Memorable Moments

During the summer of 1966 the school was invited to take part in the Exeter Air Day. Two Chipmunks from South Cerney came to Chivenor the weekend before for aerotow training and after 60 launches Sedberghs XN156 and WB973 were aerotowed the 35 nautical miles to Exeter Airport . After landing for a change of crew they took off again to perform aerobatics; then with another change of crew the gliders returned to Chivenor. The crews were Fg Off David Hewings, Tony Conibeer, Bruce Tapson and Brian Biggadike; the Chipmunk flight commander was Flt Lt Rufus Heald. The operation was repeated again in 1967, the Chipmunks being supplied by Filton and Hamble AEFs.

On September 17th 1978 the first cross-country flight by a glider from Chivenor took place when Swallow XS859 flew 17 miles to Manor Farm, Meeth. It was not until 1995 that a Basic Navigation Course was run by ACCGS ( Air Cadet Central Gliding School ) and later the same year the first motor glider cross country flights were made Squadron Leader Ches Ledster, Flight Lieutenant Phil Shepherd and Pilot Officer Kevin Grimshire.

Around the time that 624 converted to Ventures they also trained their first female cadet, Cdt Flt. Sgt. Heather Weeks, to solo standard - maybe the first since Amy Johnson flew from the original North Devon Airport at Chivenor! In 1989 they had their first female staff member, Jane Cutler, and in 1996 Kay Roberts became the first female gliding instructor on the school.

In 1974, as part of a recruiting drive, a full length TV film was made by Westward Television: it featured Cadet Flt. Sgt. Simon Heighway and Cadet Cpl. Paul Winfield being trained to solo standard.

On November 18th 1982 HRH the Duke of Kent visited the station and was shown a Mk 3 by Cadet Flt. Sgt. Keith Rowles of 1146 Squadron.

Whilst at RAF Chivenor as Station Commander, Group Captain Dick Wharmby received his G1 award and spent many weekends flying familiarization flights for cadets. Since then the Squadron has trained several base staff from the Royal Marines and Royal Air Force.

During 2006 the Squadron was visited by the Chief of Staff (Air Cadets) and Commander Gliding, Group Captain Cross OBE RAF VR(T) as part of his tour of visits to Gliding Squadrons. Also later in the year production began on a new Gliding Squadron promotional film courtesy of Five Chollar Productions in Bristol. More details to follow...