RSGC’S MECHANICS’ ENDOWMENT FUND PROGRAMME – IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT FLYING
Through the Mechanics’ Endowment Fund (MEF) that’s funded from the RAF Central Fund, RAF Shawbury Gliding Club (RSGC) provide gliding courses to personnel of any rank attending a Phase 1 or Phase 2 course at RAF Cosford or RAF Shawbury. The MEF programme runs six courses per year with six students allocated to each course and each course runs over a two month period (nine flying days), an expected turnover of thirty six trainees per year. This two month period allows for poor weather and student diversions (military and personal distractions).
RSGC, whilst operating at RAF Cosford as the Wrekin Gliding Club prior to its move to RAF Shawbury, recognised that young Phase 1 & 2 trainees had a ‘thirst’ for more knowledge about flying and aviation engineering. More importantly, a link was identified between the performance of those who become deeply involved in gliding and aviation maintenance within this sport, and their success during their professional training.
Gliding is a super way to get into aviation. Aviation promotes mental resilience; the student pilot is mostly at full stretch in their early flights and learns early on how to manage these stressors. The flying element of the MEF programme consists of:
Two hours of classroom lectures about the theory of flight and aerodynamics associated with unpowered flight. This continues with ground school at the launch point.
Two hours of simulated glider lessons
Nine aerotow glider lessons, each to 2000ft
One aerotow glider lesson to 4000ft allowing the student to experience an aerobatic flight and the consequent g-loading on the airframe and human body.
A one hour navigation exercise in one of the club’s powered touring motor gliders (TMG).
The flying programme is planned so that our students reach a sufficient standard to go solo or to carry on their attendance in order to do so. Students who wish to continue to solo standard can apply for further funding via the RAF Gliding and Soaring Association (RAFGSA) Go Solo Scholarships at https://www.rafgsa.org/solo/
But the course is not just about flying and it also includes:
Instruction for RAF Cosford and RAF Shawbury Phase 1 & 2 trainees (predominantly Cosford due to the volume of personnel) in the ground environment.
Skills and knowledge directly linked to their RAF Phase 2 courses, Mechanical, Avionics, Battle Space Management and Space.
An introduction to basic meteorology
Instruction in Aircraft Maintenance and Software Management of Navigation Equipment they are going to use whilst flying their dedicated glider ASK21 R35 will focus the mind including Human Factors and translation of Civil Regulation and Compliance which the RAF has had to learn post “The Nimrod Review”.
Maintenance of an ASK21 Glider including any necessary maintenance and rectification, daily checks, rigging and annual inspections.
Understanding of the flight environment and the challenges that aircrew face in their day-to-day flying activities.
Since the move to RAF Shawbury the club has attracted Phase 2 trainees from the Battle Space Management and Aircrew Aviators (on hold) area; they too have an appetite to understand aviation first-hand and to develop their understanding of this environment.
The success of the MEF programme is realised in the number of pilots achieving the solo standard, just some of whom are shown below…..
…..and which was recognised by the RAFGSA with the award in 2023 of the Founders Trophy, awarded annually to the RAFGSA club achieving the greatest number of ab-initio first solos.
We wish our young aviators every success in their chosen career and…………KEEP FLYING!