The Air Cadets has bases for aircraft all over the country, and we are allocated a specific number of flying places every year based on the size of our Squadron. On top of that, what tends to happen is that other Squadrons in our area often have last minute vacancies.. which obviously we don't like seeing go to waste! You are guaranteed one powered flight a year in the normal run of events, and another at summer camp. But you are also likely to pick up one of the various spare places that occur throughout the year.

Grob Tutor T1. RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire

Powerplant: One Lycoming 360-A1B6 of 200hp.
Span: 32ft 8in (10.00m)
Length: 24ft 9in (7.59m)
Max Speed: 150mph (240km/h) at sea level
Accommodation: Two, side by side.

London & Cambridge University Air Squadron, RAF Wyton (click to enlarge)

Your day at RAF Wyton (usually just a morning or afternoon), usually occurs on a Saturday or a Sunday. The bus is arranged by one of the Squadrons and for the morning slots, you need to meet at the War Memorial in Harpenden early in the morning, usually abround 7am. It is an early start, but is well worth it! You meet cadets from other Squadrons aboard (that you'll get to know from the Sports/Adventure Training etc events) and enjoy the trip up to RAF Wyton.

Wyton used to be home to massive Squadrons of Canberra bombers, and lots more before that. It is a very big air base. You'll arive, pass through the security and be taken to one of the hangars. There you will be seated for a weather, security and pre-flight briefing. You will have to watch a video, all about what to do if you need to bail out! Not likely though, but interesting to watch. After you are measure up for your helmet and RAF flying suit, you'll be taken out onto the flight line and strapped into your aircraft.

Make the effort to talk to your pilot. They enjoy chattery cadets (they absolutely hate cadets that look like they are sulking!) and want to do as many of the aerobatics as you'd like to see. As a cadet, Plt Off Chadd tells us that his favourite tactic for getting longer flights than his friends was to ask the pilot non-stop questions about everything from entry speeds for manoeuvres, where they were on a map, how fast the plane could go (and could he see a demo) and other provocations like "..yeah but can you do a Candelabra?" (there isn't such a thing, but it usually got the pilot worked-up enough to try to impress with something else, all buying precious minutes!).

Your flight is recorded officially in your ATC Activity/ID documents, so you can remember it forever.

When you are 16, you can apply for the FLYING SCHOLARSHIP or the NAVIGATION SCHOLARSHIP, both of which you need to present yourself well to compete for, but offer you the chance to fly up to solo standard and count the time towards your civilian Private Pilots Licence. Both Flt Lt Hatton and Plt Off Chadd got their first pilots licences in the UK and can say that although it is a challenge not to be taken lightly, it is great fun and very fulfilling. You should do as much with the Air Cadets and the RAF; it is very good quality instruction and the biggest benefit - we pay for it!

Ask a member of staff for more details regarding your eligibility to apply for formal flight training, and we will make sure your application has the strongest possible effect on the selectors.

Grob Vigilant T1. RAF Henlow, Bedfordshire

Span: 17.4m (57.1ft)
Length: 8.1m (26.6ft)
Height: 1.7m (5.6ft)
Aspect Ratio: 16:1
Wing Area: 19m² (204.5ft²)
Max. Flying Weight: 908kg (2002lbs)
Max. Wing Loading: 47.8kg/m² (9.8lbs/ft²)
Engine: Grob 2500 horizontally opposed 4 cylinder air cooled

Your morning or afternoon at RAF Henlow will be just as fun as your day at RAF Wyton, but with more emphasis on improving your flying skills. The Vigilants fly a bit slower and need more hand-eye coordination (use lots of rudder when banking!), so take more concentration. If you turn up for your flight ready and focussed, your flight instructor will note your progress. As you come nearer to the appropriate age, the school may 'ask' you to put in an application as soon as you are able. This is their way of saying they think you are good enough to progress with them. This is not unusal, but has no effect on the vast majority of cadets who apply through the normal channels! Ask the Gliding School staff when you are there for details and advice about the best way presenting your application.

Okay, so it's not a Tutor, but it is its little brother! The Vigilant is made by the same German company that make the Tutor and the Viking glider (as well as high altitude reconnaissance airplanes). and made of mainly composite/glass fibre. It is very light and has great handling characteristics. It is also designed so that its engine can be shut off in flight, although it is usually just left at idle.

For Lots More Course Information at 613VGS Click Here>>

Gliding Induction Course
The Starting point for your gliding experience will be at a Volunteer Gliding School (VGS) which will fly either Vigilant motor gliders or Viking winch launch gliders. You will begin by attending, with others from your Squadron or CCF unit, your affiliated VGS to be taught the Gliding Induction Course (GIC).

The GIC has been designed to give you a taste for Air Cadet Gliding and consists of 3 different levels of instruction. You will be shown various aspects of aerodynamics that you will have been taught in the classroom before being taught the ”effects of controls” in the air. You will have the opportunity to take control and practice what you have learned. On your first visit you will be taught the GIC 1 and your subsequent visits you will progress to GIC 2 and 3.

After you have completed the course, you will be awarded a GIC certificate.

Course Content

Vigilant

• GIC 1 – 20 minutes
  GIC 2 – 25 minutes
  GIC 3 – 30 minutes

Viking

• GIC 1 – 3 launches
  GIC 2 – 4 launches
  GIC 3 – 5 launches

You will be shown and have the opportunity to practice

How the pitch is changed
How the rudder affects the yaw plane
How to change the rolling plane
What happens when the glider stalls (GIC 3)

In Brief...

You should be at least 13 years and 3 months of age
Parent's consent to fly signed in record book or 3822
You must have a high level of motivation
No temporary or permanent medical condition that would make flying unsafe for cadet or pilot