A scratch place win this one (day before) due to last minute drop-outs (i.e. not part of our normal allocation). Great opportunity for Cdt E (first flight) and Cdt G. A few cadets are getting Av Med 1's signed by parents/sqns. Flying/gliding schools hate not filling places, so it's great we got to fill them thanks to parents able to take-em.

Many of our cadets have a passion for aircraft and some really want to become pilots themselves. As well as air cadet experiences such as Air Experience Flying and Gliding at Volunteer Gliding Schools, cadets are recommended to strive to take advantage of scholarship opportunities if they can, e.g, Closing date for applications to The Honourable Company Of Air Pilots for their Gliding Scholarships is 3rd February 2026 at 12 noon. Scholarships are residential and are offered to people aged between 16 and 25.  Successful candidates have the  opportunity to fly on a one-week course at a youth approved British Gliding Association centre. 

Nice to see Cdt P' time came on Sunday, having traveled to RAF Cosford twice on AEF's, and not flown due to weather. Time-since last flight (and time-left) consideration meant that Sgt R also got time in the hot seat. Red carpet thrown out by Sgt G from VGS 612 (ahem, 1368 really) who took em up and showed them the reins. Both cadets taking control and learning for real but also lots of stuff to do during the day helping others to fly. The gliding Gods created a bit of a super Sunday for 1368 Sqn.

Bumper end of month with 4 cadets getting to go to mid-week Gliding for first time on super hot Monday. All looking very super cool. These slots were to replace some that were cancelled in last quarter. Not many clouds, hence less thermals, but they got to pull plenty of G on takeoff.  Many thanks to Volunteer Gliding School staff for keeping slots alive to give air cadets the experience of flying for real.

Sunday saw 3 lucky cadets from 1368 jump in last minute to fulfill scratch places at 612 VGS, Little Rissington. The cadets got a mother's day of dreams (for an air cadet) with their heads in the clouds. It was a glorious and gusty sunny day, including taking control of an RAF Viking T1 (Grob G 103A Twin II Acro) and learning how to assist on the ground. Congrats to Cdt Y who achieved Blue Flying Wings.

Next intake will be January 2025 hence Sqn is doing remaining tours for this, booked in advance, for those cadets interested (join as a cadet ). You need to be in Year 8/9/10 (not 7) though. Meanwhile we continue with team building and badge gaining, including 3 radio badges and 2 blue aviation badges (for those having done ground training, simulator/PTT and real flight at VGS or AEF).

Last week saw cadet FS M aging out with a heartfelt "take advantage of the amazing opportunities while you're a cadet" speech. He's not leaving us though, he's now a Civilian Instructor at 1368 Sqn. Also approaching age out at 20 yrs, CWO G was appointed at the Volunteer Gliding School (VGS) as an adult Sgt to continue her journey to becoming a gliding instructor for cadets (a 1368 supernumerary staff member). Massive achievers at national level with Junior Leaders graduations, it's great they can continue to inspire our next generation of 1368 high flying achievers.

Pleased to announce that two of our cadets got to fly at VGS (Volunteer Gliding School) 637 at Little Rissington on Sunday 8th September. Many thanks to Flt Lt L for taking them and some great, albeit slightly familiar, Volunteer Gliding School ground crew from strapping them in. Great news.  Air Cadets have two ways in which they can experience flying for real. Either on an Air Experience Flight (AEF) flying RAF Tutor T1 powered aircraft, or at a Volunteer Gliding School (VGS) sponsored by the RAF. It requires a lot of commitment but it's possible also for older cadets can become volunteer staff cadets at a VGS also.  

Congrats to 1368's Cadet Warrant Officer (CWO) G on achieving her Gold Flying Wings last week after successfully completing the Advanced Gliding Training package. Cadets must do ground operations as Flight Staff Cadet at a VGS and have flown solo to start advanced training.  Might not be too long before she will be able to take up cadets. Many thanks to the 637 Volunteer Gliding School (VGS) team. Big achievement with a ginormous badge for her jumper. 

4 cadets and 2 supervising staff cadets from 1368 Squadron attended Blue Aviation Badge ground school training with 632 Volunteer Gliding School (VGS) on Sunday 19 November 2023.  Ground training and test using simulators is one of the three components to get Blue Badge Wings on their jumpers. a) First Class 'Flying Operations' training  b) Ground Training Simulator Test (as done here)  c) A real flying sortie at either an Air Experience Flight (AEF) Squadron using powered flight Tutor T1's or VGS usually in winch launched Viking gliders. Big thanks to volunteer staff at VGS 632 for giving cadets the opportunity of an aviation day out.

Congratulations to 1368's very own FS G. on achieving her Solo Gliding Wings with 637 Volunteer Gliding School as part of her ongoing journey soaring to new heights. Brilliant to see our cadets taking advantage of what the RAF Air Cadet Organisation is able to offer as well as given back to the new generation coming through.

Slightly belated but wanted to share congratulations to Instructor and Staff Cadet Flight Sgt G on her successful completion of a RAFAC Gliding Scholarship (GS) over Easter hols. As well as contributing significantly to 1368 Sqn and its junior cadet training, she continues to drink whatever she can from the fountain that the RAFAC organisation is able to offer and is inspired to do more gliding and get involved as a helper and do Giant Jenga. At 16 years of age cadets can apply for a gliding scholarship which provides gliding instruction of 8 hours or 40 launches to achieve their GS wings. Depending on weather, cadets who demonstrate an aptitude for gliding are allowed to achieve solo standard.

After extensive application and selection process, very pleased to say this week that both of our Flight Sergeants at 1368 Sqn have managed to get offers of Gliding Scholarships by undertaking various tests in a regional selection process. Fingers-crossed that they get weather that enables them to fly solo by the end of it.