With guest Blogger Vicky Ashcroft

It was while I was at RAF Cosford attending Phase 2 training to be a weapons technician that I first heard about gliding.

My instructor, Cpl Alun Williams, was sharing his keen hobby/sport of gliding with the course, whilst relating it to the subject in a way that also educated us. Gliding is something that he has major experience in, having done it for years, and something for which he has a clear passion.

I had never actually heard of gliding before and so I quickly took a keen interest and I was eager to find out more about a fixed-wing aircraft that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. I found the concept intriguing.

Due to my obvious interest, Cpl Alun Williams brought it to my attention that the RAF are actually really enthusiastic about gliding and take the sport rather seriously. There was an RAF gliding club at RAF Shawbury, which is not too far from RAF Cosford.

Cpl Williams introduced me to Mr Ian Gallacher, who is part of the management team and the Chief Flying Instructor at RAF Shawbury Gliding Club. They were both very encouraging and explained that if I was keen to learn how to fly a glider, then I would be able to apply for a bursary funded by the RAF Central Fund to allow me to do so.  I filled out the bursary application form instantly and by the end of the day I had received an email confirming my bursary acceptance.

On the 2 March 2024, I paid my first visit to the RAF Shawbury Gliding Club where I met most of the team who were beyond welcoming and so enthusiastic towards having a 'newbee' join the club.  This instantly made me feel accepted and I quickly found myself settled within the group.  Cpl Williams, Mr Gallacher, and a few other trainees from RAF Cosford were also there so it was nice to see some familiar faces. 

Unfortunately, due to the weather, I was unable to fly that day. However, it was a productive morning and extremely beneficial to have turned up. Being able to encounter the team meant getting to know them, and them getting to know a bit about me. I was shown around the club which meant that I could familiarise myself with my surroundings, helping to build some confidence before my next attendance. I also had the opportunity to have a lesson on the gliding flight simulator, and I was shown how to carry out a before flight inspection. I was also handed my first flying logbook and shown how to fill it out correctly.

This introduction day left me even more eager to get up in the air for the first time and, with the hope of better weather conditions, I promptly booked myself in for the following week.

On the 9 March, I had my first flight for which I was paired with Amelia.  Aged just 16 at the time Amelia was a very young, qualified pilot and instructor. Gliding tends to be very male dominated and the club are really eager to promote more females to get involved, so it felt fitting to have Amelia as my instructor. She was just as enthusiastic about this

She has already achieved so much in gliding and so this inspired and motivated me even more. Amelia was absolutely brilliant in teaching me, preparing me with everything that I needed to know, with the understanding that I had never done anything like this before.

This first flight will be one that I won’t forget. I was genuinely overwhelmed with positive emotion, and I may have teared up a little as well.

After this first flight everyone else there seemed so thrilled for me. My Grandad, Wing Commander Turner AFC, had done a lot of gliding during his time served in the RAF, and so I felt I would be really doing him proud

I am amazed and super excited about the many benefits and opportunities that the RAF have to offer, experiences that I may have never experienced or even thought to do if I had not have joined. and also to share my experience of this positive event whilst at RAF Cosford. Being a part of the RAF comes with being rewarded by the endless opportunities, in forms such as sports, community and education. It is so important to fully embrace and take full advantage of anything and everything that the RAF have to provide and offer to you, as these opportunities could lead to opening doors to even further openings.

Through my gliding bursary, I have accomplished something new and I have also discovered a new-found interest. Furthermore, learning to glide will certainly benefit my future learning. This is because I am a visual learner and so I can now make sense of some of my aircraft theory-based knowledge that I may have struggled to fully understand before.

The RAF need to continue pushing and motivating personnel to try new things, to keep promoting and sharing the opportunities that are out there that people may not know about or may not have heard of. 

It would be beneficial for instructors and line managers to also share their hobbies and enquire whether students or members of their team would be interested to know more. This is an opportunity to pass on their enthusiasm and knowledge to those who are interested, and also a way to get them in contact with the correct people and send them in the right direction to get started. A big thank you must go to the RAF Central Fund, this made my flying affordable and enjoyable.

I am certainly keen to learn more and widen my horizons during my RAF career.

PS. How do I get to fly in the French Alps?