On Saturday 28 th June 2008, 4 cadets and one staff member from 487 Sqn, Kingstanding and Perry Barr ATC, travelled to RAF Syerston take part in the Longest Day Exercise.

The Sqn had been invited by 643 VGS to take part in their day long event on which they try to break their record for the number of launches in one day. It’s not all about record breaking though, the staff tries to compensate for all those sqn’s who could not fly earlier in the year due to bad weather. With 643 VGS being out of our region we were very fortunate to be invited to take part.

643 VGS fly the Viking T Mk1 glider and as such this was a great opportunity for the cadets to fly this type rather than the vigilant based at Cosford and Little Rissington.

The cadets soon found out that it’s not as easy as flying a Vigilant however, no sitting down in a crew room waiting for your turn to fly. The cadets were transported to the middle of the airfield and were soon being instructed in the art of winches, holding the wings level whilst the winch goes “all out” and then running with the wing a short distance until the glider gets airborne.

All the cadets were undertaking their Gliding Induction Course (GIC) and as such they all had the opportunity to have three launches. The rate of climb of the Viking is tremendous and all the cadets were a bit nervous prior to their flights. However, all the work the cadets have to complete before their flights kept them busy and all eagerly climbed into the glider ready for their launches.

When the cadets had completed their launches all said that they had had a brilliant time.

The cadets and staff of 487 Sqn would like to send a very big thank you to the staff of 643 VGS. It was great to part of this special day and the Sqn hopes to visit them again in the near future.