Joining Instructions - Continuous courses: http://www.644vgs.org

	644 Volunteer Gliding School
Joining Instructions - Continuous courses
Location No 644 Volunteer Gliding School is located at Royal Air Force Syerston, a satellite of RAF Cranwell, which is adjacent to the A46 about halfway between Newark and Bingham. You are to report on arrival to RAF Cranwell (main Guardroom) by 1900 hours on the first Friday of your course. Routing By Rail The nearest railhead is Grantham which is on the Nottingham - Boston Line. From Grantham cadets can take a bus to RAF Cranwell. Service Transport is provided. On arrival you are to telephone RAF Cranwell 01400 261201 ext 7349 (MT) and request details of transport to Cranwell. Normally the last bus leaves at 1510 hours. Documentation Cadets must bring with them their Record of Service Book (F3822 or B/Cadets/2 as appropriate) with Personal Details, Parent/Guardians Consent to Fly and Fitness to Undergo Gliding Training sections correctly signed. A signed RAF Form 6424 (Air Cadet Medical Certificate of Fitness for Glider Pilot Training) is also required by all cadets attending for training. Physical Limitations Cadets should be aware that there are certain limitations in respect of weight and sitting height for the Vigilant aircraft as follows: a. Maximum sitting height measured from seat to top of head - 99.23 cm (39.07 inches). -A 3cm head clearance should be maintained. b. Maximum weight dressed for gliding including parachute - 242 lbs (110 Kg). -(A Mk 71/72 parachute weighs 13 lbs (6 Kg)). c. Minimum weight, including parachute - 121 lbs (55 Kg). d. Minimum Age, 16 Years Reporting Procedure Cadets are to report to the Main Guardroom, RAF Cranwell by 1900 hrs on Friday where they will be directed to their accommodation in the Candidates Mess. There will be a briefing at 2000 hrs. Transport will depart from the Mess at 0745 hrs the following morning. Personal Clothing The Candidates Mess operates a fairly relaxed dress code. However, ripped jeans and baseball caps etc are not permitted. The weather at Syerston is extremely variable and cadets should be prepared for all conditions even in the middle of summer. The blue foul weather jacket (Reference 22G/9787280) is not to be worn for, or assisting with, gliding and any coveralls must be buttonless. Footwear There are no restrictions on the type of footwear which may be worn while operating on the airfield. However, the following footwear, which can readily pick up and transfer soil, are not to be worn in the cockpit of Air Cadets gliders: a. Service boots with heavy direct moulded soles (DMS). b. Wellington boots. c. Boots or shoes with deep tread soles. Shoes or lightweight boots with a smooth sole are preferred for wear in the cockpit but shoes or lightweight boots with a shallow tread are acceptable. Accommodation and Messing Cadets will accommodated at the Candidates Mess at RAF Cranwell for the duration of the course. Bedding will be provided and normal showers, washing and ablutions are available. Washing kit and towel will be required. All meals will be provided at either RAF Cranwell or RAF Syerston. A charge of approximately Ł1.50 per day will be charged and must be paid to the Duty Instructor at the commencement of the course. Departure Procedure The last day of the course is Sunday and departure is normally by 1600 hours on the last day. RAF Transport will return cadets to RAF Cranwell for departure. Should you be unable to complete your journey home by midnight on the day of departure, you may be required to stay overnight and travel the next day. If your journey home requires you to change trains, make sure you know the details before coming to RAF Cranwell. Awarding of Wings and Certificates Ensure your Record of Service Book is up to date with gliding entries. Gliding wings will be awarded on the successful completion of the course and certificates will be forwarded at a later date.

644 Volunteer Gliding School

Joining Instructions - Continuous courses

Location

No 644 Volunteer Gliding School is located at Royal Air Force Syerston, a satellite of RAF Cranwell, which is adjacent to the A46 about halfway between Newark and Bingham. You are to report on arrival to RAF Cranwell (main Guardroom) by 1900 hours on the first Friday of your course.

Routing By Rail

The nearest railhead is Grantham which is on the Nottingham - Boston Line. From Grantham cadets can take a bus to RAF Cranwell. Service Transport is provided. On arrival you are to telephone RAF Cranwell 01400 261201 ext 7349 (MT) and request details of transport to Cranwell. Normally the last bus leaves at 1510 hours.

Documentation

Cadets must bring with them their Record of Service Book (F3822 or B/Cadets/2 as appropriate) with Personal Details, Parent/Guardians Consent to Fly and Fitness to Undergo Gliding Training sections correctly signed. A signed RAF Form 6424 (Air Cadet Medical Certificate of Fitness for Glider Pilot Training) is also required by all cadets attending for training.

Physical Limitations

Cadets should be aware that there are certain limitations in respect of weight and sitting height for the Vigilant aircraft as follows:

a. Maximum sitting height measured from seat to top of head - 99.23 cm (39.07 inches).
-A 3cm head clearance should be maintained.

b. Maximum weight dressed for gliding including parachute - 242 lbs (110 Kg).
-(A Mk 71/72 parachute weighs 13 lbs (6 Kg)).

c. Minimum weight, including parachute - 121 lbs (55 Kg).

d. Minimum Age, 16 Years

Reporting Procedure

Cadets are to report to the Main Guardroom, RAF Cranwell by 1900 hrs on Friday where they will be directed to their accommodation in the Candidates Mess. There will be a briefing at 2000 hrs. Transport will depart from the Mess at 0745 hrs the following morning.

Personal Clothing

The Candidates Mess operates a fairly relaxed dress code. However, ripped jeans and baseball caps etc are not permitted. The weather at Syerston is extremely variable and cadets should be prepared for all conditions even in the middle of summer. The blue foul weather jacket (Reference 22G/9787280) is not to be worn for, or assisting with, gliding and any coveralls must be buttonless.

Footwear

There are no restrictions on the type of footwear which may be worn while operating on the airfield. However, the following footwear, which can readily pick up and transfer soil, are not to be worn in the cockpit of Air Cadets gliders:

a. Service boots with heavy direct moulded soles (DMS).

b. Wellington boots.

c. Boots or shoes with deep tread soles.

Shoes or lightweight boots with a smooth sole are preferred for wear in the cockpit but shoes or lightweight boots with a shallow tread are acceptable.

Accommodation and Messing

Cadets will accommodated at the Candidates Mess at RAF Cranwell for the duration of the course. Bedding will be provided and normal showers, washing and ablutions are available. Washing kit and towel will be required. All meals will be provided at either RAF Cranwell or RAF Syerston. A charge of approximately Ł1.50 per day will be charged and must be paid to the Duty Instructor at the commencement of the course.

Departure Procedure

The last day of the course is Sunday and departure is normally by 1600 hours on the last day. RAF Transport will return cadets to RAF Cranwell for departure. Should you be unable to complete your journey home by midnight on the day of departure, you may be required to stay overnight and travel the next day. If your journey home requires you to change trains, make sure you know the details before coming to RAF Cranwell.

Awarding of Wings and Certificates

Ensure your Record of Service Book is up to date with gliding entries. Gliding wings will be awarded on the successful completion of the course and certificates will be forwarded at a later date.