Courses

Gliding Induction Course

Your gliding experience kicks off at a Volunteer Gliding Squadron (VGS) flying either Vigilant motor gliders or Viking winch-launch gliders. Your focus, along with others from your ATC squadron or CCF (RAF) unit, will be to complete the Gliding Induction Course (GIC).

Designed to give you a taste for Air Cadet Gliding, the GIC consists of three levels of instruction. On your first visit you'll be taught the GIC 1. Later visits will cover GIC 2 and 3. In these levels you'll learn all about aerodynamics and controlling the aircraft, first in a classroom, then taking control and practicing what you've learned in the air. After you've completed the course, you'll be awarded a GIC certificate.

Course Content

Aircraft Course level / flight time

Amongst other things, you'll be shown, and have the chance to practice:

Don't know what some of those terms mean? They all affect the movement of the aircraft. You'll experience them first-hand with the guidance of your instructors who will explain all. Pretty soon you'll know it all like the back of your hand.

Provided you have no medical conditions that could prevent you from flying safely, all you need is a high level of motivation. Prove yourself here and you can move on to a Gliding Scholarship (GS) course to continue your flight training.

Gliding Scholarship Course

You've done your Gliding Induction Course (GIC), so what's next? Getting your Gliding Scholarship Wings.

This course gets you deeper into flying and gives you more flight time. To be nominated for a Gliding Scholarship (GS) just let your squadron or unit staff know you want in. It's open to anyone over 16 and you're not required to have completed a GIC 1, 2 or 3, but it's great if you have. Once you pass the standard medical check, it's just a matter of waiting for a place on the course to become available.

Course Content

Aircraft Flight time/glider launches

Vigilant 8 Hours (extra 20% allowed for further training to solo standard)

Courses can be taken either over successive weekends until completed, or as a continuous week-long course (usually in the summer). Course time can vary due to your progress and the weather, so motivation and commitment are key. Typically, in summer, a course will take 3 weekends to complete. If you're successful, you can look forward to wearing your blue GS wings on your uniform with pride.

Going solo and beyond

Show the necessary aptitude and you could be invited to progress to solo standard and even achieve your silver GS wings for flying solo!

It doesn't end there. If you're one of the best you could be invited, or apply, to become a Flight Staff Cadet. Training to a much higher level, your gold GS wings for Advanced Glider Training (AGT) await.

And if you make it that far, it won't have been easy. You'll have a real talent for flying.

Gliding Scholarship (GS)

A Gliding Scholarship course is an opportunity for cadets to undergo further training and achieve Gliding Scholarship Wings. The course consists of up to 40 launches in a Viking or 8 hours in a Vigilant to achieve GS wings.

Cadets showing the necessary aptitude are invited to progress onto the 'solo' standard and achieve the GS Solo Wings.

Cadets assessed as Above Average by a senior Instructor on their Scholarship may be invited to join the staff of the Volunteer Gliding School (VGS) as a Flight Staff Cadet. As a reward for hard work on the ground they will be given an Advanced course of 5 hrs including you flying 5 solo circuits.

Joining Intructions

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Weather

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Flying Events

Volunterr Gliding Squadron 636