In the era of the wooden gliders, the schools were usually equipped with a variety of vehicles that were surplus to front line RAF use. In the 1970’s and 1980’s this was usually the Land Rover Series lla or lll, Truck, Utility, ½ ton ( commonly called a Lightweight ). For most 16 year old Staff Cadets the familiarity with and fondness of these yellow Landrovers was probably only just matched by the gliders and just as much part of the Volunteer Gliding Squadrons.
The Historic Flight has so far been unable to source an original Lightweight, however, some Gliding Schools were equipped with standard Series Landrovers as seen in the picture above.
In 2005, BRUT ( down to its registration) was found languishing in a field near Swanage. It was purchased, hand painted yellow and has been serving the Historic Flight ever since. Whilst not an RAF original it is in keeping with the vehicles that would have been used.
We’re hoping to add some pictures of 621VGS serving Lightweights… although we are struggling to find one that isn’t up to its doors in mud, upside down or generally trashed …. Probably a reflection on allowing teenagers without licences to drive them !