History

No 636 VGS was formed on the 1st October 1964, when 634 VGS returned to RAF St Athan to resume operations after being temporary relocated to Swansea Airport. The first Commanding Offices, Flight Lieutenant R I Vince RAFVR(T) having formally held the post of Adjutant on 634 VGS.

Other staff detached to 636 VGS from 634 VGS were the schools new CFI and DCFI namely Flying Officer G W Davies RAFVR(T) and Flying Officer E R Morgan RAFVRT(T) respectfully, both of whom were to hold post of Commanding Officer in the years to come.

No 636 VGS began operations on Sunday 18th October 1964 and by the 25th October the first two cadets trained by the school to the necessary standard were sent solo. These cadets, namely Cadet Sergeants R S and R L Evans from 334 (Neath) Sqn ATC were all the more remarkable in that they were twin brothers!

Despite being forced to operate with the barest minimum of accommodation for the first one and a half years in its existence, the school soon gained considerable momentum and rapidly built up a solid staff base from the locality and ATC Squadrons.

Flight Lieutenant Graham Davies RAFVR(T) resigned his post in 1976 and was succeeded by Flight Lieutenant Allan Barham RAFVR(T) with Flying officer Jeff Williams RAFVR(T) filling the CFI’s position. Graham Davies was appointed Wing Staff Officer with special responsibility between the Gliding School and Wing Squadrons under No 3 Welsh Wing, he was awarded the MBE for his efforts.

Flight Lieutenant Allan Barham RAFVR(T) stepped down as CO in 1982 and Flight Lieutenant Jeff Williams RAFVR(T) was appointed in his place. Allan Barham continued to serve at No 636 VGS both as Commissioned Officer and as a Civilian Instructor for another 17 years before finally retiring in 1999 after being associated with the School for a magnificent total of 35 years.

Flight Lieutenant Jeff Williams RAFVR(T) hung up his flying suit in 1988 and was succeeded by Flight Lieutenant (later Squadron Leader) Beil East RAFVR(T). Neil East had moved to Swansea after retiring from the RAF after completing a thirty-six year tour. He was drafted into the system after enjoying a distinguished record with RAFGSA, Neil’s considerable experience benefited the school enormously; eventually his work was rewarded by the School winning the coveted “Sir Arthur Marshall” Performance Trophy as the best Viking gliding school in 1997.

Squadron Leader Neil East RAFVR(T) handed over the reins to Squadron leader Phil Davies RAFVR(T), the present incumbent in June 1997 with the CFI post being occupied by Flight Lieutenant Steward Pinching RAFVR(T), n ex school Flight Staff Cadet.

Having been based at Swansea Airport since its formation, No 636 VGS was moved to DERA Aberporth (West Wales) in late 1996, due largely to contractual difficulties with the Airport authorities. Freed from the operational restrictions of a civilian airfield, and with the guidance of Squadron Leader Neil East, 636 VGS was able to improve its performance in the following year, to the point it was awarded the trophy previously mentioned.

Aberporth was an ideal airfield in many respects, but all beit small and somewhat remote from its cadet customer base, the training facilities were however excellent, and the school enjoyed a good working relationship with its DERA hosts. Nevertheless, Aberporth did have some unique hazards, a remote controlled Landrover under test by DERA careered out of control through the hanger wall and did considerable damage to the three school gliders parked within. Thankfully no personnel were present! The subsequent accident report was no doubt one of the more interesting ones to be processed by Headquarters.

The wheel has now turned full circle and No 636 VGS has returned to Swansea Airport in April 2001 after proposed development plans at Aberporth would have rendered the site unsuitable for Air Cadet gliding operations. However, following a small period of readjustment to joint power/gliding operations for the newly acquired staff, the school has now settled into providing valuable opportunities to cadets of No 3 Welsh Wing ATC.

Commanding Offices:

Gliders:

No 636 VGS was originally equipped with two Slingsby T31 (Kirby Cadet) Mk 3’s, and one Slingsby T 21b (Sedbergh) training aircraft. 1964 – 1986

The schools I now equipped with three Grob (Viking) TX1 GRP gliders plus one spare.

The last Slingsby aircraft to fly with No 636 VGS were Sedbergh WB963 and Kirby Cadet XE 789 in July 1986

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Flying Events

Volunterr Gliding Squadron 636