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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.
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

Brief History

Preface

Command

Formation of the Central Gliding School (CGS)

From Wood to GRP

Introduction of Motor Gliders

Disbandment of the Competition Fleet

Schools to Squadrons

Units

Present Conventional Glider VGSs

Present Motor Glider VGSs

Aircraft

Conventional Gliders

Initial Fleets

Additions/Replacements

Modern GRP Replacements

Current Fleet

Motor Gliders

Initial Fleet

Current Fleet

External links

Volunteer Gliding Squadrons

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.

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.

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 Watton), formally 102 GS

★ 614 VGS (MDP Wethersfield), formally 142 GS, 146 GS and 147 GS

★ 615 VGS (RAF Kenley), formally 141 GS and 168 GS

★ 617 VGS - Currently Homeless (formerly at RAF Manston)

★ 621 VGS (Hullavington), formally 87 GS and formerly at Locking Airfield W-S-M

★ 622 VGS (RAF Upavon), formally 89 GS

★ 625 VGS (Hullavington), formally 83 GS

★ 626 VGS (Predannack), formally 82 GS

★ 643 VGS (RAF Syerston), formally 107 EGS

★ 661 VGS (RAF Kirknewton), formally 1 EGS

★ 662 VGS (Arbroath), formally 2 GS and 5 GS

Present Motor Glider VGSs

★ 612 VGS (Dalton Barracks), formally 104 GS

★ 613 VGS (RAF Halton), formally C122 GS

★
★ DF (White Waltham), 1968-1979

★ 616 VGS (RAF Henlow), formally 106 GS

★ 618 VGS (RAF Odiham), formally 146 GS and 168 GS

★ 624 VGS (RMB Chivenor), formally 84 GS

★ 632 VGS (RAF Ternhill), formally 45 GS

★ 631 VGS (RAF Woodvale), formally 186 GS

★ 633 VGS (RAF Cosford)

★ 634 VGS (RAF St Athan), formally 68 GS

★ 635 VGS (BAE Salmesbury)

★ 636 VGS (Swansea)

★ 637 VGS (RAF Little Rissington)

★ 642 VGS (RAF Linton-on-Ouse), formally 23 GS

★ 644 VGS (RAF Syerston), formally 29 EGS

★ 645 VGS (RAF Topcliffe), formally 26 GS

★ 663 VGS (RAF Kinloss)

★ 664 VGS (Newtownards)

Aircraft

Conventional Gliders

Initial Fleets

Single Seats

★ Cadet Mk1 T (362 entered service)

★ Primary T (31 entered service)

★ Kirby Tutor T

★ Gull T Mk1

★ Viking T

★ Kite T Mk1

★ King Kite T
Dual Seats

★ Falcon Mk3 (7 entered service)

★ BAC 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

★ Valiant T Mk1 (5 entered service)
Dual Seats

★ Vanguard T Mk1 (10 entered service)

★ Janus T Mk1 (2 entered service)

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

★ 611 Volunteer Gliding Squadron

★ 612 Volunteer Gliding Squadron

★ 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron

★ 621 Volunteer Gliding Squadron

★ 622 Volunteer Gliding Squadron

★ 624 Volunteer Gliding Squadron

★ 631 Volunteer Gliding Squadron

★ 633 Volunteer Gliding Squadron

★ 637 Volunteer Gliding Squadron

★ 664 Volunteer Gliding Squadron