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664 VGS offers FREE flying, mainly to cadets from the ATC and CCF across Northern Ireland. The flying available ranges from short introductory flights all the way up to training to achieve ATC gliding instructor qualifications. In fact, many of our current members of staff trained as instructors at ACCGS (Air Cadet Central Gliding School at RAF Syerston) through the auspices of 664 Volunteer Gliding Squadron.
Courses open to Cadets:
Gliding Scholarship - Blue Wings
Gliding Scholarship - Silver Wings (Solo)
Gone Solo? You may be Flight Staff Cadet material
Courses open to Flight Staff Cadets
Advanced Gliding Training - Gold Wings
A gliding induction course (GIC) aims to provide cadets with some experience of gliding and to give them an introduction to the basic flying controls of the Vigilant T1 motor glider.
There are three separate stages to this introductory course.
GIC 1 - Consists of a 20 minute flight. This is normally a cadet's first experience of flying in a motor glider. The pilot will take time to point out interesting features in the local area and will also demonstrate the stability of the aircraft. Next the cadet is shown how to recognize the datum (straight and level) attitude and is then taught how to control the aircraft’s pitch attitude using the elevators and also how to select the datum attitude.
GIC 2 - Is a 25 minute flight which aims to build upon and develop the skills learned in GIC 1. Pitch attitude and use of the elevators is first revised and the cadet is then shown how to roll the aircraft using the ailerons. Following this, a cadet can effectively fly the aircraft back to the airfield, with only the odd prompt needed from the instructor to keep the aircraft on an even keel.
GIC 3 – This takes around 30 minutes to complete. During this sortie, GIC 1 and GIC 2 are revised. Following this revision, the cadet is taught how to yaw the aircraft using the rudder. A stall and the standard stall recovery are then demonstrated and finally the cadet is taught how to recover the aircraft from various attitudes back to the datum attitude.
To be eligible for a course
Courses normally take place over successive weekends but week- long continuous courses are sometimes available. It is impossible to predict the exact time it will take to cover the syllabus since numerous factors, including weather conditions and individual student ability, inevitably affect the length of time needed. As a result, a high level of commitment is required if you are to complete a GS course and, as these courses are much sought after, if you fail to attend on two successive weekends (without good reason) your course will be terminated early. Such non-completions do waste public money (each GS course costs over £1000 per student) and also deny other cadets the chance to avail of this invaluable opportunity; so please do not apply for a course unless you are prepared to invest the time and effort demanded.
Students who demonstrate an above average ability, combined with a high level of commitment, will be recommended by their instructors for further training. This provides selected GS students with the opportunity to become flight staff cadets and undertake the AGT (Advanced Gliding Training) course. Many of the instructors at 664 started their instructing career by completing a gliding scholarship and then following this up with an AGT course.
To be eligible
After completing your gliding scholarship, you may be asked to stay on for an extra few hours training with the aim of ‘going solo’ (i.e. taking off, flying a circuit and landing the aircraft ON YOUR OWN). Please note that at this stage, with only 8 hours flying experience under your belt, you must have clearly demonstrated to us that you have the natural ability required and the commitment demanded to make further progress quickly. Only the best can go solo after ten or twelve hours of flying training, so if you don't continue on to achieve your solo, it doesn't mean that you’re not capable of it, it simply means that we don't have enough time to train you to the standard required.
Having proved that you have the ability and demonstrated the dedication to arrive first thing each day and put in the effort required; you must then wait for a window of near- perfect weather (light southwesterly winds, no rain and no low cloud) plus a minimum of other aircraft in the circuit if you are to get an opportunity to achieve your first solo. Some people are lucky and all of these particular circumstances arrive quickly. For most though, it means weeks and weeks of turning up at the squadron, waiting all day for the right weather, a serviceable aircraft and the time being available to fit you into the flying program. This demands a lot of patience on your part.
Gone Solo? You may be Flight Staff Cadet material
What is a flight staff cadet (FSC)? Essentially an FSC is a cadet undergoing flying training, working up to instructor qualification. Unfortunately for you, other cadets now undertaking those courses that you have just completed (GIC and GS) now have priority, so you are now last on the flying program for each day. As an FSC, you are expected to arrive at the start of your chosen duty day. This can be either Saturday or Sunday: we don't expect you to give up both. You will be responsible for briefing passengers, helping with aircraft maintenance, controlling aircraft turn-rounds, cleaning the buildings, washing dishes and making many cups of tea and coffee throughout the day. If time and weather permits, you will also fly but this cannot be guaranteed.
Eventually, if you put in the time and effort, you will progress through the flying syllabus and, along the way, pick up your AGT, G2 and G1 qualifications and then, after all that, you finally become qualified to fly your fellow cadets as passengers. From this point onwards you can make further progress by undertaking training towards the 'C', 'B' and 'A' instructor categories in turn, but all of this is dependent on your willingness to learn and your dedication to the tasks in hand.
AGT takes all that you have learned for your first solo and builds on this foundation. You are now more confident, you know that you can fly the aircraft on your own and that you are ready to develop new flying skills. The main parts of AGT are advanced turning (using 45° angle of bank), crosswind landings and this short course concludes with 5 solo circuits.
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A G2 pilot is authorised to fly the Vigilant as captain, albeit as yet without a passenger. As a qualified G2 you no longer need a ‘check ride’ before each solo flight. A G2 will use these solo flights as well as dual flights with instructors to polish his/her flying skills and thus prepare to advance to the next grade.
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At last you are cleared to carry cadet passengers. You can also teach them basic manoeuvres, such as pitching, rolling and yawing the aircraft. Your flights as captain will generally be of 20 to 30 minutes duration and you will be involved in teaching cadets the ‘GIC’ (Gliding Induction Course) syllabus.
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After gaining sufficient experience flying as a G1, you may be selected to train for a ‘C’ category instructor rating at ACCGS. If successful you are then qualified to teach cadets the entire GS (Gliding Scholarship) syllabus. The GS includes pre-flight checking the aircraft, engine starts, take-offs, landings and emergency procedures. As you might expect, it takes thorough training and lots of practice to enable you to sit calmly beside 16 year old cadets, as they make their first attempts at landing
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After gaining further experience flying as a ’C’ cat instructor, you may be selected to train for a ‘B’ category instructor rating at ACCGS. Privileges and duties of this category are as per G1 and ‘C’ cat. ‘B’ cats can also teach AGT (Advanced Gliding Training), act as duty instructor at the squadron, conduct staff training (i.e. training of squadron pilots and instructors) and can send students off on their second and subsequent solo flights.
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Privileges and duties of this category are as per G1, ‘C’ and ‘B’ cat. ’A’ category instructors are also cleared to carry out the flight-testing of squadron aircraft after routine maintenance and are responsible for the quarterly checks on the flying and instructional standards of squadron pilots. Above all, they have the awesome responsibility of sending students off on that never-to-be-forgotten first solo flight. This category is awarded by CFS (the Central Flying School of the RAF) and is only achieved after many years of instructional experience, a thorough training course at ACCGS and a stringent test by a CFS examiner.
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