Explore
Flying is about more than sitting in a cockpit. Aeronautical and personal skills are honed, too
The memberships are rotated throughout the County to enable Scouts or Explorers to book a gliding day through our Air Activities Adviser. Your County may have a similar arrangement in place. If not, why not look into it? ‘Cost is a factor but it doesn’t have to be prohibitive. My Scouts only pay for their first two days’ flying, as we have obtained a series of grants to support those who progress on to the intensive flying programme. One of these is from the WT Taylor Fund, which offers grants for Air Scouts on a matched funding basis. It’s available through the Development Grants Board at UKHQ. We also secured a grant through the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Centennial Scholarship Fund, and another through our local council. Other grants are available. ‘With help like this, we did it – and you can too. Seeing the look on a Scout’s face when they climb into the cockpit of a glider is unforgettable. For some it will be apprehension on that first launch, followed by a grin from ear to ear on their return!’
More info Find out more about gliding at scouts.org.uk/a-z. You’ll need to follow POR rule 9.11 and read the Access to Airfields factsheet (FS 120702). Always remember that airfields are dangerous places. Hangar doors can bite fingers, motor gliders have propellers that can cause serious injury and gliders are virtually silent, so you won’t hear one landing behind you. Stay alert and safe both on the ground and in the air. To find out more about funding opportunities via UKHQ, visit scouts.org.uk/grants.
26 GET ACTIVE!
What can Scouts earn?
Scouts can earn the Aeronautics Activity Badge and gliding contributes towards the Aviation Skills and Meteorologist badges. Logging flying hours counts towards the Adventure Challenge Award and potentially the Navigator Activity Badge, too. Explorers can earn the Air Activities Badge, work towards their Scout Wings, and use gliding in the DofE and Chief Scout’s Awards.
February/March 2014