoption across the Gliding Schools. The Viking T Mk1 was chosen above the Vanguard T Mk1, 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.
Introduction of Motor Gliders The Venture T MK1 was trialed at the ACCGS. 10 GSs were first issued with the Mk2 variant in 1977. With the development of many sites and closures of many RAF Aerodromes put strain on many conventional VGS. Further GSs were allocated with the Mk2s. The replacement with the Vigilant T Mk1 saw a number of VGSs convert. The number of VGSs now operating Vikings to Vigilants are 12:16.
Disbandment of the Competition Fleet In 2000, ACO-COS Group Captain Mike Cross announced the sale of the Valiant and Janus 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 placed into the Elementary Flying Training Unit register, and consequently were renamed Volunteer Gliding Squadrons keeping their VGS acronym.
Units
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
Watton Airfield - 1945. ...
The former RAF Upavon was a grass airfield and administrative headquarters of the Royal Air Force. ...
RAF Syerston is a Royal Air Force station near Newark, Nottinghamshire. ...
RAF Kirknewton was primarily an Royal Air Force radar base which also housed United States Air Force personnel. ...
Present Motor Glider VGSs - 612 VGS (Dalton Barracks), formerly 104 GS
- 613 VGS (RAF Halton), formerly C122 GS
- 616 VGS (RAF Henlow), formerly 106 GS
- 618 VGS (RAF Odiham), formerly 146 GS and 168 GS
- 624 VGS (RMB Chivenor), formerly 84 GS
- 632 VGS (RAF Ternhill), formerly 45 GS
- 631 VGS (RAF Woodvale), formerly 186 GS
- 633 VGS (DCAE Cosford)
- 634 VGS (MOD St. Athan), formerly 68 GS
- 635 VGS (BAE Salmesbury)
- 636 VGS (Swansea Airport)
- 637 VGS (RAF Little Rissington)
- 642 VGS (RAF Linton-on-Ouse), formerly 23 GS
- 644 VGS (RAF Syerston), formerly 29 EGS
- 645 VGS (RAF Topcliffe), formerly 26 GS
- 663 VGS (RAF Kinloss)
- 664 VGS (Newtownards)
RAF Abingdon (IATA: ABB, ICAO: EGUD) was a Royal Air Force station near Abingdon, Oxfordshire. ...
RAF Halton is one of the larger Royal Air Force (RAF) stations in the United Kingdom, located near the village of Halton, Buckinghamshire. ...
White Waltham Airfield (EGLM) (ICAO: EGLM), is located at White Waltham, near Maidenhead in Berkshire, UK. The airfield has a CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P773) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction. ...
RAF Henlow is a Royal Air Force station near Luton. ...
RAF Odiham crest RAF Odiham is a Royal Air Force station situated a little to the south of the historic small town of Odiham in Hampshire, England. ...
Royal Marines Base Chivenor (IATA: N/A, ICAO: EGDC) is a British military base used primarily by the Royal Marines. ...
RAF Ternhill (IATA: N/A, ICAO: EGOE) is a small Royal Air Force station at Ternhill in Shropshire, near the towns of Newport and Market Drayton. ...
RAF Woodvale (IATA: N/A, ICAO: EGOW) is a Royal Air Force airfield located four miles south of Southport, Merseyside. ...
RAF Cosford (IATA: N/A, ICAO: EGWC) is a Royal Air Force station in Shropshire, just to the northwest of Wolverhampton and next to Albrighton. ...
It has been suggested that St Athan be merged into this article or section. ...
Former home of the Central Flying School (CFS) and the Red Pelicans ...
RAF Linton-on-Ouse is a Royal Air Force station near York in Yorkshire, England. ...
RAF Syerston is a Royal Air Force station near Newark, Nottinghamshire. ...
RAF Topcliffe is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire. ...
RAF Kinloss is an Royal Air Force station on the Moray Firth in the north of Scotland. ...
Aircraft
Conventional Gliders
Initial Fleets Single Seats - Cadet Mk1 T (362 entered service)
- Primary T (31 entered service)
- Kirby Tutor T
- Gull T Mk1
- Kite T Mk1
- King Kite T
Dual Seats - Falcon Mk3 (7 entered service)
- BAC T
- Viking T
Additions/Replacements Single Seats - Prefect T (few entered service)
Dual Seats - Sedbergh T (69 entered service)
- Kirby Cadet T Mk3 (171 entered service)
Modern GRP Replacements Single Seats Dual Seats The ASW 19 is a Standard Class single-seat glider built by Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. ...
The ASK 21 is a modern glass-reinforced plastic two-seater glider with a mid-set wing and a mass balanced T-tail. ...
The Schempp-Hirth Janus is a high performance two-seat glider that was built by Schempp-Hirth GmbH. The design was by Dipl-Ing Klaus Holighaus and the prototype first flew in May 1974. ...
Current Fleet - Viking T Mk1 (100 entered service, later reduced to around 77)
Motor Gliders
Initial Fleet - Venture T Mk1 (only used at ACCGS)
- Venture T Mk2 (15 entered service, followed by a further 25)
Current Fleet - Vigilant T Mk1 (53 entered service, later increased to 63)
External links
Volunteer Gliding Squadrons |
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