Gliding for 579 Squadron and Detached Flight takes place at 632 Volunteer Gliding Squadron at Ternhill, near Market Drayton. During your visits to 632 VGS, you will complete the Gliding Induction Course (GIC).

As an Air Cadet, you will get the chance to fly in either the Vigilant motor glider or the Viking winch-launch glider. At 632 VGS, they operate the Vigilant motor glider. It is not a glider in the normal sense, as it has its own engine and a propeller and is able to take off under its own power.

The Vigilant can taxi, take off and climb under its own power to a height selected by the instructor. It can be flown as a glider by allowing the engine to idle or, for some advanced exercises with the engine off all together. It can soar in thermals given reasonable thermic conditions. The engine is not powerful enough for rapid climbing, taking some five minutes or so to reach 2,000 feet.

The gliding induction course is split into three levels, GIC 1, GIC 2 and GIC 3, giving you 20 minutes, 25 minutes and 3 minutes of time in the air respectively. Amongst other things, you will be shown and have the chance to practise: how the pitch is changed, how the rudder affects the yaw plane, how to change the rolling plane and what happens when the glider stalls. If you are not sure what this means, they all affect the movement of the aircraft, you'll be shown and be able to do them yourself, under the guidance of your instructor. Upon completion of all three levels of GIC, you'll be presented with a certificate.

From the age of 16, you can apply for a gliding scholarship. This will give you eight hours of flying time, and if successful, you will gain your blue GS wings to wear on your uniform. If you show the necessary aptitude you could be invited to progree to solo standard and if successful you will get silver GS wings to wear on your uniform, which shows that you flew the Vigilant motor glider solo! All this before you can even drive a car!

For more information on gliding scholarships, go to the qualifications page.