Flying and Gliding Oppurtunities
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Gliding Induction CoursesIt may be your first experience of flying in the cockpit of a small aircraft, and you may be both excited and nervous. The flight will usually last between twenty and thirty minutes, and the aim is to give you an experience of flying and give you an insight into what you will be expected to do on a Gliding Scholarship later in your cadet life.
What will it consist of? When you arrive at Linton you will be given a brief tour of the Gliding School facilities and Briefed on Health and Safety. Then you will be given a ground brief on how to enter and leave the cockpit, how to wear the parachute and what to expect during the flight. The flight is structured to get you used to flying in a light aircraft. The Gliding Induction Course (GIC) provides the opportunity for Air Cadets to learn how to operate the Vigilant in the upper air. The course enables you to experience practical flying training before you are old enough to actually undertake a Scholarship or solo. Instructors ensure that this is a very pleasurable experience, hopefully leaving you with a thirst for more. You will be shown local sites of interest, and are free to ask questions. This is usually a very enjoyable experience for cadets. What do I have to do to get one? Cadets should be at least 13 years and 3 months of age and must have consent to fly signed in their record book. Cadets must also show a high level of motivation, and no temporary or permanent medical condition that would make flying unsafe for the Student or the Pilot. The flight is only for between 20 and 30 minutes but will be assessed for suitability for a Gliding Scholarship. A certificate is awarded on completion. GIC Course Content
Gliding ScholarshipBack to TopDownloads
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| Gliding Scholarship Application Form(To be handed to the OC once completed) |
| Form 6424 Medical Application (To be handed to the OC once completed) |
| Gliding Scholarship Joining Instructions |
| Gliding Scholarship Trainee Guide (Copies available at 642 VGS) |
A Gliding Scholarship course is an opportunity for ATC or CCF (RAF) cadets to undergo further training and achieve Gliding Scholarship Wings. The course consists of up 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.
If you want to be nominated for a Gliding Scholarship, download the application form above and hand to your OC once completed. Ideally you should have completed a GIC and you must be 16 years of age. You also need a medical form (RAF Form 6424) which is available for download above. Take this form to your local doctor and ask them to complete it. You must retain the form because you will have to present it to the Training Officer on commencement of your GS Course.
After you have completed the medical and your doctor has signed it to confirm that you are fit to undergo glider pilot training, you are ready for a course. It is then a matter of a course becoming available. Courses are available in two formats, either successive weekends until you have completed the course or a continuous week long course (usually in the summer, however they are held all year round at the Air Cadet Central Gliding School). You must have the commitment to attend a GS course as it can be difficult to predict the exact time it will take to complete. This depends on your own progress and the weather.
For cadets showing the required aptitude, there is the opportunity to progress on to 'Solo' standard and attain Solo GS Wings. there is also further training for cadets who apply to become staff cadets with the advanced courses whereby cadet can progress to attain 'Gold' wings denoting AGT or Advanced Glider Training.
Course Content
8 Hours - Extra 20% allowed for further training to solo
Air Experience Flights
Cadets are given the chance to fly with the local Air Experience Flight Squadron (AEF), where they have the chance to go flying in the RAF’s primary training aircraft the Grob Tutor, which is a two seat dual control aircraft. The local AEF squadron (9 AEF) is based at the near by RAF Church Fenton. Cadets are regularly given the opportunity to fly throughout the year. Flying clothing and equipment is provided, all cadets are thoroughly briefed in what to do in an emergency and with the use of a parachute and are flown with highly experienced professional RAF pilots. Cadets are given the chance to make simple flying maneuvers which aids them in learning the effect of controls on the aircraft, such as banking the aircraft. Also the cadet will follow the pilot’s actions through more complicated maneuvers. The cadets are also offered the chance for the pilot to perform aerobatics with the cadets is in the aircraft.
Flying Scholarship
Prove that you have the aptitude for flying and you could bag yourself a prestigious flying scholarship. There are several scholarships available to air cadets each year. These are sponsored by the Royal Aero Club, the Air League Educational Trust, the RAF Charitable Trust, the Geoffrey DeHaviland Foundation, Babcock Defence Services, RAFA and the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators. For many cadets these courses are the stepping stone to their PPL - Private Pilots’ Licence - and potentially a career as a pilot with the RAF, the Royal Navy, Army or commercial airlines. Some cadets achieve their PPLs before they even get their driving licence, so the sky really is the limit!
Pilot Schemes
Genuinely interested in a high-flying career? Why not aim for one of nearly 140 light aircraft courses available to air cadets each year at Tayside Aviation in Dundee? A further 27 places are available at the Air Experience Flights (AEF) embedded with the RAF’s University Air Squadrons across the UK. Take a look at our map to find your nearest AEF. To apply you’ll first have to complete your non-solo flying course and win your blue wings or, preferably, have achieved a gliding solo and won your silver wings.
Want to wear the coveted pilot navigation badge? You could be one of up to 30 cadets that win a place each year on the Air Cadet Pilot Navigation Scheme - run at Air Experience Flights. The entry criteria for applicants is the same as the Pilot Scheme. It’s a great chance to really expand your knowledge of aviation navigation.