Latest News...
SUMMER GLIDING SCHOLARSHIP COURSE 2010
The Sqn held a very successful Summer GS course this year, with 4 cadets from 1 Wing, 2 from 3 Wing and 2 CCF cadets from Colstons School, Bristol. For a change, the weather was quite good for the duration of the course and all the cadets completed the course to blue wings standard. Additionally, SAC Lee Cushing, who joined us from RAF Boscombe Down recently, completed his AGT course during the week.
L to R: Cadets Don Cartwright, Scott Blankenship, Alex Clifton, Kristian Marke, Jamie Stingemore, Shahzad Afzal, Jessica Fowler.
The Boss presents the wings and certificates. Cadet Harley Baskerville (not present for previous photo) is 2nd from left at front.
SAC Lee Cushing, AGT
L to R: the CFI, CGIs Ryan Gibson, Rhys Fackrell and Phil Barry watch as the Boss presents the awards to the cadets. Special mention should also be made of Plt Off Lisa Railton (leaning on handrail, above) who took on the duties of course Admin Officer and did a sterling job of keeping the cadets out of trouble, the junior staff under control and the Boss supplied with coffee!
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations to CGI Rhys Fackrell on gaining his AGT award.
BERTIE
It is with great sadness that we report the death of Bertie, the Boss’s dog, who was a friend to all who met him. After a long period of almost imperceptible decline, his health suddenly deteriorated over the last week in May and he was put to sleep on 2nd June, aged 13 years 11 months.
As a youngster, he had a talent with a tennis ball and a naturally gregarious manner which endeared him to the Squadron Staff Cadets, who decided to adopt him as the Squadron mascot. He was famous for his tricks, which he loved to perform for anyone who would take notice of him. He appeared for the first time in the Squadron photograph in 1999 and subsequently in every one up to the Commandant’s visit on 18th April this year. Invariably, the photographer had to hold a tennis ball in order to attract Bertie’s undivided attention!
Brave to the last, he loved to run on his daily exercise along Penarth cliff top, although recently, he frequently became confused as to which way he was going!
The Boss and his wife laid Bertie to rest in the garden of their Devon cottage, in one of his favourite places near the gate. RIP.
E D GRIFFITH
Sqn Ldr RAFVR(T)
OC 634 VGS
MoD St Athan
Mission: Families Day 2009.
On the 6th Sept this year 634 VGS held its annual Families Day. The event was different from usual because it was held in aid of the RAFBF. We also had to make up for the fact that during 2008 we were unable to hold the event due to runway surfacing works at MoD St Athan.
The day began with an early start for staff and visiting cadets. After a sterling effort from all staff, by the time the first of the families and friends had arrived all the final preparations were in place for a great day and the weather was warm and sunny too!
The Boss relished the opportunity to welcome the guests and the Station Commander to the Squadron and once we’d flown all visiting cadets it was time to fly our guests. Once they were kitted out in flying suits there was no turning back.
One of the first to take to the sky was the Station Commander in the T21 Sedbergh. It had been some time since he’d last flown so we thought we’d better take him back to basics . . . and it doesn’t get more basic than a T21 – one would assume that equipment was an optional extra at the time they manufactured this aircraft, with the wings and a control column being the only ‘standard’ accessories!
For the first time in St Athan history, it was a great sight to see such an amazing aircraft operating in the airspace alongside the Vigilant. Its return brought a huge smile to the Boss’s and CFI’s faces (who both previously instructed on this aircraft many years ago), and an equally big smile to the face of a few of the current staff who were lucky enough to experience its delights.
In contrast, other guests were experiencing (in slightly more comfort) the delights of the current Squadron aircraft along the coast to Nash Point lighthouse. During the wait for some sorties there were a few nervous faces, but the sorties were over all too soon and many guests wanted another flight.
So as not to overdose on too much fixed wing fun, guests were also spoilt with copious amounts of BBQ food, drinks (non-alcoholic!), cakes and music, before having a final top-up on the static display of a Viking Glider, Tutor, Bulldog and a special fly-in treat from the South Wales Police helicopter.
Thanks to everyone for making it a great day.
ACCGS Air League Competition 2009
By CGI Sean Link
 |
The Air League competition is held annually at Air Cadet Central Gliding School. The competition rotates each year between Viking and Vigilant Squadrons. This year it was the turn of the Vigilant, and 634 sent a team to compete. This is the first time the Squadron has competed in the competition since its conversion from Vikings in 2003. The competition itself lasts five days and is open to all Vigilant squadrons. Teams compete in a variety of flying challenges, along with engineering and theory tests. This year a total of nine squadrons entered the competition. Teams consist of a senior member and a junior member, preferably a B Cat Instructor and a Grade 1 pilot.
However due to a lack of B Cat Instructors at 634, the Squadron sent a C Cat Instructor and G1. These were:
 |
 |
Plt Off Rob Curran |
CGI Sean Link |
Due to the hectic schedule at the VGS and both pilots leading busy lives with University studies and commitments with the University of Wales Air Squadron (UWAS) we were not able to train for the competition until the preceding week. So on a windy Wednesday under the watchful eye of the CFI we began our training together. Due to restrictions at St Athan we could only practise our timed circuits and a short navigation exercise. However, this little practice did prove to be very useful.
The following Sunday we left St Athan early in the morning and headed for RAF College Cranwell with a quick visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo on the way to get us into the spirit of the week ahead.
The following day we headed to RAF Syerston for our 0830 Met Briefing and competition briefing. We were briefed on the tasks for the week and told how the competition would run. The first flights then consisted of site checks and local area familiarisation. After the flying tasks were completed we were led to one of the classroom for a ground quiz, which, it is fair to say, is not Rob’s or my strongest area. This quiz provided us with a bit of a challenge, but nevertheless, we remained focused on dominating the flying side of the competition.
Tuesday brought nothing but rain, and it was decided that the ground part of the competition would take place. This involved completing a normal walk round on the aircraft within 5 minutes and aiming to spot all 13 defects placed in, on and around the aircraft, followed by a wing taping exercise. Overall we managed a respectable third on this task, which saw us climb to a mid table position on the leader board.
 |
| Vigilants lined up on the Syerston dispersal |
The first task was a timed circuit exercise in which we had to fly three consecutive circuits. The first circuit was a practice. The second we had to declare a time taken from the departure call, and stop the clock when the aircraft slowed to walking pace on the runway after landing. After declaring the time over the radio we lined up for our qualifying circuit, which ACCGS staff would monitor and time. So, after our two practice circuits we took off and began our qualifying circuit. We had to ensure at all times that our flying was highly accurate, and upon landing our result was declared. We were only 1 second out from our declared time, making us the winners with the second place crew out by 3 seconds.
Thursday brought us the most challenging part of the flying competition. We were tasked to fly an engine-off rejoin and landing, something we do not undertake at St Athan due to Air Traffic Control restrictions with Cardiff Airport. With this in mind, we had a rough idea of what we had to, and with only 1 engine-off landing between us, and most of the competition having had around 40+, we took to the air. We both had a go on our two practices and found that the conditions varied so much each time that it would be incredibly difficult to get close to our declared time. The time we declared was 5 minutes, so again, off we set for our qualifying leg. We decided to climb slightly higher than normal and were able to control our descent with orbiting turns rather than using airbrakes. As we passed Low Key at 800ft we were a little low and running early, however, as if by fate, we hit a pocket of lift and managed to extend downwind slightly to increase our time. As we turned onto finals, we approached the DLA, and with 20 seconds to go until wheels on, we opened full airbrake and descended towards the runway, touching down at 4 min 58 sec. We were delighted with this as it was only our third ever engine-off landing. This resulted in us coming joint 1st with 632 VGS.
 |
 |
| The view we had as we set up for our rejoin. | Plt Off Curran on his approach for the spot landing. |
The final flying task of the competition, undertaken on the Friday morning, was a spot landing competition. An ACCGS instructor flew an aircraft in a normal circuit pattern using runway 24L, followed by landing and coming to a stop on the runway. A marker was then placed around the tail wheel and each pilot then had to aim to land and stop as close to the marker as possible. For this there was no practice; you took off, flew the circuit and had one shot to nail it. Again, for this task we performed at our peak with us both being between 1.5 – 2.0ft out from the marker. This gave us victory again for the final flying task.
After this the scores were totalled and we awaited the arrival of the VIPs from the Air League. As the results came through, it was announced that we had finished 3rd overall, which we were pleased with. Due to our University Air Squadron flying experience in the Grob Tutor, 10% (440 marks) of our total score was deducted as handicap, and considering we finished only 328 points behind 1st place, this left us a little disappointed, as we did not expect to receive a handicap. But overall the competition was a good opportunity for both of us to enjoy flying together, as well as widening our experience. It also showed that 634VGS can boast of having a very high calibre of pilots and instructors, proving that although being a small squadron, our standards are amongst the highest in the country.
 |
End of competition: all the competitors and the VIPs from the Air League pose for a last photo |
SENIOR INSTRUCTORS VISIT BRITISH AIRWAYS SIMULATOR AT HEATHROW
Recently, the Boss, Sqn Ldr Ed Griffith, Chief Instructor, Sqn Ldr Idwal Jones, and Deputy Chief Instructor, Flt Lt Steve Arrowsmith visited the British Airways Boeing 757 / 767 simulators at Heathrow as guests of Izzy de Montet-Guérin, one of the staff at 634 VGS who’s day job is airline pilot and Type Rating Instructor / Examiner with BA.
Having been stuck in traffic on the way to Heathrow, they arrived late for their allocated slot in the 767 simulator. However, Izzy managed to rescue 1½ hours of flying time, and all 3 were introduced to the controls and basic handling characteristics of the Boeing 767.
Steve climbs out from Heathrow under the watchful eye of Izzy.
Standard departures and circuits at Heathrow, runway 27L were tried, before looking at circuits at Nice airport. The Boss tried a ‘touch and go’ onto the deck of an aircraft carrier which almost succeeded, and to finish, Izzy demonstrated how it should have been done!
Izzy demonstrates short finals to an aircraft carrier!
However, Izzy felt that the guys had not had their money’s worth, so managed to book the 757 simulator for a further 1½ hours later in the evening. After lunching at the White Horse pub, near where the proposed 3rd runway is to be built, they returned to the simulator for another session.
Boeing 757 simulator
This time, as the simulator was one of the oldest there, the external view was not as sophisticated as that of the 767, so night circuits from Heathrow 27L were carried out, this time with a 20 knot crosswind, and later with an engine failure! This really made the guys sweat! Izzy remarked to the Boss as she applied an engine flame-out to Idwal on take off, “It’s good to see the Chief Instructor outside his comfort zone!”
Idwal concentrating on the downwind leg at Heathrow, at night!
All of the guys had heavy landings, some not even on the runway, but the real master-class was when Izzy took the controls to demonstrate a circuit with an engine seizure on take-off with a 40 knot crosswind, right on the limit of controllability! Having carried out a circuit, she landed the aircraft with scarcely a bump, all controls fully crossed! As the Boss said later, “If ever you are in an aircraft with an emergency, just hope that Izzy is up front to get you back on the ground in one piece!”
This was an excellent opportunity for the senior instructors to find out more about flying aircraft very different to the Vigilant motor-glider, and the experience has broadened their knowledge-base for their normal instructional duties. Many thanks to Izzy for arranging the day.
NEW QUALIFICATIONS
CGI Mike Griffiths, who recently rejoined the VGS after an absence of 8 years since he was a staff cadet flying Vikings, has completed conversion to the Vigilant motor-glider and carried out his first solo flight. Consisting of a single circuit from runway 26, he finished with a faultless landing before taxying back to the hangar.
On the same day, staff cadet Ieuan Acreman carried out his AGT solo sortie. This involved 5 circuits, also from runway 26. Again, no problems were experienced and Ieuan was awarded his gold wings at the end of day debrief.
A week earlier, staff cadet Ashley Rees also carried out his AGT solo. This time it was not so straightforward, as towards the end of the circuits, dark clouds were closing in from the West, and by the time he was airborne for his last circuit, it started raining heavily. Nevertheless, Ashley was able to continue with the circuit and he carried out a faultless landing in quite poor conditions a few minutes later. He was also awarded his gold wings at the evening’s debrief.
 |
 |
 |
| CGI Mike Griffiths | FSC Ieuan Acreman | FSC Ashley Rees |
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL 3 PILOTS!
THREE STAFF PILOTS ACHIEVE INSTRUCTOR QUALIFICATIONS
It was second time lucky for 3 staff pilots when they went to Air Cadets Central Gliding School (ACCGS) at RAF Syerston, near Nottingham, recently for a course to upgrade them to Qualified Gliding Instructor status. Civilian Gliding Instructors Phil Barry, Ryan Gibson and Nathan Jones had been to ACCGS in March for a C category instructor course, but the weather was so bad that they only managed to fly on one day, and were unable to complete the course.
However, ACCGS swiftly re-arranged their programme and were able to take the 3 again during May to complete their courses. This time all 3 were successful and they all had excellent reports from their instructors. Since returning to St Athan, they have got stuck in to the Gliding Scholarship (GS) training backlog, and their first 4 trainees completed their courses during Whitsun week on a continuous course.
 |
CGIs Nathan Jones (left) and Ryan Gibson (right) brief cadet Damilola Eluyera before his flight. |
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THREE INSTRUCTORS ON THEIR SUCCESS!
INSTRUCTOR GAINS PLACE ON SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE
Newly qualified instructor GGI Phil Barry gained a place on the much sought after Instructor Development Course (IDT) held at ACCGS, RAF Syerston, last month. Having only just completed his C category instructor course at Syerston the previous week, Phil stayed at the base, near Nottingham to undertake the IDT, during which he was able to fly the Squirrel helicopter, Tutor basic trainer, Pitts Special advanced aerobatics biplane, Tiger Moth, Viking conventional glider and various other high performance gliders.
 |
| Squirrel Helicopter. |
The objective of the course was to provide relatively new instructors with flying experiences outside what they would normally gain at their home bases. It also gave them an opportunity to operate outside their comfort zones under the supervision of highly experienced specialist instructors and Phil reports that this was certainly true! With this new found experience, Phil should be able to answer difficult questions from his trainee cadets with much more confidence!
 |
 |
| CGI Phil Barry in the cockpit of a Vigilant motor-glider in front of Swansea Airport control tower. | Solo flight in Viking. |
General News:
: Added: |