About 613 Vgs - Raf Halton
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613 Vgs - Raf Halton Description
Volunteer Gliding Squadrons (VGSs) are Royal Air Force Flying Training Units (FTUs), operating military Viking TX. 1 (conventional) and Vigilant T. 1 (motor) gliders to train Air Cadets from the Combined Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps.
The VGSs operating under No. 3 Elementary Flying Training, within No. 22 (Training) Group of the Royal Air Force Air Command. The 28 Units, along with the Royal Air Force Central Gliding School, are standardised annually by the Royal Air Force Central Flying School. Formerly under the Air Cadet Organisation preceding 2010, Headquarters Air Cadets presently still retains administrative and logistic support.
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).
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All Cadet Flying Suspended at 613 Until Further Notice.
Effective 1st Feb 2014.
Unfortunately due to excessive rainfall in January, the airfield has become waterlogged; this sadly leaves us with no choice but to cancel all GIC and GS students until the airfield is suitably recovered. We will also need a short period of staff continuity training to ensure we "get current" and are able to fly the the high standards required.
... Watch this space for further updates For more info, please email 613vgs@aircadets.org
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Well done to the final course of the year - course 3/13! The 9 Cadets from the ATC and CCF enjoyed a brilliant week of weather.
The course started on 10th August with the first cadet going solo on Wednesday 14th! (Just 5 days into the course). This course was the final residential for 2013!
... We're currently looking to do three more in 2014, with the first one starting in July. If you're in the air cadets and interested, please apply to your squadron CO and get a medical form. Once this has been completed, hopefully we can get you on either one of our residential courses or start you on a weekend GS. There's a high subscription rate so don't wait around!
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We're just updating our website: 613vgs.org.uk In the update we are publishing the remaining GIC allocations for the year, so Squadron Commanders keep an eye out!
Congratulations to the 9 cadets from ATC and CCF that completed their Gliding Scholarship Course yesterday, the residential course started last Saturday the 20th July and was completed 28th July. The intensive course was the second of three planned this year. Thanks to all the staff for dedicating their time to volunteer for the course and provide the training through temperatures of around 31 degrees!
We're now looking forward to our GIC field day on Friday 2nd August and our third and final GS course this year.
An amazing weekend! Yesterday was the station families day celebrating 100 years of flying. It included the queens birthday flypast, in which we had two of our Flight Staff Cadets seated in the A330 Voyager! We also had our fleet of aircraft on display for the crowds to see and ask questions about.
When the rain started after lots of the flying, the crowds retreated to our Hanger to listen to The Military Wives Chior. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves despite the weather. Other activities ibcluded RAF Halton Pipes and Drums as well as a Drill Display by Herts & Bucks Wing ATC.
The fun hasn't stopped there, after a very quick cleanup 613 were back and operating again today with our normal task of GS, GIC and staff training! What a busy but great weekend.
We're ready for wings parade! Plenty of certificates and GS wings to hand out!
Parents are here and the cadets are just forming up. More pictures to follow!
Yesterday, between solo checks, the course cadets took some well earned downtime on the airfield playing some Cards.
Sadly some strong wind had prevented any further check flights, how ever, four of our ten students have gone solo.
Even now as we post, solo check flights are going on with the aim of getting a few more solo by the time parents arrive for wings parade.
Commandant Air Cadets, Air Commodore McCafferty visits 613VGS during our GS Course to fly in the Vigilant, the cadets and staff here all had a jolly good chat and were able to tell the Commandant how much they're enjoying the course and how they're progressing studying for both the GS exam while revising for GCSE and A-Level exams.
OC 613VGS - Sqn Ldr Johnson flew the Air Commodore for her first ever flight in a Vigilant, which landed with all the staff on the ground smiling and enjoying themselves.
It was a pleasure having you around and hopefully we will see you again in the near future Ma'am!
Good morning and welcome to the Operations brief, Monday 27th May, duty instructor this morning is CGI Dan Halbert.
Here's a little note from one of our course cadets:
"We've been at 613 VGS for 3 days and have already done so much. In those 3 days I've completed roughly four hours flying. The staff are really friendly and so are all of the other cadets. We are all really enjoying ourselves and all look forward to getting either Solo or our Blue Wings".
Just packing up from a busy day flying, how many parents would have thought they'd see their sons and daughters cleaning an aircraft! Let alone flying in it!!
At the end of the day we all work together to pack away and clean the fleet. Once it's done we can put up our feet and relax for the evening.
Day two of the course, it's started with great weather and great smiles to match!
The course students are studying hard between flights while relaxing in the sun, all ready for their GS test later in the week.
We also have a special guest planned to visit midweek - watch this space for the latest information.
Day one of course 1/13. We've got ten students, some CCF, some Middlesex and some Herts and Bucks ATC. Everyone has flown one sortie of around an hour completing the first exercise, we've also been lucky enough to fly some GICs and complete essential staff currency.
Overall, a Top day that finished in the staff crew room with a "meet and greet", allowing for the keen new students to hear a bit more about the staff and their instructors.
Smiles all around! Great day - lets hope for even more tomorrow!
We're getting close to 100 likes on our Facebook Page! Hopefully we can break this just in time for Course 1! - We've got the list of name, if you have received a place on this course and have any questions, either post a comment here or email 613vgs@aircadets.org - See you there!
Website Relaunch - Great news! As of tonight, the 613 website is back up and working. It's got some added features including social media integration. We're hoping to have the latest calendar and GIC allocations available soon along with some images. A new feature we're going to include is a residential course photo gallery - so watch this space.
Wanted: We're currently looking for some historic photographs of 613 - if anyone has any, please can you send them to challis@613vgs.org.uk - many thanks.
We love what we do! Just 17 Days until our first course of the year. We're looking forward to it!
Congratulations to FSC Ahmed Segayer, who got his G2 wings this weekend! He joined us on a cadet gliding scholarship in December 2011, earned his silver wings, and is now officially a grade 2 pilot on the Vigilant! He also got two hours solo under his belt this weekend - well on his way to flying cadets in the near future!
Lovely blue skies today!! How's the flying?
Who's looking forwards to a GS Course this year?