Operating from the Bristol & Gloucestershire Gliding Club at Nympsfield the Air Cadet Historic Flight CIO is a Charitable organisation with the objective of the long term preservation & operation of historic gliders and equipment used by the Air Training Corps and RAF Volunteer Gliding Squadrons for the Public benefit. It is our intent to use this collection to educate the air minded general public in the history of Air Cadet gliding in the UK and provide a “living museum” by making the collection available to members of the association to operate.
Our stated Objects are:
For the benefit of the public to establish and maintain a working museum for the exhibition and preservation and use of historic aircraft, specifically gliders, and associated artefacts and equipment. (and through this) To advance the education of the public in the history of gliding and associated equipment used by Air Training Corps, RAF gliding schools, RAF Volunteer Reserve (training), volunteer gliding schools and squadrons.
Our aims are:
- To preserve the heritage and history of the United Kingdom Air Cadet movement
- To preserve historic Air Cadet gliders and equipment together with knowledge and skills that would otherwise be lost
- To, over time, build a collection and permanent “home” that allows us to inform the general public, and in particular young people
- To use our planned facility to improve public access to see our collection, our maintenance, restoration work, and operations.
- To maintain the gliders & equipment in an operational state so that (appropriately qualified) members can fly the gliders and demonstrate them in operation and, where feasible, we can participate in selected public airshows or other events.
Background
Initially known as 621 VGS Historic Flight (HF) we formed in 2003 and consisted of current and past members of 621 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, together with other like-minded individuals, who united to preserve and operate former Air Training Corps gliders from the ‘wooden era’. The aim of the group was to provide a “flying museum” so that ex glider pilots and cadets from the past could relive the experience of flying these delightful machines with a secondary aim of allowing pilots of the modern era to get a hands on experience of what went before them.
Operating separately from the Air Cadet publicly funded gliding school the self-funded group was initially very fortunate at Hullavington Airfield to share the cadet facilities at no cost, which meant every penny could be ploughed back into the restoration of each glider. The 13 years spent at Hullavington in the cavernous ex RAF hangar promoted the perfect environment for maintaining and more importantly promoting the longevity of the gliders as they could remain rigged and covered protecting the precious fabric covering.
A very sad day came when Hullavington was sold by the MOD and the current cadet gliders moved to RAF Little Rissington. Unfortunately, the RAF decided they could no longer support the operation of privately owned gliders and the Historic Flight was required to leave. The main members of the group had to do some serious soul searching…..
Nobody could ignore that since inception the Historic Flight had grown to four potentially airworthy gliders with another four gliders awaiting restoration, along with a large spares package plus all the launching support including a Landrover and a 1950’s Wilde Winch (which started life as a WW2 Barrage balloon winch) – believed to be the only one left in existence.
We’re pleased to report that the group found a new home at Nympsfield, a lovely hill top airfield on the edge of the Cotswolds where the Bristol & Gloucestershire Gliding club has operated since 1957.
The BGGC made us extremely welcome offering all kinds of support as well as many new members. With thanks to them, our loyal members and a several new recruits, we have supported ongoing operations at BGGC since Summer 2020
Integration & Development
All the aircraft are maintained and operated to British Gliding Association (BGA) standards. Members pay an annual subscription the proceeds of which are used to fund the upkeep. All servicing is done by volunteers and more in depth maintenance is carried out by inspectors who often themselves have links to these aircraft or the Air Training Corps and have every wish to ensure their survival into the future.
A new start
Our confidence in our new home & the support of our hosts encouraged us to expand our horizons. We adopted the Air Cadet Historic Flight name in 2024, broadened our goals and achieved formal status as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in early 2025.
Our next steps are fundraising for a permanent facility and expanding our activities for public benefit,