Gliding Scholarship courses are an opportunity for cadets to undergo further training and achieve Gliding Scholarship Wings. A course consists of up to 8 hours in a Vigilant to achieve GS wings. Cadets showing the necessary aptitude are invited to progress to 'solo' standard and hopefully achieve the GS Solo Wings.
Blue Gliding Scholarship Wings |
If you want to be nominated for a Gliding Scholarship, let your Squadron or Unit staff know. Ideally you should have completed a GIC 1, 2 or 3, but it is not mandatory. You must be 16 years of age when you start the course and you will need a medical form (RAF Form 6424), which is available upon request from your staff. 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 VGS on commencement of a GS Course). Once completed the Form is valid for 2 years, as long as nothing medically untoward happens to you. After you have completed the medical (no examination required – it is completed by reference to your medical notes), and your doctor has signed the form to confirm that you are fit to undergo glider pilot training, you are ready for a course. |
Silver Gliding Scholarship Solo Wings |
It is then a matter of a course becoming available. Courses are available in two formats, either over 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 at RAF Syerston). 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 as it depends on your own progress and the weather. Typically in summer a course will take 3 weekends to complete. Successful completion of the course will entitle you to wear the Blue GS wings. You will have done well to get this far. For cadets showing the required aptitude, there may be the opportunity to progress further and possibly reach the solo standard (an extra 20% is allowed for further training to reach solo). Should you manage this and successfully complete a solo circuit you will be entitled to wear the Silver GS wings.
Prerequisites
You must be 16 years of age Parent's consent to fly signed in service book or 3822 RAF Medical Form 6424 completed (if you have a medical condition, you can be assessed for glider pilot training by forwarding, via your unit, to HQAC for further consideration) You must have a high level of motivation and be prepared to attend a VGS until your course is complete No temporary or permanent medical condition that would make flying unsafe for cadet or pilot.
Note: Other Voluntary Gliding Schools can offer the same training using winch launched Viking gliders. Instead of the 8 hours used in a Vigilant the course consists of up to 40 launches.
