GLIDER TRAINING FOR SAWSTON AIR CADET

AVIATION was the order of the day as a young Air Cadet from 2461 (Sawston) Squadron begun his journey towards completing a Gliding Scholarship with the Air Cadets.

Cadet Edred Whittingham, aged 15 from Great Shelford, recently attended a course designed to prepare Air Cadets for a Gliding Scholarship and potentially a solo flight in a Vigilant glider.  

The one day course was run at the Regional Activity Centre based at RAF Wyton near St Ives in Cambridgeshire.  It covers elements of the syllabus of the real Gliding Scholarship course but omits items such as emergency procedures which are best taught in the real aircraft at the airfield that the cadet will fly from.  The most important aspect of the course is the attention given to flight safety with particular reference to keeping a good lookout. The simulator is treated like a real aircraft and nothing is done on the simulator which would not be done on the real aircraft.

At the end of the course a fun competition is held where the students compete to achieve the best take-off, circuit and landing.  This is where everything they have learnt during the day comes together.  Following the competition it was announced the Cadet Edred Whittingham had demonstrated the skills desired to win and proudly received his prize of a Mars bar and the coveted ‘Bernie’ trophy.

Cadet Edred Whittingham with Wing Commander Bernard Tisley, Regional Gliding Officer.

Cadet Edred Whittingham said “The course was great, there were five other cadets there and at the end we had a competition of who could do the best virtual circuit of the airfield, and I won.  The course has really helped me prepare for my Gliding Scholarship.”

Wing Commander Bernard Tisley, Regional Gliding Officer added “The principle of flight exams taken by cadets as part of their general training does not give them the practical knowledge or experience required on the proper Gliding Scholarship course.  This course therefore fills this gap and gives cadets the confidence to take that big step towards solo flight.  It is a very enjoyable course and therefore popular with cadets, I would strongly advise any cadet on the waiting list for a Gliding Scholarship course to take up this opportunity.”