Flying and Gliding

As part of being in the Air Cadets you get the ability to fly with both the RAF’s Air Experience Flight Squadrons (AEFs) and the ATC’s Volunteer Glider Squadrons (VGSs).  You can also take part in other Air Experience Flights where you get a flight in aircraft such as the Herclues or Chinook, normally as part of a Summer Camp.

Wallingford Sqn cadets get most of their flying with 6 AEF based at RAF Benson who fly the Tutor and with 612 VGS based at Abingdon Airfield who fly the Vigilant motorglider.

Vigilant Glider

Grob Tutor

You normally get to spend around 20-30 minutes in the air per flight.  During this time you can choose what you want to spend your time doing based on your previous flying experience.  For a first flight this would be an introduction to the general skills in flying, but for more experienced cadets could be flying your own aerobatics.

Once you get to 16 years old, you can apply for Gliding or Flying scholarships which are fully financed by the Air Cadets.  On successfully completion of the course you are presented with your ‘Wings’.

Wallingford Squadron have good links with the flying Squadrons at RAF Benson and on occasions have been offered flights in one of their impressive Merlin or Puma helicopters.

The Merlin Helicopter

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