Page 34 - Cadet Review Spring 2023

CEY Wing ATC
MY SILVER GLIDING SCHOLARSHIP
By Cadet Warrant Officer Joshua Marshall
My time on the Silver Gliding Scholarship (SGS) was easily the best 9 days I’ve had within cadets and could quite possibly be the best 9 days of my life
so far. The course not only allowed me to achieve a childhood dream of mine, but also developed me as a cadet but, more importantly a person.
The aim of the SGS course is to teach the cadet how to fly a Viking glider in an efficient, successful and, most importantly, safe manner hopefully culminating in the cadet taking the Viking solo and earning the prestigious solo wings. Courses are either run as a 9 day long residential courses, or cadets can attend the VGS on 9 consecutive weekends. My course was one of the 9 day ones.
Prior to starting the course all the cadets on the course received the all-important safety briefings about airfield safety, protocol and procedures to follow when in the air and how to carefully enter and exit the glider. We were also taught the first couple of lessons on basic control and how it affects the aircraft. On the 6th of August this year I arrived at 644 VGS at RAF Syerston to begin my journey on the silver gliding scholarship (SGS).
When myself and the other 3 cadets on the
course had arrived we received our welcome brief and were asked if we wanted to wear flying suits,
of which I said yes. As the morning progressed and the temperature began to rise I started to regret my choice of choosing to wear the flying suit however the heat didn’t affect my excitement for meeting the people on my course and my anticipation for my first flight of the course. As the afternoon began we learnt how to help launch aircraft by attaching and checking cables which would launch gliders into the air almost like a civilised catapult. As the afternoon progressed I was able to get my first flights in. This wasn’t my first time gliding within cadets but it was the first time for a while and so the power of a winch launch amazed me once again and I couldn’t stop smiling like a small child. And then once in the air I once again marvelled at the serenity and peace of flight without an engine, but even though I could have sat up there all day looking down on the sun dried grass and translucent blue of the lakes I knew I wanted to start my course and begin to demonstrate what I had learnt in the lessons prior. After finishing up at 644 we travelled to RAF Cranwell where we’d be staying
This wasn’t my first time gliding within cadets but
it was the first time
for a while and so the power of a winch launch amazed me once again and I couldn’t stop smiling like a small child.
over the course. I settled into my room and got to know the others on my course more and the Flight Staff Cadets who were also with us on the course.
As day 1 came to a close I remember thinking of the great experience ahead of me and the joy of knowing I had 8 days of perfect gliding ahead due to the joint hottest summer in England’s recorded history. By the end of the course I was thankful my Mum made me pack extra sun cream!
As the course progressed we had lessons and briefs on launchings all the way through to landings and everything in between, and what to do if something presents an issue. After the briefs we then had to put what we’d learnt to action in practical exercises In the Viking. If I had to choose a lesson and exercise I enjoyed most it would have to be
when we did circuits as that’s when I began to see
all the things I’d learnt start coming together, how
a low launch changes your plans and affects your decisions or how an obstacle becoming visible on the final stretch on the downwind leg could change my whole plan for a landing.
As the final day of the course arrived we all anticipated what the day would bring, all I hoped
was being able to hear my instructor say “exercise 14” to me which was the exercise name for the solo. The chance to take the Viking up on your own and
my chance to achieve a dream. Just after midday on the 14th of August 2022 I was able to complete the first solo of my life and achieve that dream I’d held since I first joined cadets. The feeling of solo flight
is something I’ll never forget; the mix of adrenaline, tension, and relief when I launched up into the air
on my own. After landing and stepping out of the glider I wasn’t able to stop smiling, it remains as my favourite memory within my life so far. After saying goodbye to everyone and thanking the wonderful staff at644IsatinmycarandIstaredatmynewsolo wings and recollected what had happened over the past 9 days and how happy I was to achieve my goal.
To anyone who could be interested in the course I would say 100% go for it, you’ve got nothing to lose but you’ve got possibly the best time of your cadet career to gain which could launch you into a career in aviation. If there was one main thought I took away from the course it was the thought of thank- fulness for being selected to attend this course and everything else I’ve achieved in cadets, which is with the silver gliding scholarship and my solo at the top of the list.
34 CADET REVIEW SPRING 2023